On the evening of June 12th, the West End Theatre drama Life of Pi was staged at the NCPA Theatre. A fantastic, philosophical story leapt from page and screen onto the stage. The seawater on stage seems to come alive, and every movement of the puppet tiger made the audience forget the puppeteers operating behind it.
The film Life of Pi made its debut in 2012. Using 2,670 special effect shots, the director Ang Lee captured the most magical moments spent on the Pacific Ocean. The most challenging and exciting part for the theatre version is how the vast ocean and fierce tiger is presented on the stage.
The stage floor turns into a surging ocean, with the starry sky and windstorm alternating overhead. To the accompaniment of Indian-style design and music, a breathtaking immersive world is created in Life of Pi for the audience.
Since its premiere in 2019, the drama Life of Pi has won five Laurence Olivier Awards, three Tony Awards, and the WhatsOnStage Awards for Best New Drama.
Behind the scenes, “breathing life” into the tiger is the top-tier puppetry team behind the West End Theatre’s sensational War Horse—Finn Caldwell and Nick Barns. The two master puppeteers are known for making highly realistic animal puppets. Notably, at the 2022 Olivier Awards, the seven puppeteers of the tiger unprecedentedly won the “Best Supporting Actor Award” together.
It is a story about survival, faith, loneliness and hope, has long touched audiences around the world. Unlike the film, which reveals the truth at the ending, the drama adaptation boldly innovates its narrative strategy: both versions of Pi’s story—the fantastical voyage and the brutal reality—are presented directly before the audience.
The audience is to confront the ultimate question: “Which version do you trust?” Such a design deprives the “spectators” of their sense of security, entitling the audience to make their own decision. The sense of participation and speculative thinking are refreshingly attractive to those familiar with the original work or film.
Standing on the stage, Pi convinces us that in the vast, storm-tossed ocean of life, holding on to faith and hope will eventually lead us to the light on the other shore.
On June 11th, the NCPA hosted a unique meet-and-greet for Life of Pi. Resident director Gabriella Bird, resident puppetry and action director Tom Stacy and puppeteer Aga Fraczak, along with HU Wanfeng, GU Yue and other puppetry experts from China's Central Academy of Drama, revealed to the audience the secrets behind operating the tiger puppet.
Controlled with millimeter-level precision by three puppeteers, the tiger “Richard Parker” comes to life with every breath and turn of the head. Through world-class puppetry and groundbreaking visual design, the production team brings to the stage the surreal world of the novel, where a tiger, hyena, zebra and gorilla coexist.
On the evening of June 12th, the West End Theatre drama Life of Pi was staged at the NCPA Theatre. A fantastic, philosophical story leapt from page and screen onto the stage. The seawater on stage seems to come alive, and every movement of the puppet tiger made the audience forget the puppeteers operating behind it.
The film Life of Pi made its debut in 2012. Using 2,670 special effect shots, the director Ang Lee captured the most magical moments spent on the Pacific Ocean. The most challenging and exciting part for the theatre version is how the vast ocean and fierce tiger is presented on the stage.
The stage floor turns into a surging ocean, with the starry sky and windstorm alternating overhead. To the accompaniment of Indian-style design and music, a breathtaking immersive world is created in Life of Pi for the audience.
Since its premiere in 2019, the drama Life of Pi has won five Laurence Olivier Awards, three Tony Awards, and the WhatsOnStage Awards for Best New Drama.
Behind the scenes, “breathing life” into the tiger is the top-tier puppetry team behind the West End Theatre’s sensational War Horse—Finn Caldwell and Nick Barns. The two master puppeteers are known for making highly realistic animal puppets. Notably, at the 2022 Olivier Awards, the seven puppeteers of the tiger unprecedentedly won the “Best Supporting Actor Award” together.
It is a story about survival, faith, loneliness and hope, has long touched audiences around the world. Unlike the film, which reveals the truth at the ending, the drama adaptation boldly innovates its narrative strategy: both versions of Pi’s story—the fantastical voyage and the brutal reality—are presented directly before the audience.
The audience is to confront the ultimate question: “Which version do you trust?” Such a design deprives the “spectators” of their sense of security, entitling the audience to make their own decision. The sense of participation and speculative thinking are refreshingly attractive to those familiar with the original work or film.
Standing on the stage, Pi convinces us that in the vast, storm-tossed ocean of life, holding on to faith and hope will eventually lead us to the light on the other shore.
On June 11th, the NCPA hosted a unique meet-and-greet for Life of Pi. Resident director Gabriella Bird, resident puppetry and action director Tom Stacy and puppeteer Aga Fraczak, along with HU Wanfeng, GU Yue and other puppetry experts from China's Central Academy of Drama, revealed to the audience the secrets behind operating the tiger puppet.
Controlled with millimeter-level precision by three puppeteers, the tiger “Richard Parker” comes to life with every breath and turn of the head. Through world-class puppetry and groundbreaking visual design, the production team brings to the stage the surreal world of the novel, where a tiger, hyena, zebra and gorilla coexist.
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