Top-class treats from the theatre world

Shun-kin

By Complicite in collaboration with Setagaya Public Theatre

STUNNINGLY-DESIGNED and exquisitely directed, Shun-kin, helmed by Simon McBurney as part of the Three Titans of Theatre series, tops our list for the year. It combines Japanese puppetry with live action to tell an unusual story of a blind shamisen player named Shun-kin and her sadomasochistic relationship with her humble manservant. Much of the stage is engulfed in darkness, forcing you to sometimes squint through penumbras to follow the tale. But its literal darkness adds to the play's enchantment, haunting you long after you leave the theatre.