Theatre Re are one of the UK’s leading visual theatre companies. Their work combines original live music with striking visual theatre to create world class, deeply moving non-verbal productions about universal human challenges and the fragility of life. They engage with audiences locally, nationally and internationally to create, share and promote life-changing theatre that is both inventive and accessible through cross-arts and cross-sector collaboration.
Theatre Re are an artist-led company based at The Point in Eastleigh with a strong 13-year track record: six mid-scale productions, extensive touring in the UK (84 venues in 50 cities) and internationally (16 countries across 3 continents) – including a Broadway transfer, international licensing of our repertoire and sold-out runs at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Cerventino Festival (Mexico), and London International Mime Festival.
Their training programme is in high demand across the world with long-term partners such as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Partnerships with community organisations throughout the creation process and while on tour are central to their work.
The Artistic Director of Theatre Re, Director Guillaume Pigé, joins us on Close-Up Culture to tell us about their new show, Moments.
Hi Guillaume! How has the tour been treating you so far?
Hi! Really well actually. Most of our touring shows involve quite a big team on the road, but for Moments it’s only the 4 of us – Alex, Katherine, Benjy and myself. It’s a lot more… peaceful. Also, for the past few projects Katherine (our LX Designer) has not been on tour with us – the show are usually passed on to a re-lighter – so it has been really lovely to have her back.
Could you tell our readers a little more about your show, Moments?
Moments is our latest production and it’s a bit different from all our others pieces. We are performing a show – in our trademark style bringing together original live music and striking visual performance – with characters and a journey, and at the same time we take the audience through all the little intricacies that went into the construction of that journey. One audience member likened it to when a magician talks the audience through how they perform a magic trick, and by doing so seem to make the magic more impressive, more real and more magical.
How did you come up with the title Moments?
It echoes the idea that life is made of moments, and it’s important to be truly present in these moments when they happen because life is short. There is going to be a time when we do everything for the last time. These moments cannot be repeated in life, but on stage they can… And that’s why our theatre is important. It’s a place where we can replay and appreciate them in a way that we cannot in life. It also refers to the way we work. At the beginning of a rehearsal process, we are looking for ‘moments’ that feel magical.
What initially drew you to mime?
I feel in love with the idea that within the world of mime, the actor was not just the interpreter of someone else’s words or vision. The actor was the poet. I also loved the idea of having a craft – a repertoire, a vocabulary, a technique – very much like musicians in a way. With that came discipline, rigor and sense of serious and unquenchable playfulness.
You have travelled all around the world with numerous different works, what would you say has been your favourite country and theatre to perform in so far?
I don’t think I have a favourite location. I love going everywhere and meeting new audiences. It feels so special to be able to connect on a deep and intuitive level with strangers from a completely different culture. For me it’s a strong reminder that we are all made of the same stuff. We are all humans with fears, desires and hopes. And that’s why we do what we do – we make theatre to bring people together and remind ourselves that we are all the same.
And is there a dream location you would love to perform at?
I would love for us to tour more in France. Purely because that’s where I am from originally and it feels odd that we are invited to perform everywhere but not there! It will come though… I just need to be patient.
In three words could you summarise what you hope the audience take away from seeing the show?
That’s interesting because that’s also what we are asking the audience at the end of the show. Here are the three adjectives that come back the most when they describe their experience of the piece:
‘Emotional. Magic. Stunning.’
And where can people see you next?
For now, we will be going to Edinburgh, Norwich and Poole and more dates will be announced shortly.
EDINBURGH, Capital Theatres (Studio) – Jan 28 to 29 2025 – 7.30pm & 2pm
NORWICH, Norwich Playhouse – Feb 10 to 12 2025 – 7.30pm
POOLE, The Lighthouse – March 11 2025 – 7pm