«Tea Ceremony is a sorrowful song, a mute scream, a small microscopic cry in the midst of an excruciating noise.» Tommaso Chimenti, Il Recensito

Winner of the 1st Jury Prize at the Milan Festival (MilanoOff 2020), the devised performance “The Ceremony” (SRSLYyours Ensemble) questions our motivations and choices within a capitalistic system – deeply rooted in historic colonial infrastructures and thinking patterns – in which “advanced” societies conduct their lifestyle and fulfill their needs at the expense of an ever increasing exploitation of the world’s resources and suffering of others.

Developed around the ancient tradition of a «Tea Ceremony», a Geisha invites the theatre audience to an evening of comfort and delight, wealth and luxury, appearance and well-being. During the monologue, the performing “Tea Host” begins to question her role as “servant” and “entertainer” operating in a system based on capital, consummation and ownership and gradually leads the audience on a journey of modern day abuse, child labour, human trafficking, torture and slavery, and the high price we pay for our joy and comfort