PRAYERS FOR A HUNGRY GHOST

Premiered at the Barbican (The Pit) – October 29 – Nov 1

Shattering, sardonic, funny and tender, this ensemble production combines horror, physical performance, live cinema and Chinese mythology to bring audiences into ‘the realm of hungry ghosts’. 

In Chinese mythology, ‘hungry ghosts’ are the reincarnated souls of those who were selfish, envious or greedy. These beings have large, insatiable bellies and flames in their mouths, turning everything they eat into ash.

Darkly comedic and haunting, this mesmerising piece of physical theatre is a family drama set in the underworld, exploring the intergenerational trauma born from the pressure of meeting society’s impossible standards.

Big Sister and Little Sister’s lives spiral in opposite directions: one is a celebrated classical pianist under pressure, while the other succumbs to a mysterious illness that ravages her soul. Can their unbreakable bond help them escape?

Written by Elisabeth Gunawan
Performer/devisers Jasmine Chiu, Elisabeth Gunawan, Daniel York Loh
Co-directors Elisabeth Gunawan, Matej Matejka
Movement Direction Matej Matejka
Design Erin Guan 
Sound and Music LI YILEI
Puppetry Aya Nakamura
Costumes Ezra Barnard
Collaborators Mona Camille, Ailin Conant, 
Yael Elisheva, Joan Low

Presented by Barbican. Commissioned by Kakilang, with support from ArtsAdmin, Barbican Open Lab and curious directive’s HYPOTHESIS retreat.
Photo (left) by Genevieve Reeves