Kaidan: Night of 100 Spirits

Overview

Kaidan: An Evening of 100 Spirits
The Hyaku-Monogatari Kaidanki is a Japanese, Heian-era pastime of telling ghost stories to one another of increasing intensity with the hopes one of these spirits does not appear in your parlor. Drawing from the rich history of Japanese folklore and Victorian spiritualism this is a parlour and stage magic show encased in the mysterious and often eerie world of yurei and yokai. The production is a multi-media and performance evening combining illusions, history, storytelling, bunraku, noh, and more to weave a creepy web of scary stories each paired with a performance or art piece to transport the audience to a time of onmyōji and 10th Century court pastimes. Educational, beautifully macabre, distinctly Japanese, and entertaining of course.

Featuring Schreiben the Conjurer as he takes you through this peculiar world of spirits, investigating it through a Westerner’s perspective while addressing misunderstandings and misconceptions of the genre to spirit the audience away to another time and place in our world’s history.

Story by actor, writer, and folklorist Dwight Sora.

Production done in conjunction with Financial Management by FNC Philly

About the Artist

Schreiben, the Conjurer

With over 15 years of experience in magic and mentalism, Schreiben is a passionate performer dedicated to crafting unforgettable experiences that blur the line between illusion and reality. Drawing inspiration from history, folklore, and theatrical storytelling, creating an immersive performance that captivates the mind and stirs the imagination.

This year, Schreiben is thrilled to be part of a brand-new show to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival—an exploration of Japanese culture and drama, blending traditional storytelling with mesmerizing illusions. Excited to collaborate and push creative boundaries, he invites audiences to step into a world where magic, myth, and mystery collide.

Credits