Departure is a Music and Dance Performance by Choreographer/Dancer Masumi Saito and Composer/Musician An-Ting That Explores theThemes of Death, Nature, and the Spirit.

Why do cultures all have long-established funeral traditions? What can we learn about death – and
life – from these rituals? In Departure, Masumi Saito and An-Ting re-create a funeral ceremony
based on their East Asian traditions as a performance and invite the audience to join in a
contemplative space.

Our collaboration intertwines movement and music to create an emotionally resonant performance, breaking the silence around death. The live performance takes the audience into the world of a traditional East Asian funeral,
exploring the profound memories shared between the living and the deceased, while journeying into an imagined supernatural realm beyond death.

The project is supported by the Arts Council England, Snape Residency, Riche Nouveau, Lewisham Council and the Broadway Theatre Catford. The tour dates are as below:

4 Nov, 2025 Warwick Arts Centre (Coventry)

9 Nov, 2025 Norwich Arts Centre (Norwich)

15 Nov, 2025 The Cut (Halesworth)

18-22 Nov, 2025 Bristol Old Vic (Bristol)

3 Dec, 2025 Colchester Arts Centre (Colchester)

21 December, IKLECTIK (London)

8 & 9 May, York Theatre Royal (York)

More information, please see departureperformance.com

Photo and video credit: Guy Wigmore