
TEN THOUSAND TONS OF MOONLIGHT
Merging the languages of poetry and dance
Ten Thousand Tons of Moonlight is a compelling dance-theatre production that draws inspiration from the thought-provoking poems of Yu Xiuhua, a female celebrated contemporary Chinese poet. The production brings to life Yu Xiuhua's reflections and questions on love, beauty, disability, and the societal expectations placed on women
Conceived and directed by Farooq Chaudhry, Ten Thousand Tons of Moonlight, merges the languages of poetry, dance and visual design to explore the dualities and contradictions that inhabit Yu Xiuhua and all of us. The performance raises questions about the role of personal struggles in finding our authenticity. It asks whether stepping out of the shadows and embracing our true selves is the key to finding liberation, or if these shadows hold a deeper meaning? Could these poems, serve as a doorway to an alternate reality where our essence can flourish and our souls can find freedom?
The world premiere of Ten Thousand Tons of Moonlight took place in Shanghai from November 15 to 17, 2024.
World Premiere, Shanghai, China, November 2024
Pictures by Yijian Li

Determination
Deep are the furrows on my forehead
Yet, not enough
My ten thousand tons of moonlight have sunk into the depths of the ocean
Yet, not enough
Before you I had written a thousand love letters —
Yet, how are these enough?
I have tidied away the times that longed for consolation
I have also tidied away the tiger inside my body
I depart from dusk
And one by one dust away
Those fragrances of flowers those raindrops and those tears of children
My dearest, should you stand under that streetlamp at the corner
Should you be waiting for my young self
I would brush your face with my left hand
Should you be waiting for my aged self
I would
with my disability
caress this life of yours
full of ardor and solitude

决心
我额头的沟壑已如此深
但,还不够
我的万吨月色已经沉入海底
但,还不够
在你之前,我已经写下千篇情书——
这些,哪够?
我已经收拾好了,那些需要安慰的岁月
我也收拾好了我身体里的老虎
我从黄昏出发
那些花香那些雨水那些孩子的哭泣
我将一一掸落
亲爱的,如果你站在拐角的那盏灯下
如果你等的是年轻的我
我就以左手抚摸你脸颊
如果你等的是年暮的我
我就以我的残疾
摩挲你热忱而孤独的一生
World Premiere, Shanghai, November 2024
Trailer (Stage.1) of Research and Development,
Huanio Island & Shanghai, September 2023
Trailer (Stage. 2) of Research and Development,
Newcastle & London, April 2024
Choreographer/ Dancers: Maya Jilan Dong
Choreographer/ Dancers: Lico Kehua
Light and Visual Designer: Michael Hulls
Associate Lighting Designer: Ryan Joseph Stafford
English Monologues written: Amy Ng & Tian Chaudhry
Movement Coach/ Rehearsal Director: Su-Man Hsu
Production Managers: Zak Macro & MJ Holland
Producers: Geni Lou & Vera Ugarova

Voices of the Creative Team
This project is funded by the British Council’s UK-China Connections through Culture (CTC) Grants

This project is funded by the Arts Council England

This project is supported by the China Dancers Association

Co-Producers by





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Partnership with
