Theater
Back to Back Theatre
The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes
This matter concerns you, as it does me
Pioneers of inclusive theater Back to Back Theatre have been producing works for over 30 years that center actors with intellectual disabilities. This marks the first time this internationally renowned company is introduced to the Kansai region.
The theater work takes place at a public meeting, where three activists with disabilities participate to caution about the dangers of artificial intelligence. They say, “This should be a civil and calm meeting, everyone should respect each other, no personal attacks and keep everything nice.” The activists continue: “Are you alright?” “I can’t remember what I need to say.” “Something like – ‘We are a group of people with disabilities ….’” “Fighting oppression and injustice.” “My mind’s blank.”
The interactions between these people with disabilities can be read as comical and cynical; they illuminate the reality that our prejudices and biases are the greatest hindrances to saving the world, as well as our lack of imagination concerning others’ lives. This work confronts its audience with the question: what really is correct or right?
10.7 (Sat) 15:30
10.8 (Sun) 15:30 ★◆♡
★ Post-show talk
◆ Festival Share Cafe
♡ Childcare Service (reservation required 7 days before each performance)
Duration: 60 min
English with Japanese and English surtitles
⚠️ Recommended for ages 12 and above.
Back to Back Theatre
Geelong
Back to Back Theatre creates new forms of contemporary performance imagined from the minds and experiences of a unique ensemble of actors with a disability, giving voice to social and political issues that speak to all people. Based in the regional center of Geelong, the company is one of Australia’s most globally recognized and respected contemporary theater companies. Since 1999, under the Artistic Directorship of Bruce Gladwin, the company has nurtured a unique artistic voice with an emphasis on the ensemble’s own commentaries on broad social and cultural dialogue. In addition to its professional practice, Back to Back collaborates intensively with communities around the world, with a focus on artistic excellence and elevated social inclusion for people with disabilities.
Authors: Mark Deans, Michael Chan, Bruce Gladwin, Simon Laherty, Sarah
Mainwaring, Scott Price, Sonia Teuben
Director: Bruce Gladwin
Performers: Simon Laherty, Sarah Mainwaring, Scott Price
Composition: Luke Howard Trio –Daniel Farrugia, Luke Howard, Jonathon Zion
Sound Design: Lachlan Carrick
Lighting Design: Andrew Livingston (bluebottle)
Screen Design: Rhian Hinkley (lowercase)
Costume Design: Shio Otani
AI Voice Over: Belinda McClory
Script Consultant: Melissa Reeves
Creative Development: Michael Chan, Mark Cuthbertson, Mark Deans, Rhian
Hinkley, Bruce Gladwin, Simon Laherty, Pippin Latham, Andrew Livingston, Sarah
Mainwaring, Victoria Marshall, Scott Price, Brian Tilley, Sonia Teuben
Stage Manager: Alana Hoggart
Sound Engineer: Eugene MacKinnon
Company Manager: Erin Watson
Production Manager: Bao Ngouansavanh
Touring Producer: Tanya Bennett
Executive Producer: Tim Stitz
The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes has been co-commissioned by
Carriageworks, Theater der Welt, Düsseldorf 2020, the Keir Foundation, the
Thyne Reid Foundation and The Anthony Costa Foundation, supported by
Creative Partnerships Australia through Plus 1, with development support from
the Geelong Arts Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne International Arts
Festival, the Une Parkinson Foundation, The Public Theater (New York City) and
ArtsEmerson (Boston).
The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes was developed, in part, at the
2019 Sundance Theatre Lab at MASS MoCA.
With the special cooperation of: Australian Embassy Tokyo
With the cooperation of HAPS (Social Work/Art Conference)
Supported by The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, through
the Japan Arts Council.
Presented by Kyoto Experiment
Kyoto Experiment Staff
Stage Manager: Masaya Natsume
Lighting: Kosuke Ashidano (RYU)
Sound: Sho Takiguchi
Video: Yoshitaka Shimada
Wardrobe: Atsuko Kiyokawa
Japanese surtitles: Takuya Ito
Talk Inerpreter: Miho Tsujii
Production Coordinator: Mizuki Kakita (ROHM Theatre Kyoto)
Intern: Aya Hatashima
With the stage equipment cooperation of Try Audio Co., Ltd.
ROHM Theatre Kyoto Staff
Stage: Naoki Fujimoto
Lighting: Jun Shibata
Sound: Eisuke Toyoda