DATE and TIME
Sunday 16th Aug 2020
13:00-13:30
@The Bandstand in Battersea Park
‘Pearl and Dagger’ is a newly devised musical inspired by a Japanese folktale, and a unique collaboration between British and Japanese artists, combining both Western musical theatre and Japanese tradition. It is a story of a young woman overcoming the grief over her deceased mother through the journey to discover the secret of a mysterious island and the meaning of real bravery. With this narrative, we aim to raise and increase awareness of Japan and Japanese culture, and very much hope that this theatrical experience becomes an invitation to the world of Japanese aesthetics.
This 30 mins concert version at Battersea Park is an experimental theatre project under COVID situation. We explore how we can connect with the audience and provide them with theatrical sensation in outdoor environment strictly following the social distance policy.
CREATIVES
Original Concept, Music and Lyrics by EDEN TREDWELL
Directed by YOJIRO ICHIKAWA
Co-Written by NOZOMI ABE
Costume Design NAO MATSUO
Musical Arrangement GUS TREDWELL, NINA DANON, GREG REID
Produced by THÉATRE LAPIS
Poster Art by CLAUDIO DE LUCA
Additional Lyrics for ‘Hontou no Yuuki’ by Iskandar Sharazuddin
CAST
Natsumi Kuroda
Kanako Nakano
Paul Reynolds
Juna Shai
Sok-ho Trinh
REVIEW
☆☆☆☆
“The music is beautiful and evocative, while effectively furthering the storyline…
Yojiro Ichikawa’s direction is the perfect mix of static performance and symbolic movement for a concert staging. The use of minimalist materials and props to portray the evil serpent is clever storytelling. Much of the movement looks to be drawn from Japanese heritage, which would surely only be more captivating and theatrical in the full production.
Overall, a lovely experience, and a valuable opportunity to see a new and original musical. Pearl and Dagger is a show to keep an eye on for when it can return to theatres in its entirety.”
GALLERY
Pearl & Dagger – the staged reading 2019 – excerpt