Ishin-denshin (以心伝心)

Inshin-denshin is a multidisciplinary theatre performance exploring the Japanese concept of Ishin-denshin (以心伝心) - "to convey heart-to-heart without words." Conceived, choreographed, and scored by Lucia Dwyer, the work premiered at the Granary Theatre in Cork in September 2024.

The performance unfolds across three movements: The Initial Connection, The Exploration, and The Repercussion, each delving deeper into the subtle nuances of non-verbal understanding. Two dancers trace an improvised choreography of gestures, tension, and release—guided by a red rope strung between opposing poles, symbolising invisible heartstrings and the red thread of fate.

Dwyer’s live theremin performance and pre-recorded piano improvisations by Japanese jazz composer Yoko Taguma build an immersive, reactive soundscape. The theremin, played without touch, becomes both a sonic and symbolic tool—echoing the essence of communication through intuition and proximity.

Projected as part of the performance, a short film directed by Dwyer features bodies engaging in a tactile dialogue, drawing from Tomaso Binga’s body alphabet. The film expands the narrative beyond the stage, allowing the visual language to mirror the performers' gestures in a mirrored, cinematic dimension.

Layered with field recordings, electronic textures, and vocal fragments, the sound design bridges movement and emotion, presence and memory, inviting audiences into a shared space of resonance beyond words.