This is a visual theater piece by Nancy Rusek and Eric de Sarria, presented in collaboration with Geng Yun and Gu Jing Sheng. It is a journey across the boundaries of reality and illusion, where images speak louder than words, movement holds more weight than posture, and music transcends all speech.

 

 

This is not an ordinary Conference, but a poetic and absurd exploration of dreams. A woman meets a man, the man meets a puppet, the puppet encounters a shadow, the shadow follows a ghost, and the ghost returns to the woman... Characters, puppets, shadows, and ghosts meet and reincarnate in the disorientation of time and space, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion.

Puppets whisper, shadows wander, ghosts glide silently across the pages, and the world constantly folds and transforms. In this theater woven from puppets, paper ghosts, and absurd magic, meaning is deconstructed, logic is shattered, leaving behind pure visual impact and the poetic flow of drama.

 

 

 

The world awakens in the folds of paper, human forms and puppets dance together under the strings, and shadows weave intertwined destinies on the walls of a labyrinth. Memories drift like bottles in the sea of time, storms tear open the sky, revealing all pretense in the fractures. Then everything returns to zero, silence as before, until the gears of the cycle mesh once more—a new prologue, still awaiting its writing in the eternal cycle.

 

A 50-minute surreal journey takes you into a theater dreamscape that is both absurd and poetic.

 

 

"A Surrealist Conference" is a work centered on visual narrative, breaking away from the traditional dramatic logic dominated by language. Instead, it constructs emotions and imagery through the body, objects, light and shadow, and fluid space.

In the creative process, I sought to break down the boundaries between characters and objects, reality and illusion, past and future. Materials like paper, fabric, puppets, and chairs—ordinary yet fragile—are imbued with life, serving as both characters and vessels of memory, forming a dreamworld that can walk, struggle, collapse, and restart.

 

The entire work presents a cyclical narrative structure, in which people and objects undergo separation, loss, and return to zero through silent migration and entanglement. Each collapse marks the beginning of another encounter. The lighting and images constantly change their positions and proportions, creating spatial illusions and psychological disorientation, immersing the audience in a constantly flowing consciousness.

This project is deeply influenced by contemporary object theater and surreal visual theater traditions, particularly drawing on the creative experiences of artists such as Philippe Jantzen. In this experiment, I aim to explore the subtle relationship between "body—object—space" and seek a narrative approach that transcends language to reach the depths of the heart.

"A Surrealist Conference" is not only a journey into dreams but also a profound inquiry into memory, existence, and a sense of belonging. Through constantly changing visual scenes and delicate rhythms of movement, I hope to allow the audience to experience loss while watching, and in that loss, rediscover themselves.

Photos ©Marouille

 

NANCY RUSEK studied ballet at the «Royal Ballet School of Flanders» in Antwerp. She soon moved into contemporary dance, working with choreographers such as Andy Degroat, Philippe Decouflé, Système Castafiore etc....But dancing wasn’t enough for her: she choreographed for her company, for others, for film directors, TV commercials and music videos.

Assists choreographer Marcia Barcellos to take the reins as rehearsal director for Les Ballets de Lorraine (Didier Deschamps), Philippe Decouflé «Sombréro» , Théâtre de Suresnes «Zoopsi Comédie» (Olivier Meyer) ... But along the way, she discovered another, underground alley, beyond «La Fin des Terres» with Philippe Genty and Mary Underwood, in 2004. It was the start of a wonderful adventure that has continued ever since!

Together, they trace their movements on stages all over the world, before becoming their assistant on several training courses (including at the I.I.M de Charleville - Mézières), as well as on their latest piece, «Paysages Intérieurs», as choreographic assistant.

She holds a Diplôme d’État in contemporary dance (D.E.) and is a practitioner, qualified to teach the Feldenkrais method.She continues her practice of movement through her choreographic eye, puppet manipulation, materials for various companies(Toutito Teatro...) and for various television projects.She works to develop Philippe Genty’s pedagogical corpus (at ESNAMCharleville-Mézières, at the CNAC with the new magic training course run by Raphaël Navarro, Hab Center in Korea, etc.) and runs numerous workshops in the tradition of this creator on their behalf, often accompanied by Eric de Sarria of Mots de Tête Compagnie.

 

ERIC DE SARRIA has worked with Philippe Genty since 1988. As an actor, he took part in the creation of Dérives, the revival of Dédale, and the recreation of Zigmund Follies. Since 2001, he has been assisting Philippe Genty in his training courses and on some of his creations: Boliloc and Ne m'oublie pas (2012 version), Paysages Intérieurs (2016). He has also worked with L'illustre
Famille Burattini, and Théâtre de l'Unité. He has collaborated on directing and writing with the Playground collective (in Spain)(La Tête dans les Nuages, Insomni, Monstres) and with Les Maladroits(Frères, Joueurs, Camarades). He transmits the pedagogical work of Philippe Genty and Mary Underwood, with the help of Nancy Rusek and other members of the Compagnie Philippe
Genty, in the form of intensive courses and long training sessions reserved for professionals.

 

Yun GENG Puppetry Creator | Theatre Designer | Intercultural Artist
Yun Geng is a PhD candidate in Drama at the University of Kent, specializing in puppetry and theatre design. She holds a Master’s degree from Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London, and a Bachelor’s degree from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. As a creator and performer, Yun collaborated with French puppeteer Éric de Sarria on her representative work A Taste of Millefeuille, which premiered in Shanghai. Her practice spans puppetry, theatre design, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with a focus on bridging cultures and exploring the imaginative
power of memory through her art.

 

Jing sheng GU graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Since 2010, he has participated in theater projects directed by Suzuki Tadashi, dedicated to promoting the practice and research of the Suzuki Method globally. This includes introducing Suzuki training to Chinese universities, organizing international academic seminars, translating his important works, and being officially authorized by Suzuki Tadashi to teach the method. To date, he has trained over 300 students worldwide, with alumni spanning more than 20 countries. He has been invited to conduct performance workshops and specialized lectures at universities in China, Singapore, the UK, and other countries. His teaching integrates multicultural perspectives, advocates inclusive training methods, and uses practice to drive theoretical development, exploring the synergistic development of actor training and theatrical creation across different cultural contexts. He is committed to building a more globally adaptable performance education system.

 

 

Founded by Eric de Sarria, the French Mots de Tête Theatre Company is a unique artistic group rooted in the artistic development and educational research association of the Philippe Janté Theatre Company. It conducts teaching workshops and stage productions for professional actors and amateur enthusiasts worldwide, while also dedicated to preserving and updating the teaching materials of Philippe Janté and Mary Underwood (Mary Underwood, Philippe Jant's wife). The French Mots de tête Theatre Company has inherited and developed Philippe Jant's unique artistic style, creating works that blend traditional and innovative forms of expression, such as puppetry, vivid physical movement, and stunning visual design, to craft a distinctive visual theater experience. The French Brain Whisperers Theater Company not only delves deeply into local culture but also actively collaborates with international partners in the fields of art, education, and society. Their works not only enrich the theatrical stage in France and around the world but also provide audiences with unique aesthetic experiences and profound emotional resonance.

Resonate Horizon Theatre specializes in contemporary theater creation, dedicated to exploring the diversity of theatrical expression. The troupe skillfully blends visual theater, Suzuki actor training methods, physical theater, puppet masks, and object theater, continuously expanding the boundaries of theater. Additionally, the troupe actively engages in theater education, international artistic exchanges, and workshop training, driving innovation and development in theater art.