Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne / Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord
www.bouffesdunord.com
| Writter and directed by: | Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne |
| Lighting: | Philippe Vialatte |
| Cast: | Kathryn Hunter, Marcello Magni, Jared McNeill |
| Musicians: | Toni Raphaël Chambouvet & Toshi Tsuchitori |
‘As we explore the mountains and the valleys of the brain we will reach the valley of astonishment’. This is how last century’s great master of modern theatre Peter Brook introduces his latest creation, The Valley of Astonishment, which will inaugurate the XXXII Festival de Otoño a Primavera of the Community of Madrid in October.
Is it possible to imagine a world where every sound has a colour, where every colour has a taste, where the number 8 is a fat lady? This breathtaking new play explores the fascinating experiences of real people who see the world in a radically different light. The Valley of Astonishment is a kaleidoscopic journey into the mysteries and wonders of the human brain, inspired by years of neurological research, true stories, and Farid Attar’s epic mystical poem The Conference of the Birds.
Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne return to Madrid after their international hits The Suit and A Magic Flute, also performed at the Festival de Otoño a Primavera; accompanied this time by Kathryn Hunter (Kafka’s Monkey, Fragments), Marcello Magni (Fragments) and Jared McNeill (The Suit). In Brooks’ own words, ‘once again we are exploring the brain. We will take the spectator into new and unknown territories through people whose secret lives are so intense, so drenched in music, colour, taste, images and memories that they can pass any given moment from paradise to hell and back again’.
The piece’s world premiere took place on April 29th, 2014 in Paris, France, at the Théâtre des Bouffes Du Nord.
