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VIDF 2023 Festival Program
Japan/Nelson’s
ICHIGO-ICHIEH Accomplished dancerchoreographer-actor Hiromoto Ida skillfully merges dance, theatre, classical music, and voice to tell the story of an old man (Hiromoto Ida), raising a glass of sake to himself in celebration on what will be his last birthday. Reminiscing about the richness of his life experience, he is visited by the spirit of his wife (Lindsay Clague). Birthday Present for Myself features musicians Nicola
Everton (clarinet), Sue Gould (piano), Jeff Faragher (cello), and Martine denBok (violin & viola), performing an evocative original score by Russian composer Pavel Karmanov. Simple but rich text from pioneer Japanese contemporary theatre playwright, Shogo Ota, and a Kagekiyo Noh theatre mask created by Japanese Noh mask artist Mitsue Nakamura adds to the poignant beauty of the work.
Inspired by the subtlety and simplicity of Japanese Noh theatre expressed through western contemporary dance and music, Ida touches our hearts. Through themes of love, transformation and regeneration, the inner world and emotions of this old man inspires us to find unexpected beauty in our own lives. Duration: 90 minutes
Birthday Present for Myself March 17-18 @ 8pm $30-35 Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Presented with:
Credits:
Creation/Direction/ Choreographer: Hiromoto Ida Performers: Hiromoto Ida (Old Man), Lindsay Clague (Wife), Nicola Everton (Clarinet), Sue Gould (Piano), Jeff Faragher (Cello) and Martine Den Bok (Violin/Viola) Music Score: Pavel Karmanov Text: Shogo Ota (Excerpt from Play “Sumika”) Assistant Director: Lindsay Clague
Noh Mask: Mitsue Nakamura Sound Design: John Tucker Sound Assistant: Lachlan Tocher Set & Poster Design: Thomas Loh Lighting Design: Sharon Huizinga Stage Manager: Olivia Bogaard Assistant Stage Manager: Hannah Stevens