Saved events

Nick Lehane: Chimpanzee

London International Mime Festival

— ,The Pit
A large chimpanzee puppet is being operated by two of the three puppeteers

In this extraordinary and heartbreaking puppet play, a life-sized chimpanzee escapes the despair of her captive existence by piecing together memories of her childhood in a human home.

Now from her solitary cage in a biomedical facility, she reminisces about the comfort, curiosity and freedom she had growing up in a human family. Her bleak present-day reality switches into vivid recollections of discovery and delight: scarves float into the air from a storage box, a teacup fascinates, opera music plays, a tiny toy baby is carefully cradled to her chest.

Three highly skilled puppeteers invest feeling, expression and delicately nuanced movement to the beautifully crafted creature of this poignant non-verbal production, which conveys shifts in time and place through haunting sound and lighting. Written and created by Brooklyn-based Nick Lehane, it is distilled from the real stories of apes once fostered into American families only to be abandoned to science as they reach maturity.

Tagged with: Theatre & dance London International Mime Festival 2020 London International Mime Festival 2020 More...

1 hour, no interval
Age guidance 12+ (contains flashing lights and scenes that some people may find upsetting. More Information)

LIMF: The Art of Puppetry, Wed 22 Jan
Pre-show talk for Members

Post-show talk, Thu 23 Jan
Free to same-day ticket holders

Presented by the Barbican in association with London International Mime Festival. Supported by The Jim Henson Foundation and Cheryl Henson.

Creative team

Nick Lehane Creator, Director and Designer
Marika Kent Lighting and Associate Set Design
Kate Marvin Sound
Abby Schlackman Associate Lighting Designer
Avery Orvis Associate Sound

Puppeteers

Rowan Magee, Andy Manjuck, Emma Wiseman

Reviews

‘Gorgeous … a meticulous, deeply felt memory play‘
New York Magazine
‘A delightful and superlatively moving account of memories and dreams‘
Berkshire Fine Arts

Digital programme

You might also like

The Pit