The Way Back

Synopsis

One boy’s (and one body's) poetic wartime journey towards reunion and reclamation of humanity

In turbulent times, a boy who dreams of becoming a great guitarist is forced to flee war and grow into manhood in exile.

When a merciless bomb explodes his body to pieces, his right hand – still obsessed with the guitar – sets off on a journey to recover his body’s scattered parts on the way home. Guided only by memory and the faint echo of music it once played, can this devoted hand rediscover the pure joy and quiet peace it felt at the beginning?

The Way Back is a play for both parents and children. Centred on the theme of “Finding Yourself”, it follows a journey of self-discovery and recovered memories. Combining puppets, objects, and the performers’ physicality, the piece deconstructs everyday perceptions, while the magical interplay of music and theatre moves audiences towards new ways of imagining themselves, their bodies, and their stories.

About the Artist

The Double Theatre

Founded in 2014, The Double Theatre takes its name from Antonin Artaud’s seminal essay collection, Theatre and Its Double. The “double” refers to those things in theatre which can offer a glimpse into the “real” underpinnings of life and respond to that reality. The second half of its Chinese title, fuxiang gongchang (複象公場), is a homophone for “public space” and “factory” – a nod to theatre’s role as a productive space that faces society.

Through works that transcend one mode of thinking or presentation format, Double Theatre explores interpersonal relationships within a globalised context, giving audiences a space to re-examine everyday reality. Their work is primarily divided into three directions: “Nomadic Theatre”, “Story Theatre”, and “Sign Language Theatre”. Since developing their Havana dance project in 2019, the company has incorporated documentary research into its creative methods, developing a model that combines space, history, and technology. Representative works include Daqiao 1988 and LogIN: New Southbound, which use streetscapes and mobile apps to investigate urban identity.

Double Theatre’s works have been performed in Taiwan, the Chinese Mainland, South Korea, Vietnam, Germany, England, and France, receiving enthusiastic feedback from audiences of all ages, genders, and nationalities along the way. In 2022, The Way Back was presented at the Taipei Children’s Festival, shortlisted for Work of the Year by Taishin Arts Awards, and toured to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, ASSITEJ “Bright Generations” programme in France, and the Geochang International Theatre Festival in South Korea.

In recent years, Double Theatre has continued to collaborate with arts festivals and cultural organisations around the world on bilingual, inclusive creations that explore theatre’s possibilities in contemporary society. These works include: Hear Your Voice, a sign language theatre work; The Way Back – Sign Language Version; and Monster and Shadow, a show co-created with hearing-impaired performers.

Remarks

1. Free seating.
2. You are recommended to arrive 15 minutes before the event starts. Latecomers will be admitted at appropriate times.
3. Student Pass holders may queue on-site for available seats.
4. Programmes are subject to change without prior notice. HKPAX reserves the right to final decision regarding programme arrangements.