Shun-kin at Esplanade Theatre

Hailed as having changed the face of British theatre, Simon McBurney’s Complicite comes to Singapore for the first time with a powerful performance that shows us how closely beauty and violence are intertwined. Inspired by legendary Japanese writer Jun’ichiro Tanizaki’s A Portrait of Shun-kin and In Praise of Shadows, McBurney spins a spell-binding story that centres on a rich, beautiful and cruel shamisen prodigy Shun-kin who tests the devotion of her dutiful servant Sasuke, leading to a gruesome act of sacrifice.

Performed by an all-Japanese cast including film actress Eri Fukatsu, celebrated actor Yoshi Oida and master shamisen player Hidetaro Honjoh, who deftly execute Japanese bunraku puppetry alongside projections, of paper that become larks and of kimonos that evoke ghosts, the shadowy world of Shun-kin will challenge your notions of love and judgement. Experience firsthand why the award-winning Complicite is one of the leading theatre companies in the world and be reminded of the magic of theatre to capture the imagination that goes beyond the stage itself.