《掌中》Turn By Turn We Turn

“Master said… in our world, there are two levels: one that is above us, where the gods and deities, heroes and emperors roam. The other is the level below, where we are. All that the audience pays and wants to see is right above our heads. They are not interested in what goes on below.”

Turn By Turn We Turn is a sweeping epic about the lives and fates of members in a traditional chinese hand puppetry troupe from 1920s China to the present day. Holding steadfastly to their craft, traditions, beliefs and one another in the face of civil and world wars, political strife, changing times and tastes, the puppeteers survive one ordeal after another, testing their mettle and resolve to perform, entertain and preserve the lineage of puppetry.

师傅说……我们的世界，有上下之分。其中，在我们上面的，是神仙、英雄和帝王的天下。而我们是属于下面那一层的。那些出钱看戏的观众们，要看的是在我们的头上的一切。他们没有兴趣下面所发生的事。

《掌中》，是一出跨时代的传记性演出，故事从1920年代追踪至近代，重现中国传统掌中戏剧团里偶戏演员们的生命历程和命运转折；这些偶戏演员对自己的传统艺术有着坚定不移的信念与热诚，即使在面对内战的动荡、政治的纷争、时代的变迁和观众的喜恶时，他们依然坚守岗位克服诸多严峻的考验，将木偶表演搬上舞台娱乐芸芸众生，并持续传承和保存偶戏艺术的文化与精神。

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Producer: The Finger Players
Director/ Playwright/ Set Designer: Chong Tze Chien
Assistant stage manager/Surtitles operator: Choo Min Min
Production/Stage Manager: Ng Hui Ling
Sound Artist: Darren Ng
Lighting Designer: Lim Woan Wen
Puppetry consultants: Li Bo Fen, Li Yi Hsin
Cast: Ong Kian Sin, Tan Wan Sze, Jo Kwek, Goh Guat Kian, Tan Beng Tian, Andrew Lua, Ang Hui Bin, Ian Loy