Shonagon

Synopsis

The statue Fudo Myo-o is stolen from auction at Sotheby's. Or was it stolen from Japan? The British Museum are up in arms and Patricia MacBurney is sent to Japan to smooth over the cracks. Reporter, Aisha Pinkerton is thrust into the middle of this whirlwind political episode to cover the statue's travels, furthering her own career whilst neglecting her own fatherless children, who search for him behind her back. Tomoko Hara is determined to get the sacred statue back to its rightful owner. But who is the Fudo Myo-o's rightful owner? Will all truth be revealed? Will there be enlightenment?

Our Review:

15 April 2013

There’s a fair amount to digest in the latest production to take up residence at the Bussey Building. Combining ancient deities, musings from a lady at court, Zazen Buddhism and a rather modern relationship to draw parallels between the Heian period in Japan and England in the 2013, is a tall order. Ideas are aplenty, but unfortunately any clarity is submerged beneath them, creating a tombola-like production that lies in a state of confusion.

The Fudo-My-O statue, (a deity from the Heian period), has found its way to the UK. With the question of ownership crossing decades, as well as oceans, a diplomatic row is sparked between the British Museum and the Japanese Minister for Culture. Covering the story is reporter Alisha Pinkleton, who undergoes a journey of a different kind. Following a fortuitous interview with socialite Su Cameron, her career takes flight, whilst her relationship falters. These events are interrupted by excerpts from the Pillow Book, a collect...

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Latest User Review

francesca walker - 16 April 2013:

I thought the show was amazing. I was gripped the whole way through and the story was clear. The characters were well defined and the actors were wonderful. I think this write up is all wrong as you seem to have missed the point of the whole show and its brilliant story telling. The fight scenes were performed with excellence. I would recommend this show to everyone and I would go again as I loved every minute of it :) well done to the actors, writers and all involved ...

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