THEATRE SHOWS FOR YEARS 9 and 12
SHUNKIN
Synopsis:
Inspired by the work of one of the most important Japanese writers of the twentieth century, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki, Shun-kin tells the tale of devotion, passion and power, where beauty is unforgiving and love is blinding.Moving between the neon glow of Japan and the vanished world of Meiji, Shun-kin discovers the moments of light in a world of darkness. Emerging from traditional Japanese culture, this powerful performance shows us just how close beauty and violence can really be.
Reviews:
‘A multi-layered portrayal of the psychology of human relationships.’ Mainichi Shimbun, Japan ‘Extraordinary staging…a sensual theatrical world steeped in shadow.’ Asahi Shimbun, Japan
Cast: Directed by Simon McBurneyComposer Hidetaro HonjoSet Design Merle Hensel and Rumi MatsuiLighting Paul AndersonSound Gareth FryProjection Finn Ross for mesmerCostume Christina CunninghamPuppetry Blind Summit TheatrePerformed by Kaho Aso, Songha Cho, Eri Fukatsu, Hidetaro Honjo, Yoshi Oida, Yuko Miyamoto, Kentaro Mizuki, Yasuyo Mochizuki, Keitoku Takada, Ryoko Tateishi Based on the writings of Jun'ichiro TanizakiCo-produced by Complicite, Setagaya Public Theatre and barbicanbite09 Supported by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Japan Foundation, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
Company:
Under the artistic direction of Simon McBurney, Complicite is one of the world’s leading theatre companies. Shun-kin is the second collaboration with the Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo. Performed by an entirely Japanese cast including film actress Eri Fukatsu, the production opened with a short sell-out run in Tokyo in February 2008. Complicite returns following the success of multi-award winning A Disapperaring Number (bite07 and bite08) and the critically acclaimed The Elephant Vanishes (bite03 and bite04).
Pics:
SHUNKIN
Synopsis:
Inspired by the work of one of the most important Japanese writers of the twentieth century, Jun'ichiro Tanizaki, Shun-kin tells the tale of devotion, passion and power, where beauty is unforgiving and love is blinding.Moving between the neon glow of Japan and the vanished world of Meiji, Shun-kin discovers the moments of light in a world of darkness. Emerging from traditional Japanese culture, this powerful performance shows us just how close beauty and violence can really be.
Reviews:
‘A multi-layered portrayal of the psychology of human relationships.’ Mainichi Shimbun, Japan ‘Extraordinary staging…a sensual theatrical world steeped in shadow.’ Asahi Shimbun, Japan
Cast: Directed by Simon McBurneyComposer Hidetaro HonjoSet Design Merle Hensel and Rumi MatsuiLighting Paul AndersonSound Gareth FryProjection Finn Ross for mesmerCostume Christina CunninghamPuppetry Blind Summit TheatrePerformed by Kaho Aso, Songha Cho, Eri Fukatsu, Hidetaro Honjo, Yoshi Oida, Yuko Miyamoto, Kentaro Mizuki, Yasuyo Mochizuki, Keitoku Takada, Ryoko Tateishi Based on the writings of Jun'ichiro TanizakiCo-produced by Complicite, Setagaya Public Theatre and barbicanbite09 Supported by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Japan Foundation, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation
Company:
Under the artistic direction of Simon McBurney, Complicite is one of the world’s leading theatre companies. Shun-kin is the second collaboration with the Setagaya Public Theatre, Tokyo. Performed by an entirely Japanese cast including film actress Eri Fukatsu, the production opened with a short sell-out run in Tokyo in February 2008. Complicite returns following the success of multi-award winning A Disapperaring Number (bite07 and bite08) and the critically acclaimed The Elephant Vanishes (bite03 and bite04).
Pics:
A VIEW
FROM A BRIDGE
Synopsis:
Acknowledged as one of the great classics of the twentieth century, Arthur Miller’s electrifying and deeply moving play A View From The Bridge proved to be a milestone in American theatrical history: it will be rediscovered in a new production starring Ken Stott, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Hayley Atwell, directed by Olivier Award-winning Lindsay Posner.Dockworker Eddie Carbone has made a good life for himself and his wife and niece in 1950’s Brooklyn. From an immigrant family himself, Eddie is happy to house and protect his wife’s Italian cousins who arrive illegally in pursuit of the ‘American Dream’. What Eddie doesn’t know is that this act of kindness will have a shattering effect on his whole life, and the lives of those he loves.Arthur Miller is arguably America’s finest playwright, with his other landmark works including The Crucible and Death of a Salesman. Lindsay Posner (Death and the Maiden, Fiddler on the Roof and Carousel) directs an all-star cast, with Ken Stott (Rebus, Messiah, God of Carnage) as Eddie, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Perfect Storm) as Beatrice and Hayley Atwell (Brideshead Revisited, The Duchess) as Catherine.
Show Poster:
LORD OF THE FLIES
Synopsis:
All hell breaks loose when British schoolboys including Ralph, Piggy and Jack get stranded on a desert island in William Golding's Lord of the Flies. The battle for civilisation versus savagery is played out and the boys' attempt at self-rule ends in total disaster. This is perfect material for the violently choreographed piece of physical theatre by Pilot Theatre, a national touring theatre, based at York Theatre Royal.
It relies on eight adult actors, performing against the backdrop of a shiny plane-crash set. "It is the tail section and the fuselage of a crashed aeroplane. The tail section pivots, twists and turns 360 degrees. The aeroplane represents all areas and aspects of the island. They climb over it. They strip everything off it. They make their spears from the metal struts. They tie people up with the seat belts from the aeroplane," explains Pilot's artistic director, Marcus Romer.
His award-winning production kicks off its 10th-anniversary national tour this month in York, complete with a constant soundtrack, representing the spirit and the sounds of the island. "It begins with angelic and beautiful harmonies and becomes more discordant as the story progresses. It has sounds of the sea, animals, life on the island, drumming and banging."
Video images are projected on to the stage to set various island scenes. "We project the sea for Piggy's death. He is pushed off the cliff having asked for his stolen glasses back. There is rain and thunderstorm for Simon's murder. He is kicked and beaten to death with spears. It is projected in black and white. The absence of colour makes it quite stark," he says.
Romer, who is also a published playwright and adapts books for his Pilot Theatre productions, also directed Pilot's touring production of Roy Williams's play Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads in 2006. "We are taking Lord of the Flies to Bermuda, the Isle of Man and Jersey," says Romer. "This is our island tour!"
URL AND EMBED FOR VIDEO
Embed:
Url: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OeDY2JSl0Fk
Reviews:
“William Golding meets Quentin Tarantino" -Financial Times
"Brilliantly evoked...see it and weep" - Time Out
"Terrifying and exhilarating production...heart stopping" -The Guardian
"Visceral production...thrillingly choreographed" -The Independent
Cast:
Book by: William GoldingCompany: Pilot Theatre (in association with York Theatre Royal)Adapted by: Nigel WilliamsDirector: Marcus RomerDesign: Ali AllenDesign: Marise RoseMusic: Sandy NuttgensPerformer: Dominic DoughtyPerformer: Davood GhadamiPerformer: Tony HasnathPerformer: Mark KnightleyPerformer: Lachlan McCallPerformer: Elliot QuinnPerformer: Ben SewellPerformer: Michael Sewell
