Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord (France)
8-10/5｜Friday to Sunday｜8pm (8, 9/5); 3pm (10/5)
Macao Cultural Centre Small Auditorium
Tickets: MOP 200, 150
“The suit that figures so prominently onstage may be empty, but The Suit is filled with emotion.” – The Huffington Post, USA
Based on The Suit by Can Themba, Mothobi Mutloatse and Barney Simon
Direction, Adaptation and Musical Direction:
Peter Brook, Marie-Hélène Estienne and Franck Krawczyk
Lighting Design: Philippe Vialatte
Costume Design: Oria Puppo
Performers: Cherise Adams-Burnett, Jared McNeill and Ery Nzaramba
Musicians: Jay Phelps (Trumpet), Harry Sankey (Guitar) and Danny Wallington (Piano)
Production: C.I.C.T. – Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord
Coproduction:
Fondazione Campania dei Festival / Napoli Teatro Festival Italia; Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Young Vic Theatre; Théâtre de la Place, Liège
With the support of C.I.R.T.
Talented author Can Themba believed his short story The Suit, conceived in the 1960s in a South Africa dominated by apartheid, would change his life. Sadly this was not the case; the young author died in exile, and his works were banned in his homeland.
Coinciding with the end of apartheid in 1994, The Suit was adapted for the stage by Mothobi Mutloatse and Barney Simon, premiering at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. Later, it was translated into French and produced by British multi-award-winning theatre director Peter Brook. It was staged at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, in Paris in 1999 and then toured to great acclaim for three years. In 2012, Brook – whose numerous accomplishments include two Tony Awards, an Emmy and a CBE – partnered with Marie-Hélène Estienne to return The Suit to the stage, this time in its original language, English, and with live music.
While returning home from work, Philomen arrives just in time to see another man exiting the window, who in his haste leaves his suit behind. The incensed husband decides to punish his wayward wife Matilda with an unconventional burden. She must treat the empty suit as if it is alive and a guest in their home, feeding, entertaining and strolling through the streets of their town with the inanimate, empty garment. It is only when Matilda dies of humiliation that Philomen realizes the cruelty of what he has done.
．Please refer to the MAF Outreach Programme Guide: Talks, Movie Screening and Post-Show Sharing Sessions
Not advisable for people under 18 years of age. Restricted to audiences over 13.
Performed in English, with surtitles in Chinese and Portuguese
Duration: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, no interval