Gateshead International
Festival of Theatre
Sat 4 May | 8pm | Caedmon Hall, Gateshead Central Library
The Talent
by Action Hero & Deborah Pearson
Place of Origin: UK
About
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Action Hero returns to GIFT with their must-see award winning show The Talent, which questions the nature of reality and the legacy we leave behind.
Imagine: A woman, alone in a small sound booth, her voice weaving a tapestry of characters, emotions and worlds. She is a voice over artist. She is a chameleon, morphing into anything the audience desires – from computer game characters to a soothing meditation guide. But who is she truly? And what dark secrets lurk beneath the surface of her vocal talents? Is she a powerful creator, shaping narratives with her voice? Or is she a puppet, controlled by the unseen forces that demand her talents?
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The Talent is a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, asking us to consider the value of our voices and the stories we choose to tell.
Artist biographies
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Action Hero: Gemma Paintin & James Stenhouse create artworks together under the name Action Hero that explore what is it to be human now. Gemma & James’ life-long, shape-shifting collaboration spans performance, installation, sound, events & social practice. The work Action Hero has created has toured to more than 40 countries across 5 continents, from the smallest DIY and artist-led spaces to some of the world’s most prestigious art institutions, galleries and festivals.
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Artist website:
actionhero.org.uk
Deborah Pearson: Deborah Pearson's work spans playwrighting, directing, live art and visual art. She is founder and a co-director of UK-based curation collective Forest Fringe and winner of several distinctions for her practice and Forest Fringe, including twice being named on the Stage 100 list. Her performances have been staged in over twenty countries across five continents and translated into six languages.
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Artist website:
deborahpearson.com
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Credits:
Commissioned by Teatro do Bairro Alto (PT) Cambridge Junction (UK) & South Street Arts/ University of Reading (UK). With support from PACT Zollverein (DE) and Bristol Old Vic Ferment (UK). Thanks to Queen Mary University, University of Bristol and The Yard. With funding from Arts Council England.
Text: Gemma Paintin, Deborah Pearson and James Stenhouse
Direction: Deborah Pearson and James Stenhouse
Performer: Gemma Paintin
Off-stage voices: Deborah Pearson and James Stenhouse
Sound design: Yas Clarke
Lighting design: Alex Fernandes
Set Design: Camilla Clarke
Dramaturgy: Tania El Khoury​
BSL interpreted
signed performance
The Talent is presented with British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, delivered by an interpreter positioned on one side of the stage.
BSL interpreter: Faye Alvi.
Date & Time: Sat 4 May at 8pm
Duration: 1 hour
Age guidance: 14+
Tickets: £12-£8
Venue:
Caedmon Hall
Gateshead Library
Prince Consort Road
Gateshead
NE8 4LN
Further Ticket information
There are three ways to experience GIFT:
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Individual Performance, Workshop & Panel Discussion Tickets £12-£5
Want to pick and choose which events you attend? Individual performance tickets are available for each performance, priced between £12 and £8 for concessions. Individual workshop and panel discussion tickets are £5.
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GIFT Festival Pass £50 (£40 early bird pass)
This pass gives you access to ALL GIFT events happening across the festival. It's the best value if you want to see everything.
Pro-tip: A limited number of early bird passes are available for only £40 in March, so grab yours before they're gone!
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Pay What You Decide Tickets
GIFT is committed to making the festival accessible to everyone. There's a "Pay What You Decide" option for every event. Any amount you can contribute is greatly appreciated and goes directly towards supporting artists, our community workshop programme and the future of the festival.
By attending GIFT, you're directly supporting the development and presentation of new artistic works in Gateshead.
Any questions?
If you need any help booking tickets or have any questions about the festival, feel free to drop an email to giftfestival.info@gmail.com