The Talent by Action Hero (part of GIFT 2024)

The Talent
By Action Hero & Deborah Pearson (UK artists)

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?

The Talent is a post-pandemic, post-human vocal soup that wonders aloud about how the human voice lives on outside the body.

Venue: Caedmon Hall, Gateshead Library
Duration: 60 minutes

Artist biographies

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 and 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.

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.

Booking Tickets

There are three ways to experience GIFT:

• GIFT Festival Pass (£50): 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!
  
• Individual Performance Tickets (£12-£8): Want to pick and choose which events you attend? Individual tickets are available for each performance, priced between £12 and £8.
  
• Pay What You Decide: 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 and the future of the festival.

Still have questions?

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