Spirited Away Review
Spirited Away Review
On Friday 28th of January, as a delightful treat on the last day of term before the Chinese New Year Holiday, two performances of Spirited Away were scheduled (so that all our students and teachers would be able to enjoy this incredible and remarkable show). Earlier in that week, the first performance of the show (for a small group of socially distanced parents) was held on Tuesday 25th of January.
Tuesday 25th of January
The first performance of the show
Thursday 27th of January
Performance live show
Friday 28th of January
Performances for Dulwich International High School Suzhou students and staff.
We were lucky enough to be able to attend the first performance on Tuesday, take some photos and enjoy the show, and what a show it was!
Spirited Away
Spirited Away is a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro Ogino, a ten-year-old girl who, while moving to a new neighbourhood, enters the spirit world of Japanese Shinto folklore. After her parents are turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in Yubaba's bathhouse, to find a way to free herself, her parents and return to the human world.
No one who watched Spirited Away could fail to be stunned by the sheer level of ambition on display throughout every aspect of the production. From the costumes to the props, to incredibly realized monstrous puppets, the whole show was a sumptuous and unforgettable visual treat from start to finish. The student performances were electric from beginning to end. Scarcely a moment passed without another incredible astonishing spectacle appearing on stage. The lighting was excellent throughout and the choreography was spectacular.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible work of Aimee Yang (Drama Teacher at Dulwich International High School Suzhou) who was solely responsible for producing, directing, choreography, and writing the stage play, which she adapted from the film script of Spirited Away. Working alongside Yewon Cho, the musical director for the performance who created intricate sound effects alongside the producing, conducting and arranging the live music for the performance, the two brought together. The level of effort required to achieve a stage production of such magnitude in such a brief period of time is truly remarkable.
One of the many remarkable things was how the huge monsters from the animated cartoon film were brought so vividly to life. This was once again testament to the remarkable model making skills of Vikki Gibson (Art and Design Teacher at DHSZ), who, fresh from making a life-size dragon for Shrek the Musical, went straight on to making a series of larger than life-size monsters for Spirited Away, along with another, different type of dragon!
Dulwich Spirited Away
The student performances were amazing throughout and being part of this production will be something they will never forget. Truly Inventive and utterly creative, this was a remarkable and faithful adaptation of the Studio Ghibli animated movie classic, that truly had to be seen to be believed. It was wonderful to hear a live orchestra playing to start and finish the show, and the students’ passion and commitment to their roles were evident in every aspect of their performances. The set and costume design were also incredibly intricate and beautifully executed, and the lighting and sound design were spot on. This was a truly magical and memorable production that was enjoyed by all who saw it
It is exciting to see how the performing arts is growing from strength to strength within Dulwich International High School Suzhou and we are looking forward to seeing what the pupils can create next!
