Details

Sutra is a collaboration between one of Europe's most exciting dancer-choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Turner Prize-winning sculptor Antony Gormley and 20 practicing Buddhist monks from the Shaolin Temple in China. Aged between 10 and 26 years, the monks performing in Sutra follow a strict Buddhist doctrine, with kung fu and tai chi martial arts forming a part of their daily ritual. Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (who is a big Bruce Lee fan) spent several months at their Temple before devising his awe-inspiring piece. During Sutra the monks perform such spectacular, dare devil moves that you see them quite literally as leaps of faith. Antony Gormley's stage setting consists of 21 wooden boxes which are carried or pushed around the stage by the monks, becoming walls, boats, beds, skyscrapers, toys, temples - whatever is needed. Deeply hypnotic, playful and breathtakingly athletic, Sutra is performed to a live score by Polish composer Szymon Brzoska. Performed by 17 monks from the original Shaolin Temple in China, created by celebrated choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Sutra is a fascinating exploration of the philosophy and faith behind the Shaolin tradition and its relationship with Kung-Fu. Turner Prize-winning artist Antony Gormley has created a striking design of 21 wooden boxes that shift and evolve, while composer Szymon Brzoska’s beautiful score for piano, percussion and strings is played live by on-stage musicians.

Creatives/Company

Producer: Sadler's Wells