Ivo van Hove directs Ruth Wilson in The Human Voice on West End in London
In 2022 Ivo van Hove directs British actress Ruth Wilson in The Human Voice by Jean Cocteau. Van Hove created this production (La voix humaine) first at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam with Halina Reijn. Halina Reijn played La voix humaine for eleven years, all over the world: New York, Paris, St-Petersburg, Toronto, Dublin, Sydney, Barcelona and Hong Kong. In total 183 shows en more than 50.000 visitors.
This successfull production gets a revival on West End, in a brand new cooperation between Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and Sonia Friedman. The Human Voice with Ruth Wilson can be seen March 17 till April 9, 2022 at the Harold Pinter Theatre on West End in London.
Photo: Matt Crockett
It is the second time that Ivo van Hove and Ruth Wilson work together. In 2016 he directed her in Hedda Gabler at The National Theatre. The scenographer for The Human Voice is Jan Versweyveld.
About Ruth Wilson
Ruth Wilson is a British theatre, tv and film actress. She is known for series like His Dark Materials, The Affair (Golden Globe), Luther, Mrs Wilson (four BAFTA nominations) and Jane Eyre. Films with Ruth Wilson are, among others: Dark River, Saving Mr Banks, The Lone Ranger and Anna Karenina. In theatre she played in King Lear (Cort Theater – Tony Award nominee), Hedda Gabbler (National Theatre – Oliver Award nominee), Anna Christie (Oliver Award) en A Streetcar Named Desire (Oliver Award).
Quotes Ruth Wilson and Ivo van Hove
Ruth Wilson: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be collaborating again with Ivo and Jan on this wonderful, heartbreaking and deeply human monologue from Jean Cocteau. A woman alone with only her phone as companion, Cocteau explores the nature of intimate relations through inanimate objects. In a world in which are all addicted to and dependent on our phones, this play from the 1930s couldn’t feel more prescient. Ivo is the perfect director to bring Cocteau’s play to life.’
-|-Ivo van Hove: ’The Human Voice is a real ‘evergreen’, a play that will always evoke strong feelings in the audience because it is so recognizable. After Halina, it is now Ruths turn to deliver this monologue in her most personal way. She has absolutely no fear of bringing extreme feelings to the stage and that is necessary to play this role. I'm looking forward to our renewed collaboration.'
About The Human Voice
With The Human Voice (La voix humaine), Jean Cocteau wrote the ultimate farewell monologue. A woman speaks to her ex on the phone in a last attempt to undo their breakup. Gradually, she realizes that he has chosen another lover for good. The telephone acts as a merciless instrument: every sentence can be the last. At first the woman is still strong, then she becomes desperate and self-destructive. The Human Voice is a cry for attention and a battle with emptiness.
Supported by Arts Council England and produced with the kind permission of the Chairman of the Comite Jean Cocteau.