Robert Lepage and Ex Machina's theatricality is marked by intense hybridity, blending inter-disciplinary and inter-cultural elements. While this complexity has garnered international acclaim, it has also faced criticism. The book offers a fresh, practice-based perspective, arguing that these innovative aesthetic practices serve as positive cultural principles. Through case studies and in-depth interviews, it intertwines theoretical and practical concerns, providing a new critical lens on Lepage and Ex Machina. James Reynolds illustrates that the eclecticism of Ex Machina is deeply rooted in an engagement with social, cultural, and political differences. The analysis reveals a commitment to creating performances that embody contradiction, allowing audiences to grasp difference in its many forms. This exploration of difference in depth and complexity enables readers to enhance their practical and theoretical understanding of the work. Additionally, the discourse surrounding this vital practice is revitalized by re-evaluating its contributions to the vocabulary of drama and theatre, while also uncovering and assessing the critical dialogues initiated through performance.
