FISH BY SHINEHOUSE THEATRE – Summerhall – 4K

By Peter Maddern

Taiwan’s Shinehouse Theatre takes on the admirable aim of producing work for minorities, in this case, the hearing impaired. Based on a novel by Taiwanese author Huang Chunming, Fish combines puppetry and sign language in a touching story about a fish that doesn’t make it home one night, setting off a conflict between a boy and his grandfather.

Po-Yuan Chung’s direction is precise as his young puppeteer crafts the boy’s movements and emotions with the roles of speakers and narrator shared around the other cast members on a, at times, crowded stage.

For the hearing impaired this work makes for a break from those shows that can provide so many challenges and delivers much more than a token production. For those fuller of faculties, the craft exhibited makes for an enjoyable hour too. 

Kryztoff Rating. 4K

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