This January some of the leading venues in London such as the Barbican, the Southbank Centre and Soho Theatre, all open their doors to London International Mime Festival 2017.

 

On the programme you’ll find acrobats and Mask-theatre experts, and amongst these; Ashes – a performance by Plexus Polaire, directed by Norwegian director Yngvild Aspeli.

The performance is inspired by the true events related in best-selling Norwegian novel, Before I Burn, and uses life-size puppets and projection to depict a small town in 1970s Norway, which is targeted by an arsonist for one long, terrifying month. As homes are burnt to cinders, panic spreads and neighbors wonder who amongst them could cause such fear and anguish. Years later a young man becomes haunted by the story.

Director Yngvild Aspeli studied theatre at the Lecoq School in Paris before attending France’s prestigious international puppetry school, ESNAM in Charleville-Mézières. She has worked with puppetry and physical theatre companies in England, France and Norway.

The festival starts at 9 January and ends 4 Febraury 2017. Ashes runs from 27-29 January at Jacksons Lane Theatre.