In a puppet show for adults inspired by Japanese Bunraku theater, playwright and director Satoko Ichihara reinterprets the old legend of the “Blind Weakling” (Shuntokumaru). While in the original story children are abandoned, sick people are discriminated against, and ultimately everyone is redeemed, Ichihara goes far beyond the tragic tale of good and evil. She confronts us with the question of what happens when social taboos such as incest and pedophilia are transferred to dolls.
Ichihara replaces traditional bunraku dolls with sex dolls, mannequins, and other creatures that embody desire and violence. As narrator, called Gidayu in Bunraku, actress Sachiko Hara guides us through the story. Experimental musician Kakushin Nishihara combines traditional satsuma biwa sounds, noise and electronic music to create an extraordinary composition. Together they drive the story forward, mediate between worlds and bring the puppets to life.

Content note: This performance is not recommended for persons aged under 16.

Introduction on 14.7. at 20:30
Language: German

Audience talk on 15.7. after the performance
Language: German and Japanese

Photo: ©Satoko Ichihara