Le livre blanc is a love triangle – a threesome – in which a man loses the only man he has ever really loved, first to a woman and then to death. la voix humaine is a dialogue in which we only ever hear one side.

with la voix humaine we are presented with two characters, one of whom we never meet. until now. perhaps it is artistic licence, perhaps merely coincidence, or perhaps the two works are about the same characters – but for the first time ever metta theatre presents the other half of the phone call in a beautiful work of puppetry. is the lover of our hero in le livre blanc – H – the elusive caller and ex-lover of la voix humaine's heroine? or is this unheard voice, like hamlet – a character onto whom every generation projects their own characteristics, idiosyncrasies and weaknesses – a cipher through whom we read what ever it is we want to read? and what do we know of our heroine? she is vulnerable and desperate, suicidal but still possessed of a surreal humour that gives her a delightful charm.

'tu dessines sur le buvard
des profils, des coeurs, des étoiles.
ah! tu ris!
j'ai des yeux à la place des oreilles.

you are drawing on the blotter,
profiles, hearts, stars.
ah! you smile!
i have eyes tucked away inside my ears.'

jean cocteau | la voix humaine