Le Théâtre Sans Fil
Founded in 1971 by students at the Université du Québec, Théâtre Sans Fil draws on the ancient Japanese tradition of Bunkaru theater and its techniques to bring a group of giant puppets to life. Given their immense size – some are over 2 meters long – the puppets are not operated by wires, but are followed very closely by their respective puppeteers, as it sometimes takes two of them to animate the same silk and papier-mâché doll. Thanks to this skilful technique, which requires perfect coordination, their human aspect is even more striking, so much so that it’s sometimes difficult to tell the real actors from the fakes in this world of giants!
Adults will be fascinated by this remarkable tour de force, while children will be captivated by the sometimes terrifying appearance of the characters. The play is remarkably well put together, with unexpected special effects that cleverly spice up this tale of ancient times.
“The Crown of Destiny is inspired by historical events and adventures drawn from Scottish legends and fairy tales. Katie, the heroine of the tale, begs her father, Tom McBaird, to tell her a story. He then imagines such a tale that Katie finds herself plunged into the heart of the epic, among her ancestors, elves and monsters who are ultimately kind…
It’s a rarity to see children so attentive, and this play and its puppets form a spectacle that can only give a taste for the theater. After her, the kids will want to go back, and so will their parents.
“The Crown of Destiny” is a co-production with the International Children’s Festival, Scotland.
It is written by Henriette Major and produced by André Viens.
The imaginary, the fantastic, the dream world of legends, myths and epics have always guided Théâtre Sans Fil in its choice of creations and adaptations. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; Ravel’s Boléro and L’Enfant et les Sortilèges; Henriette Major’s Hänsel et Gretel, Jeux de Rêves and La Couronne du Destin are just some of the “all-audience” shows presented by the Company over the years.
