Grave of the Fireflies at Theatre Space

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Grave of the Fireflies (musical)

A musical adapted from a short story by Akiyuki Nosaka, which was adapted into the anime film “Grave of the Fireflies” by Isao Takahata in 1988.

Venue & Date : Taipei Performing Arts Centre , Blue Box. 27-30 June 2024

Taichung Tun District Art Center 6-7 July 2024

Tainan Cultural Centre 13-14 July 2024

Kaohsiung Weiwuying, Playhouse 20-21 July 2024

STORY

In June 1945, Kobe, Seita and Setsuko survive the bombing, but their mother dies. They move in with a distant aunt, and Seita retrieves supplies he buried before the bombing and gives everything to his aunt, save for a tin of Sakuma drops. The aunt convinces Seita to sell his mother's silk kimono for rice as rations shrink, but eventually, the aunt becomes resentful of the children, deeming them unworthy of earning her food.

Seita and Setsuko leave their aunt's home and they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. They release fireflies into the shelter for light. The next day, Setsuko is horrified to find that the insects have died. She buries them in a grave, asking why they and her mother had to die. As they run out of rice, Seita steals from farmers and loots homes during air raids. Setsuko is suffering from malnutrition. Seita withdraws the last of the money in their mother's bank account for food and when he learns that Japan has surrendered, his father is most likely dead, as most of Japan's navy has been sunk. Seita returns to Setsuko with food, but finds her dying. She later dies as Seita finishes preparing the food. Seita cremates Setsuko's body in a straw casket.