Theoretical Set Design for 'Ikuta' (2024)

Ikuta is a japanese short Noh play about a boy looking for his father's ghost after having a dream about finding him at the Ikuta sheine, with the help of a priest that looked after him after his mother abandoned him. On their long travels, they stumble apon a hut, the voice of his father explains that he is the boys father. He retells the horrors of the battle he died in, and then a messager comes and takes the father back to hell. I chose to set it during the troubles in Northern Ireland. The set is used to show the separation between urban and rural Ireland to furthershow the journey that they take throughout the play. The hut is a stereotypical cottage seen in rural Ireland. The white brick wall could be used for projections of footage from the troubles, while the father explained the battle he went through. This piece would be performed as a promenade play.