HANAKO'S PILLOW

In March 2008, Bonni Chan and Sean Curran, the co-founders of Hong Kong’s Theatre du Pif travelled to Australia, to work with Liminal Theatre co-artistic director Robert Draffin. They were introduced to the processes of Liminal Theatre and a strong connection was established.

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Following this fruitful collaboration, Draffin visited Hong Kong in June 2008, to begin work with Theatre du Pif and a multicultural cast and crew on Hanako’s Pillow. Through an intense rehearsal period that focussed on the university of Witches, Warriors and Ghost Stories, the story of Hanako’s Pillow emerged - the dream of the warrior, who is in an intense duel of love and mortality, which brings a vision of intimacy, loneliness, sensuality and sacrifice.

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Hanako’s Pillow was inspired by the images and words of Lafacdio Hearn’s collection of Japanese ghost stories, Kwaidan; the poems of Ted Hughes; the traditional Japanese Noh play Kantan; David Henry Hwang’s The Sound of the Voice; and original writing by the cast and director.

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The production premiered at the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, in July 2008 and was designed by Lee Yun Soo of Yohangza Theatre, South Korea. Hanako’s Pillow forms part of an ongoing relationship between Liminal Theatre and Theatre du Pif.