ENNIO MARCHETTO:

THE LIVING PAPER CARTOON

INTERNATIONAL TOUR BOOKER AND GENERAL MANAGER

Ennio is the original quick-change artist, revolutionising the art of origami into hilarious theatrical magic. This Olivier award-nominated, ‘wickedly funny’ and wildly entertaining show uses ingenious paper costumes, razor-sharp mimicry and split-second timing to create a hilarious whirlwind of popular icons.

Supported by a sizzling soundtrack, in just 60 minutes Ennio magically morphs into parodies of any number of his 100 popular characters from the world of music, movies, works of art and world leaders. Ranging from Streisand, Adele, Springsteen, Tina Turner, Beyoncé, Pavarotti, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion and many many more - no celebrity is safe!

Ennio has performed in over 70 countries worldwide. His side-splitting mimicry of international figures, incredible craftsmanship and adaptability to different cultures has cemented his reputation as a unique and inimitable artist.

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Reviews

  • "Marchetto doesn’t just impersonate the stars, he sends them up rotten…"

    The Guardian

  • "What this boy does with his body plus a soundtrack plus coloured paper is wonderfully, wickedly funny"

    The Observer

  • "It’s an absolute hoot… irrepressible"

    New York Times

  • "A sustained hour of heaven by an entertainer touched by genius…this is performance at its crazy, creative unfettered best"

    TimeOut London

  • "A genuinely fresh twist. One amusing outfit after another to a cavalcade of pop songs"

    Huffington Post

  • "Hysterical! Addictive! A pulsating, one-of-a-kind act! Thank goodness Ennio Marchetto never grew out of playing with paper dolls"

    Associated Press

  • "A true Paper Tiger"

    Evening Standard UK

  • "Paper with a pulse... Flat-out funny!!!"

    Hollywood Reporter

  • "His world of quirkily irreverent laughter brings a sense of joy and release to audiences stranded in a world of humourless politicians and supremos"

    The Stage

  • "Irresistible…Marchetto is in serious danger of giving mime a good name"

    The Sunday Times

  • "Ennio is amazing, inventive and truly out of the ordinary. You must see it"

    Beverley Hills Courier, LA

  • "Ennio is electric, eclectic shocker. Breezy, campy, fun"

    San Jose Mercury

  • "Spectacular… deliciously wicked, sharply astute and sparkling with imagination"

    Star Tonight! Cape Town

  • "Dazzlingly ingenious"

    The Scotsman

Cast and creatives

Ennio Marchetto

Co-Director / Co-Designer / Performer

Ennio was born in 1960 in the beautiful city of Venice, next door to the house of Carlo Goldoni. The son of an espresso machine repair engineer, everybody expected Ennio to continue the family tradition – except him.

Inspired by the Disney cartoons he watched in childhood, the modern choreography of Pina Bausch and growing up amidst the Venetian Carnivale, Ennio daydreamed into fl ights of fancy – amusing his family and friends – with visions of Marilyn Monroe dressed in white paper.

His dream became reality with the creation of his fi rst cabaret show winning him the prestigious Golden Lion Award at the Venetian Entertainment Festival and The Golden Mosquito award for comedy.

When he met his collaborative partner Sosthen Hennekam, they created enough paper characters to create a full one-hour show. A year later, GHP helped Ennio to cult fame at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and from there he has become internationally loved and celebrated, performing in over 70 countries and at events such as The Royal Variety Show, MTV Awards, The Lifeball, Elton John’s ‘White Tie and Tiara Ball’ and for The BBC.

Sosthen Hennekam

Co-Director / Co-Designer

Born in the Netherlands, Sosthen studied fashion and costume design at Studio Bercot in Paris. After his studies he started to work as a designer for different fashion houses; Adeline Andre, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Azzedine Alaia, among others. For 2 years he designed menswear collections for Thierry Mugler. He also trained as a cloth maker and, as such, he prepared prototypes for Haute Couture houses like Christian Dior.

While in Italy he saw one of Ennio’s fi rst performances and collaborated with him on a TV project. The freedom of working with paper made Sosthen decide to stay in Italy and to work full time with Ennio on a complete paper show. Sosthen introduced the quick on-stage changes to the show and elaborated the complex paper movements. He also researches new characters and techniques.

Tour