Yu Theatre Society Presents

Snow in Midsummer: The Silence

An experimental mime

Poster for Yu Theatre Society's production of 'Snow in Midsummer: The Silence'. There is a photo of two people in white tank tops staring directly at the camera with their faces touching. The poster notes original story credit, adaptation credit, the producer, the director, the theatre company, the show's title, dates of the show, location of the show, poster credit, and the logo for the Grand Theatre.

Synopsis

What if…we tell the whole story, in complete silence?

Yu Theatre Society proudly presents its Spring 2025 production – an experimental mime, Snow in Midsummer: The Silence. Original story by Guan Hanqing; Mime adaptation by Nathan Zhe, Lizhe Xu; Co-Produced by Viven Ma, Nathan Zhe and Directed by Nathan Zhe.

Adapted from The Injustice of Dou E or Snow in Midsummer by Guan Hanqing, a famous playwright in the Yuan Dynasty of China. Snow in Midsummer: The Silence reconstructs this classic tragic story in the form of pantomime superimposed with shadow performance. The soul of Dou E, who died unjustly, tells her biological father Dou Tianzhang how she was forced to confess under the silence of her cowardly mother-in-law, the frame-up of the bully Zhang Lu’er, and the beating of the corrupt official Tao Wu, and was forced to become a murderer and beheaded in public.

Yu Theatre Society’s Snow in Midsummer: The Silence, invites you on an evocative journey of light, shadow, and silence. Reflecting the miserable situation of the lower-class individuals who are at the mercy of others and have no place to complain; Unveiling the oppressive ideals of chastity and the rigid ethics rooted in feudal education during China’s Yuan Dynasty—a force as corrosive as poison, eroding the lives of women and the underprivileged alike.

Snow in Midsummer: The Silence is approximately 50 minutes with no intermission.

Accessibilities:
Saturday, January 18th at 2:00pm – A Relaxed Etiquette Performance offers a welcoming environment by relaxing traditional theater rules. Audience members are free to move, make noise, or exit and re-enter as needed, with adjusted lighting and sound levels to reduce sensory intensity. This ensures an accessible experience for all.

Thursday, January 16th – A Masked-Encouraged Performance promotes a safe and comfortable environment by encouraging audience members to wear masks throughout the show. This practice is intended to accommodate those who may feel more at ease in a masked setting, enhancing safety and inclusivity for all attendees. Masks will be available at the Front of House for those who need them, ensuring everyone can enjoy the performance with peace of mind.

For detailed information on the accessibility features of the Grand Theatre, please visit their Accessibility page: https://www.kingstongrand.ca/visit/accessibility

Content Warning:
– Scenes of Violence
– Scenes of Death
– Scenes implying sexual assault

Atmosphere:
– The use of a snow machine as well as intense sound and lighting effects

PLEASE NOTE: Before the show begins, there will be a recreation of a ritual intended to summon spirits. You are invited to participate in it but it is voluntary – you do not have to if you do not want to.

To accommodate those who need access to the script, an easy-read will be included in the show program.

For inquiries, contact information can be found here.

Venue

Kingston Grand Theatre, Baby Grand Theatre

218 Princess Street Kingston ON K7L 1B2 Canada

Showtimes

January 2025

  • Monday 13 at 7:30 PM
  • Tuesday 14 at 7:30 PM
  • Wednesday 15 at 7:30 PM
  • Thursday 16 at 7:30 PM
  • Friday 17 at 7:30 PM
  • Saturday 18 at 2:00 PM
  • Saturday 18 at 7:30 PM
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