Birthday Present to Myself at Venables Theatre

Accomplished dancer-choreographer-actor Hiromoto Ida skillfully merges dance, theatre, classical music and voice to tell the story of the old man (Hiromoto Ida), raising a glass of sake to himself in celebration on what will be his last birthday. Reminiscing about the richness of his life experience, he is visited by the spirit of his wife (Lindsay Clague).

Featuring musicians Nicola Everton (clarinet), Sue Gould (piano), Jeff Faragher (cello), and Martine denBok (violin & viola), performing an evocative original score by Russian composer Pavel Karmanov. Simple but rich text from pioneer Japanese contemporary theatre playwright, Shogo Ota, and a Kagekiyo Noh theatre mask created by Japanese Noh mask artist Mitsue Nakamura add to the poignant beauty of the work.
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Inspired by the subtlety and simplicity of Japanese Noh theatre expressed through western contemporary dance and music, Ida touches our hearts. Through themes of love, transformation and regeneration, the inner world and emotions of this old man inspires us to find unexpected beauty in our own lives.