Typhoon 4 - International East Asian Playreading Festival

Date: 2005 May 10 17:46

Posted by Joe

We know Otaku News readers are a very cultured group, which is why we've just been sent details about the Yellow Earth Theatre, who will be performing Typhoon 4 - International East Asian Playreading Festival. Billed from Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st May 2005 at the Soho Theatre in London, it looks like an entertaining showcase for fans of the Far East.

Full Story

Press release as follows:

Yellow Earth Theatre

Presents

TYPHOON 4

International East Asian Playreading Festival
5 days, 7 international plays, 1 seminar.

Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st May 2005
Soho Theatre

Yellow Earth Theatre, the acclaimed East Asian theatre company celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, presents its 4th Typhoon festival. As an important and unique event in British theatre, Typhoon 4 is designed to promote the best of contemporary East Asian drama through playreadings directed by six distinguished guest directors.

To date, Typhoon has showcased work from new and established writers across 10 East Asian countries. This year Typhoon 4 presents work from Japan, China, Korea and Malaysia and from YET¹s own Yellow Ink initiative, which nurtures young British East Asian writers.

The week of rehearsed readings will encompass pieces for children and adults, fairy tales and folk legends and stories both surreal and satirical, personal and political. On Friday 20th May a key Seminar will focus on how the dialogue between British theatre and East Asian dramatists can be improved.

Yellow Earth Theatre was founded in 1995 by five East Asian performers. Over its 10 year history YET has established itself as a leading light in the development of East Asian drama in the UK. Embracing a dynamic physical theatre aspect that has been a distinctive feature of the company's new work and the reinterpretation of classics, YET explores universal themes from an East Asian perspective. David K.S. Tse, YET¹s Artistic Director, was awarded the Windrush Arts Achiever Award for 2004 and the same year YET itself was named as winner of the inaugural Pearl Award for Creative Endeavour.

Tues 17th May 7.00pm SICK
Wed 18th May 7.00pm THE NIGHT A TIGER WAS CAPTURED
Thurs 19th May 7.00pm THE FACE OF JIZO
Fri 20th May 3.00pm SEMINAR: East Asian Drama on the Map
Fri 20th May 7.00pm O CHANG-GUN¹S TOENAIL
Sat 21st May 3.00pm Matinee Double Bill: NINE DRAGON DRUMS & INUGAMI
Sat 21st May 7.00pm THE BIG PURGE

Full schedule follows below. Cast to be announced. Q&A sessions follow all readings.
For further information on YET please visit www.yellowearth.org
Yellow Earth Theatre is supported by Arts Council England


YELLOW EARTH THEATRE presents TYPHOON 4 at Soho Theatre
Full schedule of events:


Tues 17th May 7.00pm

SICK by Betsuyaku Minoru (Japan)
Directed by Jon Lloyd (Associate Director, Soho Theatre)
A reluctant nurse is sick of the sick, and there's a shoe-thief on the loose in this absurd surrealist comedy


Wed 18th May 7.00pm

THE NIGHT A TIGER WAS CAPTURED by Tian Han (China)
Directed by Kristine Landon-Smith (Artistic Director, Tamasha Theatre)
On the eve of his only daughter's wedding, a tiger-hunter is in pursuit of a man-eater, but sometimes the greatest danger is in the last place we look.


Thurs 19th May 7.00pm

THE FACE OF JIZO by Hisashi Inoue (Japan)
Directed by Philippe Cherbonnier (YET Literary Manager and Freelance Director)
Mitsue grapples with guilt at surviving Hiroshima when unexpectedly, her father returns, encouraging her to marry. Whether she can lay her ghosts to rest forms the heart of this postwar Japanese masterpiece.


Fri 20th May 3.00pm (2 hours)

Seminar: East Asian Drama on the Map
How can we improve the dialogue between British theatre and East Asian dramatists?
Chair: Philippe Cherbonnier (YET Literary Manager)
Panel: Richard Shannon (Polka Theatre for Children), Ben Jancovich (Royal National Theatre), David K.S. Tse (Yellow Earth Theatre)


Fri 20th May 7.00pm

O CHANG-GUN¹S TOENAIL by Park Joh-Yeol (Korea)
Directed by Kwong Loke (Associate Director, Yellow Earth Theatre)
O Chang-gun is a simple farmer who knows only the cows and the trees, until he is conscripted into the Korean army and enters a farcical world of lies and cowardice. An anti-war fairy tale from one of Korea's foremost dramatists.


Sat 21st May 3.00pm MATINEE DOUBLE BILL

NINE DRAGON DRUMS by Li Yan (Yellow Ink, UK)
Directed by Richard Shannon (Associate Director, Polka Theatre for Children)
The King of the Dragons has fallen to earth, old and grey and with no fire in his belly. As he tells his story to a cheeky crab an unlikely friendship blossoms. A charming counting story for children.

INUGAMI by Shuji Terayama (Japan)
Directed by Richard Shannon (Associate Director, Polka Theatre for Children)
The lyrical and disturbing folk legend of Tsukio the Dog-Boy seeking acceptance in Ancient Japan. One of Japan¹s most prolific artists tackles some of humanity¹s most deeply rooted taboos.


Sat 21st May 7.00pm

THE BIG PURGE by Kee Thuan Chye (Malaysia)
Directed by Paulette Randall, Freelance Director
A politicised satire dealing with racism in Malaysia. "He who ate the chilli knows how hot it is!"

TYPHOON 4 at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

Tickets:
Daily ticket including Seminar: £5 (£2.50 concessions)
A ticket stub from any of the other playreadings gains free entry to the Seminar.
Special Offer! £15 (Normally £30) /£10 concession for admission to every performance including Seminar.
Booking: Soho Theatre box office: 0870 429 6883
Book online: www.sohotheatre.com
Minicom: 020 7478 0136

Travel to Soho Theatre:
Tube: Tottenham Court Road