Mr. Sign
Synopsis
T.H.E resident choreographer Kim Jae Duk's first full-length creation for the company centres on the subject of thoughts and ideas.
Framed by a larger inquiry on existence and rationality, Mr. Sign examines the individual's place in a hierarchical society, where relationships may not necessarily provide emotional satisfaction and peace of mind is only achieved through the realisation of self. Ultimately, it questions if communication is indeed important to humans.
Special thanks to Lim How Ngean for providing artistic advice.
World Premiere: November 2013, CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival, Esplanade Theatre Studio, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
Malaysia Premiere: December 2013, d’MOTION International Dance Festival, Selangor
Italy Premiere: April 2022, Scenario Pubblico, Sicily
Latest Local Performance: January 2022, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
Credits
Choreography
Kim Jae Duk (South Korea/Singapore)
Performers
Jessica Christina, Yarra lleto, Lee Mun Wai, Sherry Tay, Wu Mi, Zhuo Zihao
Original Lighting Design
Anna Rouhu
Video Editing
Chen Jiexiao
Music
Original compositions by Kim Jae Duk
Including reworked pieces from the ballet Swan Lake: "Danse des petits cygnes, Act 2" and "Swan Lake Op. 20, Scene 1" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Media/Audience Quotes
“T.H.E has struck gold with South Korean choreographer Kim Jae Duk…(Mr. Sign) is hard-hitting with a tinge of humour.”
– Germaine Cheng, The Straits Times, 2013
“Mr. Sign is a universally resonant work able to strike a chord with any audience...the work's expansiveness fires the imagination, and is one why it can transcend cultural borders.”
– Li Hai Yen, dance journal/HK, 2014
“There are plenty of moments during Mr. Sign that are so disturbing and out of this world, we cannot help but giggle at the dark humour that results from the the dancers as they speak gibberish, bicker amongst each other over who truly is the legendary and mysterious ‘Mr. Sign’, or end up literally carried around...an exaggerated mirror of our own society.”
– Richard, Bakchormeeboy, 2019
