About Company

Since its inception in 2002 Temporary Distortion has earned a reputation for pushing the boundaries of theater by staging unsettling, meditative performances in claustrophobic, boxlike structures that feature minimal physical movement and a uniquely restrained acting style. In the work, projected video is juxtaposed with live performance to create dreamlike double worlds that fracture traditional notions of narrative coherence and merge film, performance, and visual art.

In these four-dimensional theatrical installations, the performers never make eye contact, never touch and barely move. Meanwhile, a journey on film unfolds around them in a hyperreal world of blood, sweat, sex and death that is ironically more physical than the presence of the live performer.

Temporary Distortion is based in New York City, where its work has been presented at The Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Chocolate Factory, The Ontological-Hysteric Theater and Performance Space 122. The Company’s work has also been presented internationally at: Brisbane Powerhouse (Brisbane, Australia), Exit Festival (Paris, France), Gare Saint-Sauveur (Lille, France), LiFE (Saint-Nazaire, France), Mois Multi (Quebec City, Canada), On the Boards (Seattle, Washington), Prague Quadrennial (Prague, Czech Republic), Salzburg Festival (Salzburg, Austria), SPAC (Shizuoka, Japan), Théâtre de l’Agora (Évry, France), Théâtre Garonne (Toulouse, France), Theatre Junction (Calgary, Canada), Theatre National de Toulouse (Toulouse, France), Trafó (Budapest, Hungary), Usine-C (Montreal, Canada), Via Festival (Maubeuge, France).

Articles discussing Temporary Distortion’s work have been published in Contemporary Theatre Review, The Drama Review, The New York Times, TheatreForum, Live Design, Real Time Arts and The Brooklyn Rail.