The Tibetan Book of the Dead follows the dying one into the afterlife and beyond, as the soul journeys to rebirth, capturing one of the most powerful religious texts humankind has known. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a guidebook to be read aloud to the dying or deceased; it gives practical, navigational instructions through the Tibetan afterlife. This manual instructs the living as well as the dead to remain alert, to be fearless, and remain undistracted by the trivialities of daily living.

The intrigue of the script is not only with the words and message written by the playwright, but also the unlimited possibilities between the lines of text. The fluidity of an oral ritual allows greater freedom for expression through voice, body, and spirit; there is no limitation by concepts of character, setting or plot. Emotion, symbolism and thought are able to take physical form on the stage in clear images rather than being inferred.

Director’s Note

“The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a guidebook to be read aloud to the dying or deceased; it gives practical, navigational instructions through the Tibetan afterlife. What struck me is that this manual would have invaluable instructions for the living as well as the dead: to remain alert, to be fearless and remain undistracted by the trivialities of daily living.

“My love for this script began not only the words and message within it, but also the unlimited possibilities I saw between the lines of text. The fluidity of an oral ritual allows greater freedom for expression through voice, body, and spirit; we are not limited to concepts of character, setting or plot. Emotion, symbolism and thought are able to take physical form on the stage in clear images rather than being inferred. We as an ensemble have endeavored to create the world the dying one must pass through using our individual and communal responses to the ritual. Within the sounds and pictures created in this space, you will see how the deeply personal impulses of the ensemble create a universal story.

“To me, mortality is something to be contemplated, but never obsessed on. Living is beautiful; dying is beautiful; and every experience is a thing of beauty, not to be judged good or evil but accepted for what it is a lesson.” – Katrina Stevenson