30 - 31 Aug 2013 I Esplanade Theatre

Hailed as having changed the face of British theatre, Simon McBurney's Complicite comes to Singapore for the first time with a powerful performance that shows us how closely beauty and violence are intertwined. Inspired by legendary Japanese writer Jun'ichiro Tanizaki's A Portrait of Shun-kin and In Praise of Shadows, McBurney spins a spell-binding story that centres on the rich, beautiful and cruel shamisen prodigy Shun-kin who tests the devotion of her dutiful servant Sasuke, leading to a gruesome act of sacrifice.

Featuring film actress Eri Fukatsu, celebrated actor Yoshi Oida and master shamisen player Hidetaro Honjoh, the all-Japanese cast deftly execute Japanese bunraku puppetry alongside Complicite’s trademark multimedia projections of paper that become larks, of kimonos that evoke ghosts; the shadowy world of Shun-Kin will challenge your notions of love and judgement.

Performed in Japanese with English surtitles.

Advisory: Recommended for 17 years and above (mature content & brief nudity).

"...an alluring mesmeric piece, performed with...slick stylization." - CurtainUp London

"...absorbing, evocative production..." - Daily Express

Cast: Kaho Aso, Eri Fukatsu, Honjoh Hidetaro, Kentaro Mizuki, Yasuyo Mochizuki, Yoshi Oida, Songha, Keitoku Takata, Ryoko Tateishi, Junko Uchida

Creative Team:
Director: Simon McBurney
Composer: Honjoh Hidetaro
Design: Merle Hensel and Rumi Matsui
Lighting: Paul Anderson
Sound: Gareth Fry
Video: Finn Ross
Costume: Christina Cummingham
Puppetry: Blind Summit Theatre
Associate Director: Kirsty Housley
Dramaturg: Jo Allan