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※Due to the use of music, this clip is muted from 9:05 to 18:40.

SHIRAGA Momoko and Lattanakone INSISIENGMAY
“Asian Object Theater Work-in-Progress: Laos–Japan Collaboration among Deaf and Hearing Performers”

This project is an international coproduction aimed at new creation through puppets, objects, and human bodies, in which Khao Niew (Laos), a theater company with collaboration between deaf and hearing performers, and Deaf Puppet Theater Hitomi (Japan) were joined by SHIRAGA Momoko (leader of Momonga Complex), a choreographer and director who creates new spaces through flexible ideas and configuration.
It was the first time that Shiraga joined the two theater companies, which have been cultivating exchanges since 2018. The work-in-progress performance held in Tokyo followed five days of research in Laos and thirteen days of joint workshops in Japan.
The project started from contact with local life, culture, and spirituality in Laos. In Japan, the two groups constructed puppets (objects) using materials and tools that they had respectively gathered or created them by perceiving the materials themselves as living things. The performance was an experimental one that explored the relationships between objects, spaces, and human bodies while preserving the differences between the Japanese and Laotian creative approaches.

This work was produced for the Japan Foundation’s International Creations in Performing Arts 2023. https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/project/culture/perform/creation/2023/index.html

＜Performance Credits＞
Directors: SHIRAGA Momoko (Momonga Complex) and Lattanakone INSISIENGMAY (Khao Niew)
Cast: Lattanakone INSISIENGMAY, Khamneesone Liyang, Chongyee Gnouttitham, and Ketsana INSISIENGMAY (Khao Niew)
ENOMOTO Toru, YANASE Keiko, SUZUKI Aya, and ADACHI Saki (Deaf Puppet Theater Hitomi)
Dakei

Lighting: ITO Hiroyuki
Sound: TOMIYAMA Masayuki
Assistant Director: KITAGAWA Yu (Momonga Complex)
Stage Manager: AOKI Takashi

Interpreting
Lao: ASANUMA Chizuko and HIGASHI Satomi
Laotian Sign Language: Ketsana INSISIENGMAY
Japanese Sign Language: TAKASHIMA Yumiko, KOMATSU Tomomi, and SEITA Mami
Laos-Side Coordinator: ASANUMA Chizuko

Filming: FURUYA Hitoshi and SAKANO Masato
Planning/Production: TSUKADA Chiemi and YOSHIMURA Iyo

Organized by the Foundation Modern Puppet Center
Co-organized by The Japan Foundation
With support from the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, Tokyo Federation of Deaf, Kanagawa Prefecture Federation of the Deaf, Kawasaki City Association of the Deaf, and UNIMA JAPAN
Planned and produced by the Foundation Modern Puppet Center

Filmed at KAGURAZAKA SESSION HOUSE on November 26, 2023
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