Ten students whose majors included Economics, Religion, Anthropology, Japanese Language, and of course Theater came together with a willingness to try something new. A month later they found themselves performing Bunraku-style puppetry, dancing in Noh masks, and singing in harmony!

FST's residency in "East-West Fusion Theater" culminated with four successful, well-attended performances of Dragon's Daughter at Bates' Gannet Theater May 20-22. The performance had originally been developed by FST for a similar residency at Trinity College, and was adapted to the interests and experience of the Bates students. Students also read and discussed articles on Japanese theater forms, and researched contemporary western puppet artists as part of the course.

The production is set upon an altar in an ancient temple, and employs puppets, masked dance, singers and chanters to tell the story of a girl whose vision of a secret lake on the mountain saves her village from drought.

Click here for more information about and photos from the original production.