Ayana Ishihara

The story follows a Swedish knight who returns from the Crusades to find his homeland devastated by the Plague. Questioning God's existence, he challenges Death to a game of chess in order to delay his fate and seek meaning in life.

The concept of the scenography is to speak directly to the audience’s bodies, as the matter of life and death is not theoretical—but brutal, emotional, and above all, uncontrollable.

Inspired by the idea that “everything comes from the soil and returns to it”, we covered the stage in soil—allowing actors to leave physical traces of the performance and filling the space with a raw, earthy scent.

Other scenographic elements include a metal cloud symbolizing death and struggle, a hill, and a hidden door.

The costumes are designed to become gradually dirtier throughout the performance, with each one incorporating a specific element that allows the actors to physically interact with the soil.