harmony. 天人合一

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it” – Lao Tzu

harmony. 天⼈合⼀ is a physical play which explores the impact oil drilling, and a culture of extraction has on our greatest natural resource, water. Through theatre and dance this work exposes our greed for oil, the desires of a capitalist society, and apathy in the face of a climate emergency.

Three performers represent water spirits inspired by East & Southeast Asian mythologies and Chinese philosophy. Together they shepherd us through a journey of water being corrupted by oil and human intervention, but water remembers where it has been and what has dissolved in it, so the question this play asks is, what does an enraged and incensed water do?

Co-conceived by neurodivergent choreographer-dancer Iona Kirk and award-winning playwright & movement director Iskandar إسكندر R. Sharazuddin. With an immersive sound design and composition developed by award winning composer / sound designer Nicola T. Chang 張彤, this work blends rhythmic and percussive movement and evocative text with original music to explore the climate crisis.

Trailer

Partners and Support

27th July 2022: Ensemble Festival, Certain Blacks

30th November – 01st December 2022: Futures Festival, The Pleasance

10th June 2023: Blue Elephant Theatre

23rd – 25th May 2024: York Theatre Royal

Creative team

Conceived by		Iona Kirk & Iskandar إسكندر R. Sharazuddin
Choreographer		Iona Kirk
Director & Writer		Iskandar إسكندر R. Sharazuddin
Co-Designers		Abigail Alvarez & Mona Camille
Costume Designer & Deviser		Milla Sutton
Sound Designer & Composer		Nicola T. Chang 張彤
Concept Lighting Designer		Joshua Harriette
Associate Lighting Designers		Edward Saunders & Zoe Ritchie
Stage Manager		Rose Hockaday (London) & Lili Muslihah (York)
Key Art Photography		Camilla Greenwell
Art Direction		Sara Tamby Lim سارة
Images & Media		Alexander Shafiq Stagg