Royal Lyceum Theatre, 14th August
Composer Huang Ro and puppeteer Basil Twist have created a resonant and moving piece of theatre, the images and sound of which will stay with you long after watching.
Based on two and a half thousand year old Chinese creation myths, Book of Mountain and Seas takes us on a mythological journey through four different scenes. It all begins in darkness, then, one by one, black cloaked singers with only their faces illuminated start to sing out an adaptation of these ancient texts. From the very first moments, the impact is striking. Production designer Ayumu ‘Poe’ Saegusa plays inventively with light, conjuring mythical creatures from the darkness in perfect rhythm with the unfolding story. We are first introduced to the hairy giant Pan Gu, shaping the earth and sky. Next comes the Spirit Bird, bringing forth the seas and islands. We then witness the tale of how ten suns became one, and finally the story of the giant Kua Fu, who in his pursuit of the sun created vast forests.
The story draws comparison with the climate crisis and our current relationship with the natural world, reflected in Basil Twist’s ingenious puppet design that appears to start life as a pile of logs but with simple object manipulation becomes a whole array of fantastic creatures.
For me, though, the real stars of the show were Ars Nova Copenhagen: a 12-strong choir who interpret Huang Ruo’s incredible score in a way that is beautiful and emotional, but also showcases the singers’ sheer skill and technique.