Today we are interviewing Li Tsuei Sun, the founder of Shang Orientheatre who is performing Bardo Todel at The Garage International @ NACC venue at the 2009 Adelaide Fringe.   Bardo Todel is more commonly known by its western title, “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” and explores the intermediate state of consciousness at death.  This looks to be a most fascinating show so let’s chat with Li to learn more…

1.  What inspired you to become a dancer and performer?

I was my dream!

2.    What’s your show about and what should the public expect from your show at the 2009 Adelaide Fringe?

My show “Bardo Todel” is about the art of transformation from our life, which we’ll play in the most acoustic way.  One performer is going to interpret the most mystical path after physical death according to the concept of Tibetan Buddhism.  This is achieved with long term intense training of  Chinese Tai Chi Chun, Chi Gong and the occidental theatrical background to create a style of movement with profound silence. Three musicians will play together with Chinese and Tibetan musical instruments.

3.    What was the last Fringe or Festival you performed at and what was it like?

The Avignon Fringe Festival.    We had a very successful show, received TWO 5 STARS credits from festival journals, and had great feedback from the audiences.

4.    What are your funniest and worst experiences performing in front of an audience?

The first clown show I played at the theatre school in Paris in 1986 made audiences laugh a lot, and me myself.   The worst show happened in Taipei, when I had to play for all the journalists during a press conference on 1994.

5.    What’s your greatest achievements to-date?  And, what dreams or goals would you like to fulfill?

To be able to understand oriental and occidental concepts in performing art and work more profoundly in this area – this has become my greatest achievement.  I’d like to continue all the theatrical work I’ve developed and find more opportunity to show our work.

6.    What’s the best and worst advice you have ever been given? And did you follow it?

My best advise is : “do your own thing”.  And the worst: “go to teach in the school.”

7.    Which three famous people would you invite to dinner and why? And what would you prepare for them to eat?

Dalai Lama, Hu Jing Tauo and  Steven Chou are the guests I’d invite to dinner.  Maybe they will help each other to understand something that they didn’t want to know by eating together.

I’ll prepare Chinese Turnip soup, steamed vegetarian soybean cod fish in ginger source, fried spinach, tomato and pine seeds,  Chinese cabbage with wild mushroom, tofu in hot chilli, rice prepared with linseed oil , basil and peanuts, there will be Chinese water chestnuts, red dates and lotus seeds boiled in sugarcane juice as desert.

8.    What is the best book or books you have read and why?

“Red Chamber’s Dream” I’ve read more than 4 times and is still inspiring, it is so beautiful.

9.    Tell us 5 interesting and unknown facts about yourself?

I eat papaya, orange and banana with their skins together. I sleep on a wooden pillow. I do not wear soaks.  I collect shoes. I do not use toothpaste to brush my teeth.

10.    If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

The education for children.

Tags: 2009 Adelaide Fringe, Bardo Todel, Li Tsuei Sun, Shang Orientheatre, Tibetan Book of the Dead

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