Princess Mononoke

A fully self directed piece of work, this project is an immersive theatre adaptation of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke (1997), in which the audience would follow the key cast members through an immersive set, experiencing the story up close.

Particular attention is paid to the social, political and cultural climate during the late Muromachi period in which the original film is set.

The tribe's people of the film are based loosely on the Ainu people of modern day Hokkaido; this was my anchor point for creating my live version of these characters. I investigated the art, textiles, traditions and lifestyles of the Ainu people and tried to remain as respectful and vigilant as possible when reflecting aspects of their culture within my work.

In the rest of Japan at this time, there was major political unrest leading to conflict between Daimyos via their samurai and soldiers. These groups were battling each other as well as trying to gain control of Ainu tribes and assimilate them into Japanese society, disrupting the environment around them in the process.

This project depicts the contrast in how the different groups in the story interact with the natural world, a theme key to the film, partially through their interactions with the great gods of the forest.