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This was one of the most stunning and extraordinary performances that I have seen on stage in London in a while.
The story is based on the wrtings of Jun’ichiro Tanizaki, one of the most important of Japanese writers of the 20th century. The show is coproduced by Complicite, Setagaya Pulic Theatre, Tokyo and barbicanbite09.
Shun-kin tells a story of devotion, passion and power, done in the form of a narration from a book. The story moves from modern day Kyoto to the mysterious history of the Meiji period, delving into the many layers of the psychology of human relationships.
The performance is unbelievably powerful and moving. The cast, which includes TV actress Eri Fukatsu, were superb in their acting, artistry and coordination. Simon McBurney did an amazing job in the artistic direction and the use of clever effects like puppetry, videos onto a moving wall of paper, the water pipe in the corner of the garden, all beautifully fitting.
It play about 2 hours with no intermission and the whole while you are totally absorbed in the the story as it is so compelling. I urge you to try and catch it before it ends its run at the Barbican Theatre.
Barbican Theatre
www.barbican.org /bite
In Japanese with English Surtitles.
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