“Dallae’s Story,” a non-verbal South Korean puppet show, will be performed in March.

    Based on the story of the Korean War in the 1950s, the piece does not directly talk about the war itself, but portrays the efforts of a family to overcome hardship in wartime. Dallae, portrayed as a puppet, collects blooming flowers in the spring, goes fishing with her father in the summer, catches dragonflies and picks apples in the autumn and makes a snowman in the winter. However, her simple, happy life turns into tragedy after the war begins. Dallae is left alone after her father is conscripted.

    Then, the war-stricken tragedy is told through the eyes of the innocent Dallae in a fairy tale-like fantasy. The story is expressed through the hand manipulations of the puppets from the birth of the daughter and their happy, sweet family life to wartime in a play within a play with sets of the four seasons representing life and the passage of time.

    Since premiering in 2003, the show has evolved from its early format to the current version. Various artists from mime performers, photographers to video artists have collaborated to discuss the nature of the war, human rights and the cruelty of war. The title of the show also changed from “When Spring Comes” and “War” to the current “Dallae’s Story.”

    Its first international recognition was at the 2009 World Festival of Puppet Theaters held in Charleville-Mesieres, France. The show also received the top prize at the Tolosa International Puppetry Festival in Titirijai, Spain as the first Korean performance in the same year.

    The performance also features traditional Korean music, simple but effective sets, and a unique mixture of performers and puppets. Art Stage San, the production company, said European countries and Japan, which have a strong fan base for puppet shows, appreciated the value of “Dallae’s Story.”

    Time: 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., March 26

    Tickets: 100-200 yuan

    Reservations: 400-610-3721

    Venue: Shixia Theater Hall, Futian Cultural Hall, 3006 Fuqiang Road (福强路3006号福田区文化馆石厦戏剧主题馆)

    Metro: Longgang Line, Yitian Station (益田站), Exit B

    (SD News)