On the 9th and 10th of July 2024, the Alliance Française de Dhaka hosted a captivating theatrical performance by Laurie Cannac entitled “WOLFED DOWN on July 9 and 10, 2024.” The performance took place at the Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. This event offered audiences a unique and immersive experience, showcasing the talent of Laurie Cannac in a compelling and thought-provoking production.
Drawing from the beloved European fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood by the Brothers Grimm, “Wolfed Down” is a captivating one-woman show that spotlights the exceptional talent of Laurie Cannac alongside an enchanting array of puppets.
Helmed by director Ilka Schönbein, with Laurie Cannac’s ingenious design and interpretation, “Wolfed Down” was honoured with a nomination for the Molières Jeune Public Prize in 2010. This “Gothic” adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood ingeniously intertwines the puppet and the actress’s body, exploring its animistic power while seamlessly weaving together poetry and a delightful sense of humour.
The puppetry work of Graine de Vie, Laurie Cannac’s company, combined with the ideas of the famous “alchemist” Ilka Schönbein, represents an innovative and constructive form of theatre that seeks to evoke emotion and challenge taboos through artful puppetry, masks, and an expressionist aesthetic.
Laurie Cannac, a dedicated puppeteer, cultivated her skills at the Théâtre-Ecole du Passage under the guidance of Nils Arestrup and Alexandre Del Perugia. In 1997, she founded her company, Graine de Vie [Seed of Life], with the aim of producing thought-provoking shows.
Her first official production, L’Homme de la Manche [The Man of La Mancha], was a highly personal adaptation of Don Quixote, directed by Alexandre Picard and performed in English.