Boldness be my friend

Performed on a bare stage with only a step ladder as prop in Tang's signature minimalist style, King Lear is a nonverbal production. The focus is concentrated on the visual aspect of theater. Using movement, gestures, facial expressions and silent interactions between themselves, the actors create a series of compelling images, taking cues from the Shakespearean plot.

The image of Lear's wrongfully maligned and disowned daughter Cordelia walking across the stage wearing an elaborate headdress with large bird wings attached to it stands out for its serene beauty in a play riddled with violence and intrigue. "The figure of Cordelia as a bird is a metaphorical expression of her wish to be free, especially from parental control," explains Tang.