As the world celebrates
Shakespeare’s 400th memorial
anniversary, forces in China
and the UK have teamed
together to honour
another ancient
wordsmith who
died the same
year. Tang
Xianzu is one
of China’s
greatest
writers, best
known for his
epic quartet of
‘dream’ stories,
the most famous
being Peony Pavilion.
Last month we saw
Leeds University’s Tang-
Shakespeare project; this month,
Britain’s Gecko Theatre Company
team up with the Shanghai Dramatic
Arts Centre for The Dreamer, a fluid,
cross-cultural fantasy making its
world premier.
Most literate beings are familiar
with A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Shakespeare’s story of confused
lovers, bored fairies, actors seeking
rehearsal space, and a love potion
that sets everything awry. Fewer
know Peony Pavilion, about a lonely
noblewoman falling asleep in her garden and dreaming of the perfect
man. Upon awaking, she begins
pining away for her lost love, but not
before leaving a self-portrait. Years
later, that same man wanders by,
finds her likeness, and is so
captivated by her beauty
that he – wait for it –
digs up her grave
and brings her back
to life.
But since
both stories are
about dreams
and desperate,
unrequited love,
director Richard
Rusk found
common ground.
‘Thematically and
emotionally there were
interesting overlaps,’ he
says, explaining that he had
placed a condensed Tang story
inside a dream. ‘If you have never
heard of Tang Xianzu, The Dreamer
should still make complete sense,’
he says. ‘If you do know the work,
then you may recognise some
moments.’
But this is more than a dreamy
mash-up; instead, Rusk has created
a story of Helena, a 30-year-old
modern, single woman shouldering
parental pressure regarding
marriage, and loving a co-worker who
prefers her best friend. Eventually, her anxieties invade her dreams.
‘Her dream world and real world start
to overlap, and her daily routine,
friendships and family life start
to fracture and blur,’ says Rusk.
Eventually, Helena receives some
spirit guidance and sets things right.
‘It’s about taking control of your life
in a world that pulls you in different
directions,’ says Rusk. ‘The only
person who can make Helena happy
is Helena.’
For The Dreamer, Gecko has
embarked on their signature visual,
physical, and non-verbal path. ‘We
do work to a central “story”, but we
[focus on] the metaphors, emotional
journey and poetry of the piece,’ says
Rusk. ‘We use shadows, dance, and
a moving set, as well as live music
and atmospheric light and sound
to conjure up a place unique to this
story, where Helena can go on the
most exciting journey imaginable.’
But the real journey is for the
audience. ‘We want them to think
about their own love, their own lives
– more than what we present in front
of them,’ he continues. ‘If everyone
has the same feeling at the end of
the show then we have not done our
job.’
See full details and book tickets for The Dreamer below.
