Shonagon

The statue Fudo Myo-o is stolen from auction at Bonham's. Or was it stolen from Japan? The British Museum are up in arms and Patricia MacBurney is sent to Japan to smooth over the cracks. Reporter, Aisha Pinkerton is thrust into the middle of this whirlwind political episode to cover the statue's travels, furthering her own career whilst neglecting her own fatherless children, who search for him behind her back.

Tomoko Hara is determined to get the sacred statue back to its rightful owner. But who is the Fudo Myo-o's rightful owner? Will all truths be revealed? Will there be enlightenment?

Shōnagon is based on the Japanese gentle woman Sei Shōnagon and her writings in her pillow book. A pillow book is a form of diary that the gentle women would write their daily accounts in, as well as poetry and other things.

Sei Shōnagon wrote her Pillow book about the year 1002 CE - coincidentally the year that is usually ascribed to the first complete manuscript of Beowulf. Synchronicity, that series of coincidences that we are usually too unaware of to acknowledge, has shaped our production. The contemporary story that we have weaved into the fabric of Shōnagon's own work has been formed by world events and by the direct personal experiences of company members. Now in 2013, it is up to the new cast to bring to life all of Shōnagon's words as well as those who have contributed to this modern pillow book.

Over the research and rehearsal period, patterns have emerged out of the sometimes startling collision of our ideas with the authentic incidents. The meaning of these patterns, like the koans or riddles of Zazen Buddhism are still emerging and consequently this is very much an evolving performance piece.