“The Interlopers” is a performance dealing with the topic of territorial disputes, which have gone on for as long as we have been human. It is inspired by Saki’s short story, “The Interlopers.” A Japanese man goes to Europe to listen to the stories of people who have experienced the conflict in Yugoslavia. Amidst a series of flight cancellations, he takes off his mask and, feeling a sense of freedom, travels by train and bus from the Carpathian Mountains where Saki’s story is also set, to the Balkans. However, hit hard by the unprecedented depreciation of the Japanese yen, he loses his funds and begins busking. In Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, he encounters a girl from Transylvania, Romania, and while spending time with her, he becomes involved in an incident. Unsure of whose territory is whose and which narrative is true, the Japanese man, who is asked to give a statement, reveals what is hidden deep in his heart. Ishii’s creation was based on feedback from Slovenian directors, dramaturgs, performers, and artists as part of the PARL – Performance Art Research Ljubljana, Slovenia program.

Written and directed by Junya Ishii
Performed by Junya Ishii, Jonnathan Bonnici, Eszter Szollogi
Performance venue: PARL – Performance Art Research Ljubljana, Slovenia