TSURU (鶴)

Written by Ryo Harada & Sophie Kelly

Welcome to Tsuru – a mystical world of desires

George wants to raise the perfect Tamagotchi, Chloe is trying to find her lost family, and Aden, Emily, and Lily…well they’re battling it out for the last KFC Bucket on Christmas Day.

They are all in search of the answer to one question: What happens when Japanese and Australian stories collide?

The International Playmaking Project is part of ATYP’s Workshops program, Young Industry Studio, that sees experienced 10-13 year olds work with industry experts to take their performance skills to the next level. Participants have had the opportunity to work with ATYP’s International Artist-In-Residence, Ryo Harada, and renowned Australian director, Sophie Kelly to explore cross-cultural storytelling and devise a new work to be performed on The Rebel stage!

A note from Ryo Harada about TSURU (鶴) x CRANE:

The stories in Tsuru unfold in a setting that is neither Japan or Australia. Rather, it is a place that portrays the magical transformation that occurs when the essence of Japanese culture becomes a breeze that wafts towards a different landscape.

Tsuru is the Japanese word for Crane – a bird of happiness best known from the story of Sadako, where the making of one thousand paper cranes is said to grant a person their deepest wish or desire. I have brought both contemporary and traditional Japanese stories to this brilliant group of young people, and together with Sophie, we have created stories and characters threaded together by the most universal desires – friendship, forgiveness, confidence, connection, family, and love.