Following its critical success at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Yirramboi Festival, La Vie Dans Une Marionette (Life In A Puppet) – the gleeful, whimsical tale of a lonely pianist and the puppet he buys to keep him company, returns for a season at Arts Centre Melbourne from 16 January 2018.
Performed with buckets of charm by award-winning New Zealand Company White Face Crew, La Vie Dans Une Marionette brings together physical theatre, comedy, dance and music in the European traditions of clowning and commedia dell’arte with a uniquely New Zealand flavour that delights audiences young and old alike.
White Face Crew Co-Founders Tama Jarman and Jarod Rawiri take to the stage with Christopher Ofanoa for the Arts Centre Melbourne season. Tama Jarman – whose acting credits span film, TV and theatre (Everest, Erebus: Into the Unknown, The Arrival) plays the part of The Pianist with Christopher Ofanoa – a professional dancer with The New Zealand Dance Company and a choreographer/ dancer with Auckland hip hop outfit Freshmans Dance Crew, playing his friend The Puppet.
Well-known Maori actor Jarod Rawiri rounds out the cast playing The Moon. Best known for his ongoing role on New Zealand’s much-loved daily soap Shortland Street, Rawiri performance credits traverse theatre (Tu, The Prophet and I, George Nepia by Hone Kouka for which he won Best Overall Performance at the 2011 Chapman Tripp Awards, feature film (Matariki, Fantail) and short film (Laundy, I’m Going to Mums).
La Vie Dans Une Marionette was White Face Crew’s first theatre work, premiering at Auckland Fringe Festival in 2013 to critical acclaim and a Fringe Award nod from Auckland Arts Festival. Ever since, the performance group has captured hearts and imaginations alike.
Renowned for their laugh-out-loud antics, the Crew interacts with audiences via their unique style of physical comedy. Drawing from the best elements of physical theatre, clowning, contemporary and hip-hop dance styles, the White Face Crew throw in improvisation, spontaneity and good old fashioned fun to create work that is fun for all ages.
“… there’s a contagious joy about the performances in this wonderfully odd piece… a little gem of a show.” – Australian Arts Review
Creators: Tama Jarman, Justin Haiu, Jarod Rawiri Performers: Tama Jarman, Christopher Ofanoa, Jarod Rawiri Set and Costume Design: White Face Crew Music: Yann Tiersen and Tama Waipara
La Vie Dans Une Marionette
Fairfax Studio – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 16 – 20 January 2018
Information and Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
Image: La Vie Dans Une Marionette – photo by Stephen A’Court