Overview

Don't miss this unforgettable production, as Canada's Ex Machina brings together three formidable talents—dancer Sylvie Guillem, director Robert Lepage, and choreographer Russell Maliphant—to explore the life of Charles de Beaumont, Chevalier d'Éon. Likely the first spy to use cross-dressing in pursuit of his duties, Éon's many enemies included Louis XVI, who forced him to wear a dress all the time. Eventually, people no longer knew whether he was a man or a woman.

Midway between theater and dance, Eonnagata draws on onnagata, a kabuki theater technique that enables actors to represent women in a highly stylized fashion. The work features Sylvie Guillem, a classical ballerina and now leading exponent of contemporary dance. Robert Lepage, whose latest visionary project is a new production of Wagner's Ring cycle for the Metropolitan Opera, pushes the limits of theater, mixing genres and venturing into new territory. And British choreographer Russell Maliphant blends martial arts, classical dance, and innovative lighting technologies into works of fluidity and staggering power.

A Sadler's Wells Production
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Program Notes

Program notes are available online. [PDF]

Multimedia

Articles

SF Chronicle preview article "Robert Lepage steps into Eonnagata dance role."
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Toronto Star says Eonnagata is "not to be missed!" Read the review >>