FOOD

"But it is safe to say, at this dinner party, even though you won't be eating much, Sobelle will give you plenty to chew on." – Playbill

"For all its playfulness, this brilliant show has the power to make you look with fresh eyes at a daily act that you probably take for granted — a surefire sign of its worth as a work of genuinely thought-provoking art." – Theatermania

Do we need what we eat? Do we eat what we need? What does it really cost? Chew on these questions in this theatrical gastronomy experience unlike any other.

At the centre of the performance space lies a comically large banquet table, encircled by audience members. The host of the evening, Geoff Sobelle, conducts this multi-sensory experience with deft hands, animated expressions and impressive physicality. Activating the senses through a myriad of sounds, scents, sights and textures, this acclaimed theatremaker stitches together a conversation about personal memories, consumption and the evolution of food production over generations. You are invited to be a guest at the dinner party—whether around the table or from the surrounding seats.

Concocted and performed by American actor, producer and innovator Geoff Sobelle, FOOD features his signature flavour of theatricality, combining rigorous design, onstage magic and subtle humour to create a participatory experience. Connecting the universal to the personal and distilling the absurd from the seemingly mundane, FOOD invites the audience to explore their place within this exploration of food and consumption.

FOOD is the third part of a performance trilogy that explores the abnormal corners of ordinary topics. Each installment—The Object Lesson (2013), HOME (2017), and FOOD (2022)—encourages the audience to ponder their personal connections with objects, spaces, and food. Following its acclaimed selection as an invited work for the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival, FOOD sold out performances in 2023 and went on to tour in countries like Australia, Korea and now, Singapore.

It will be a dinner party to remember: gather round and feast on questions and contemplations surrounding society’s relationship with food and sustenance.

Hungry for more? Get insights into the creative process of the artist himself in a hands-on masterclass on Creating Physical Theatre with Geoff Sobelle.

Production Credits

Creator, Performers & Co-Director Geoff Sobelle

Co-Creator/Magician Steve Cuiffo

Co-Director Lee Sunday Evans

Sound Design Tei Blow

Original Lighting Design Isabella Byrd

Lighting Design Devin Cameron

Chandelier Creation Steven Dufala

Props Creation Jessie Baldinger, Julian Crouch, Steve Cuiffo, Nathan (Pierre) Lemoine, Raphael Mishler, Connor O’Leary, Geoff Sobelle, Matthew Soltesz, Christopher Swetcky

Associate Sound Design Ryan Gamblin

Creative Stage Manager Lisa McGinn

Assistant Stage Manager Kelsey Vivian

Production Manager/Technical Director Chris Swetcky

Creative Producer Jecca Barry

FOOD is commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Arizona State University – Gammage, FringeArts Philadelphia, Allen & Meghan Thorpe, and Garth Patil. Additional support provided by the Wyncote Foundation. Developmental support provided by Mercury Store.