The collaborative effort between the deaf and hearing theater companies Khao Niew Theater (Laos) and Deaf Puppet Theater Hitomi (Japan) invited choreographer and director Shiraga Momoko renowned for her innovative approach to creating new spaces, to join forces with Lattanakone Insisiengmay (founder of Khao Niew Theater) for a two-year international collaborative creation spanning from 2023 to 2024.
What does it mean for an object to “live”? It is the act of imbuing an inanimate object, which would otherwise remain lifeless, giving a sense of vitality. While the approaches to objects in Laos and Japan are different, through a process of mutual exploration and suggestion, the creators engaged in profound dialogue with the objects and their interactions with the body, ultimately overcoming these differences to forge a new form of expression. In this performance, ten scenes are developed around everyday objects such as fishing tools and mosquito nets, in which the objects seem to come to life and move with a vibrant energy, as if they were alive themselves.

＜Performance Credits＞
Composition and Direction: Shiraga Momoko（Momonga Complex）
Direction: Lattanakone Insisiengmay（Khao Niew Theater）
Cast: Lattanakone Insisiengmay, Khamneesone Liyang, Chongyee Gnouttittham, and Ketsana Insisiengmay (Khao Niew), Enomoto Toru, Yanase Keiko and Suzuki Aya (Deaf Puppet Theater Hitomi), Adachi Saki (Hitomiza Theater), Dakei, Tsuruta Risa (Hakuchu-mu)

Lighting: Ito Hiroyuki
Sound: Tomiyama Masayuki
Assistant Director: Kitagawa Yu (Momonga Complex)
Stage Manager: Moriyama Kaori, Haraguchi Yoshiko
Stage Section: Maeda Jun

Interpreting Lao: Asanuma Chizuko, Southyphone Douangpaseuth, Chanthakhot Dalavone
Laotian Sign Language: Ketsana Insisiengmay
Japanese Sign Language: Komatsu Tomomi, Furukawa Suzuko, Seita Mami
Laos-Side Coordinator: Asanuma Chizuko
Producers: Tsukada Chiemi, Yoshimura Iyo, Ikeuchi Tsuyoshi, Xie Mannni

Organizer: The Foundation Modern Puppet Center
Co-organizer: The Japan Foundation
Co-production: Foundation Modern puppet Center, The Japan Foundation
Partnership: KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre
Subsidy: Kanagawa Prefecture Magcal Expansion Promotion Subsidy
Support ：Japanese Federation of the Deaf, Kanagawa Federation of the Deaf, Tokyo Federation of the Deaf, Yokohama Federation of the Deaf, Kawasaki Association of the Deaf, UNIMA Japan

*This work was produced for the Japan Foundation‛s International Creations in Performing Arts 2024.
https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/project/culture/perform/creation/2024/index.html

Planned and produced by the Foundation Modern Puppet Center
Filmed at KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre Medium Studio on December 21-22, 2024
Film Production: Foundation Modern Puppet Center, The Japan Foundation, and çà et là Media Create
Filming: SAKANO Masato and FURUYA Hitoshi
Editing: FURUYA Hitoshi

© Foundation Modern Puppet Center, The Japan Foundation, çà et là Media Create