Umiłowanie
Dead Walk Love
Directed by Jadwiga Rodowicz-Czechowska
2015 - 2017
Character: Main / Various
Devised and Premiere
Dead Walk Love is a physical theatre duet devised and premiered based on Yukio Mishima’s text “Patriotism”.The performance incorporates elements of Japanese mythology and traditional Japanese theatre, including Noh Theatre, Kabuki, Aikido, and Butoh.
The narrative explores the relationship between a man and a woman as they march toward death—a death they have chosen. After their passing, their souls will return to the modest, familiar room that once served as their home. The piece delves into the question: Who or what tells them to die, and why?
In Mishima’s “Beloved of the Homeland,” the choice of death over dishonor is clear—political ideals and a strict moral code push them to choose death. The performance reflects how love and death intertwine, driven by divine passion and merging in eternity. What is the meaning of marriage in this ultimate form of love for a cause? The piece explores the senselessness and sacrifice inherent in the devotion to duty and honor.
In our performance, we depict snapshots of this unfortunate couple, heading toward the “zero moment”—the pivotal point where they choose death. The story is framed through the lens of their eventual passing, offering a perspective from the grave. The production also nods to the Japanese tradition of Obon, the All Souls festival, a time when spirits return to visit their loved ones.
Director: Jadwiga Rodowicz-Czechowska
Music: Maciej Rychły
Scenography & Costumes: Jadwiga Rodowicz-Czechowska
Cast: Julianna Bloodgood, Rafal Habel-Bloodgood
“Performers subject their bodies to strict discipline, applying sudden stops and rapid rhythm changes, characteristic of Japanese aesthetics. They stretch their movements to the limits of physical possibility, successfully embracing stillness and silence.”
— (Mirosław Kocur)
