haha: Japanese - mother　English - the sound of laughter

What did your mother always tell you? It depends, in part, on where you're from. Or does it?
The result of 8 months of intensive creation, 母- Haha explores the mother-daughter relationship from the perspective of women from very different social and cultural backgrounds. The performance draws on folk stories, songs, original music, dance
and writing, and is presented in a combination of Japanese and Western theatrical styles, both in English and Japanese. A dynamic and wholly original creation, 母- Haha is testimony to both the universality, and the cultural differences inherent in this most complex of relationships.

WHAT THE AUDIENCE SAID:

"I haven't felt such pure emotion or tears of joy for such a long time."

"I forgot it was often in different languages. Thank-you for this gift."

"In the last moment of the play, when the lights went out, I saw my mother's face - smiling."

FROM THE PRESS:

• "The audience is led through a myriad of emotions...." The Asahi Evening News, Tokyo

• "What really elevates 母 - Haha , though, is how it operates on so many levels. There is cultural, biological, and emotional conflict intertwined with elements of myth and folk tradition utilizing dramatic forms that challenge theatrical conventions." The Japan Times, Tokyo

• "Whether you're a mother or a daughter you will find yourselves in this piece...." Toronto Aurora Magazine

• "An engaging episodic piece...." The Canberra Times

PERFORMANCE HISTORY:

February 1997　　　　　Tokyo, Japan

July 1997　　　　　　　　Fringe Festival - Toronto, Canada

October 1997　　　　 　Tokyo, Japan(remount)

February 1998　　　　　National Multicultural Festival
　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　- Canberra, Australia

December 1998　　　　 Fujino, Japan