Kaguya-hime

One day, an old man discovers a baby no bigger than his thumb nestled inside the stem of a glowing bamboo plant. He and his wife take the child in and raise her as their own, naming her Kaguya-hime "the Princess of Light".

As she grows, the tiny girl blossoms into a young woman of extraordinary beauty. Word of her beauty spreads throughout the empire, and suitors come from far and wide to ask for her hand. But Kaguya-hime sets each of them an impossible task, sending them away empty-handed.

Then, one day, she discovers the truth about her celestial origins. As a shower of light falls from the sky, Kaguya-hime leaves the Earth and returns to her people in the heavens.

For its first production for young audiences, Cie Linga brings this ancient Japanese tale to life — a story known and cherished by generations of children in Japan. Through a clear and expressive physical language, the dancers give shape to a kaleidoscope of emotions, creating a poetic and tender exploration of difference, belonging and what it means to be an outsider.

Blending wonder with a touch of melancholy, Kaguya-hime, the Princess of Light invites children and adults alike to look differently at those who may not be like us and to discover what connects us beyond our differences.

Cie Linga is an associate company of the Octogone Theatre in Pully and receives joint funding from the City of Pully, the City of Lausanne and the Canton of Vaud. The company also receives touring support from Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, and Corodis/Loterie Romande. It is additionally supported by the Fondation Philanthropique Famille Sandoz.