FLIP FABRIQUE / EX MACHINA / ROBERT LEPAGE
Slam!
Suitable for 7+
1h20
From 7 y/o
Eight acrobats, five matches, and one ring. Quebecois director Robert Lepage has partnered with the Flip Fabrique circus company to revisit the world of catch in this cartoonish spectacle where all (theatrical) blows are allowed.
Catch (which means” wrestling” in Quebec French) has enthralled audiences. With its stars, its hyperbole, and meticulously choreographed combats, the most theatrical of all sports has become a universe unto itself. Slam! invites us to enter an acrobatic, hyper-theatrical version of this world. FLIP Fabrique’s jugglers, contortionists, tightrope walkers, and other acrobats become Barbie Girl, El Diabolo, and Babyface, archetypal comic book-style superheroes of this discipline, with all its glitter, masks, costumes, music and “signature moves” invented for the occasion. The matches are also broadcast on a screen, and the audience is strongly encouraged to cheer for their heroes and boo their bad guys. A cast of characters (a referee, paramedics, and cotton candy salesmen) surrounds the ring to form an integral part of the show which, in its shift from farce to lyricism and from astonishment to reverie, seems to have an unfortunate tendency not to go as planned. Unless this was all orchestrated in advance?
We recommend that you bring earplugs for children (the performance is recommended for ages 7 and up) as well as for yourselves.
Cultural action and Mediation
As part of its Artistic and Cultural Education (EAC) policy, La Villette will welcome in 2025/26 more than 16,000 pupils and participants from social-sector organizations or healthcare and medico-educational institutions, as well as 2,000 university students.
Original concept Ex Machina and FLIP Fabrique Directed by Robert Lepage Creative direction Steve Blanchet Artistic direction – circus Bruno Gagnon Assistant director Félix Dagenais Acrobats Jérémie Arsenault, Caroline Bertorello, Pauline Bonanni, Todd Degnan, Maeva Desplat, Naomi Eddy, Mathieu Levasseur, Stéphane Pansa, Cédrik Pinault
Original music and sound co-design Bob and Bill Sound co-design Stanislas Elie, Jérôme Boiteau Studio Expression Set and props co-design Ariane Sauvé Lighting design Renaud Pettigrew Video co-design Nicolas Dostie Visual content animation Irina Litvinenko Costume design Camila Comin Acrobatic choreography Olivier Normand Wrestling consultant Marko Estrada
Creation production management Antoine Caron Circus technical consultant Christophe Hamel Technical direction – creation Émilie Bérubé Production management – tour Éric Gingras Technical direction and lighting stage management Michel Bisson General stage management Antoine Caron Sound stage management Guilhem Sarkis-Dumas, Samuel Sérandour Video stage management Zachary Noël-Ferland Head rigger, head stagehand Dominic Clément Costume and props stage management Magalie Bonanni Video and R&D project manager Samuel Sérandour Set construction Scène Éthique Set and props realization collaboration Geneviève Bournival, Noémie Richard, Chloé Blanchet, Coralie Dansereau Costume realization Camila Comin and Par apparat confection créative Agent for Robert Lepage Lynda Beaulieu
A co-production by Flip Fabrique and Ex Machina / Robert Lepage In co-production with La Villette, Paris; Le Diamant, Québec; La Tohu, Cité des arts du cirque, Montréal; Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde de Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec; Centre culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke; Maison de la Culture de Gatineau; Meany Center for the Performing Arts, Seattle; Cal Performances (UC-Berkeley); University of Pennsylvania – Penn Live Arts; The Pennsylvania State University; Maison des arts Desjardins Drummondville; Spect’art Rimouski, Québec; Salle de spectacles de Baie-Comeau, Québec; National Performing Arts Center, Taichung, Taiwan In partnership with the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec
Ex Machina and FLIP Fabrique are funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the City of Québec.
Producer for Ex Machina Stéphane Mongeau Delegate producer Europe Japan Epidemic (Richard Castelli, assisted by Florence Berthaud et Mélanie Roger) Delegate producer Americas Asia (except Japan) Australia and New Zealand Menno Plukker Theatre Agent (Menno Plukker, assisted by Magdalena Marszalek et Isaïe Richard) Representation, United States CAMI Music
Practical information
Espace Chapiteaux
Metro (subway)
Line 5 - Porte de Pantin (+10 min. walk)
Check the operational status of the elevators by calling 01 40 03 75 75
Metro (subway)
Line 7 - Corentin Cariou (+10 min. walk)
Metro (subway)
Line 7 - Porte de la Villette (+10 min. walk)
Tramway
Line 3b - Porte de la Villette (+15 min. walk)
Bus
Lines 139, 150, 152 - Porte de la Villette
Bike Chap
Vélib' docking points
Bike racks
Bike racks are available inside the Espace Chapiteaux area. You may leave your electric bike there with the battery attached.
Parking
Q-Park
Philharmonie
Q-Park
Cité de la Musique - La Villette
Q-Park
Cité de la Musique - Conservatoire
Parking
Cité des Sciences
- PRM contact at +33 1 40 03 75 75
- This space is accessible for persons with reduced mobility (PRM).
- This space is partially accessible for deaf individuals, depending on the program.
- This space is partially accessible for individuals using hearing aids, depending on the program.
- This space is partially accessible for people with visual impairments or who are blind.
- This space is accessible for people with psychological, cognitive, and intellectual disabilities.
- On-site dining before and after the show, offered by Soré.
- On-site dining before and after the show, to be discovered HERE.
- The artistic and cultural education department at La Villette works with numerous schools and social sector organisations around this performance. During certain shows open to the general public, a significant number of young people may be welcomed into the audience.
- We recommend that you bring earplugs for children (the performance is recommended for ages 7 and up) as well as for yourselves.
Access to the venue is subject to a security check.
- The following are prohibited: all glass containers, sharp or blunt objects, weapons of any kind or replica weapons, animals except guide dogs for the blind, large luggage or bulky bags, and batteries for electric bikes or scooters.
- Security officers have sole discretion over which items are allowed or not.
- Bringing food into the performance hall is not permitted.
With the support of
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