The tour will consist of Izumi playing her unique and interactive show, full of costume changes, dances, acting, strange props and stranger sounds. And of course her beautiful, haunting and moving music.

Before her show, the documentary film “DREAM CIRCUS” will be screened. The film charts Izumi’s adventures on the road in 2010 and is a colourful, funny and moving portrait of a complex, joyful and sensitive human being. Both film and show are approximately 30 minutes long.

There will be several collaborations along the way with local musicians, dancers and other performers, and no two shows will be the same.

Detailed info about the venues, times and performers will appear here as it is finalised. The dates and places will be as follows. Hope to see many of you there!

**UPDATED 27/8/2011**

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30 July 2011

Evening: Film and Performance at Hasenschaukel, Hamburg, Germany

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31 July 2011

Evening:  Film and Performance at Eschschloraque, Berlin Mitte, Germany

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1 August 2011

TBA Berlin, Germany

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2 August 2011

21:00: Film and Performance at KuLe Lounge, Berlin Mitte, Germany

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3 August 2011

TBA, Berlin, Germany

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4 August 2011

20:00 Film and Performance at Exchange, Dublin, Ireland

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5 August 2011

TBA, Dublin, Ireland

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6 August 2011

TBA, Edinburgh, Scotland

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7 August 2011

TBA, Edinburgh, Scotland

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8 August 2011

Film and Performance at Mono, Glasgow, Scotland

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9 August 2011

TBA, Glasgow, Scotland

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10 August 2011

Performance at Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow, Scotland. ENTRY.

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11 August 2011

19:15-20:10 KABARETT, The Speakeasy, The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Scotland. FREE

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12 August 2011

19:15-20:10 KABARETT, The Speakeasy, The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Scotland. FREE

23:05-00:00 Sweet Release, Sweet Grassmarket, Apex City Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland. 10 pounds entry.

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13  August 2011

TBA, Barcelona, Spain

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14 August 2011

22:00 Teatreneu, Barcelona, Spain 8 Euro

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16 August 2011

19:00 Live performance at Café Intime, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark. FREE ENTRY.

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17 August 2011

20:30 Film and special 1-hour performance with Tanja Bjørn Zabell at Operaens Café, Freetown of Christiania, Copenhagen, Denmark. ENTRY: 50 DKK.

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19 August 2011

20:00 Live performance with Will Fournier and the fire flower revue at Le Cagibi, Montreal, Canada

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20 August 2011

Evening: Live performance with Matt Snell and the fire flower revue, TBA, Thomasburg, Canada

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21 August 2011

20:00 Film and Performance with Matt Snell and the fire flower revue at Kubo Lounge, Peterborough, Canada

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22 August 2011

21:00 Film and Performance with Matt Snell and the fire flower revue at Smiling Buddha, Toronto, Canada

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23 August 2011

19:30 Film and Performance at Nathalie-Roze & Co., Leslieville, East Toronto, Canada

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24 August 2011

20:00 Death By Audio, New York City, USA

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25 August 2011

TBA, New York City, USA

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26 August 2011

Goodbye Blue Monday, New York City, USA

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27 August 2011

SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE IRENE, New York City, USA

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28 August 2011

THIS SHOW WILL PROBABLY BE CANCELLED. PLEASE CHECK DIRECTLY WITH THE VENUE BEFORE HEADING OUT.

20:30 Zebulon, New York City, USA

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29 August 2011

Cafe Orwell, New York City, USA

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31 August 2011

17:00 Film and Performance at Løve’s Bog Café, Copenhagen, Denmark. FREE ENTRY. NB! Changed from August 17!

The days are getting warmer, sunlight hours are longer – summer is coming! I (Sofie) am hard at work finishing the Izumi documentary and Izumi is hard at work preparing for the summer tour 2011.

The film is taking shape. It will focus on the many faces of Izumi – the doll, the manga character, the innocent girl and the street-smart woman. Prepare to fall in love with Izumi – and to never look at Europe the same way again once you’ve seen it through her eyes!

Combining the movie and Izumi’s live show (each about 30 minutes long), we are planning an epic tour of Europe and North America this summer. Catch us if you can! We are planning on visiting London, Edinburgh and Glasgow (the UK), Copenhagen (Denmark), Berlin and Hamburg (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Montreal and Toronto (Canada) before finally finishing off in New York, New York (the US).

The schedule is subject to change and destinations might be added or subtracted – but once dates are finalised, they will be available here! In the meantime, have a peek at Izumi’s updated website.

And for those who haven’t seen it yet, here is the Goto Izumi movie preview:

From Izumi & Co.

Much more to come in the new year. In the meantime, enjoy our rendition of Silent Night in English, Japanese, German and Danish. During the tour, one outdoor show was cancelled due to severe rain. Instead we decided to do the show in a kitchen. While preparing for this, Izumi suddenly started singing Silent Night and soon we all joined in.

In the video are: Izumi, her friends Christin, Aya and Yuri, as well as yours truly with some truly poor singing from behind the camera.

Be good, all Santas little children.

I am pleased to announce that after having devoted my lifeblood, sweat, and all waking hours for weeks, the Izumi Goes To Europe preview is now up and running!

Have a look and let me know what you think – or as the old saying goes, if you like it, tell your friends, and if you don’t, tell me!

(A better quality version can be seen here. And for those who have trouble catching the English,  I have uploaded FULLY SUBTITLED versions on both Vimeo and YouTube.)

I was aiming to give a taste of how much fun Izumi is, and how amazing her art. There is loads more of this to come in the actual film of course, along with other themes there wasn’t even room for here. Among these are closer looks at Izumi’s friendships, her constant battle with rain (she went to Scotland, after all), and interviews with members of the creative underground in various European cities, looking at the ever-changing and ever-threatened habitat of the species known as the “boheme”.

Over time, I plan to put more little teasers up here. A trailer (a shorter version of the preview) is under preparation, as well as longer scenes expected to be in the film.

I am also very curious to learn what you as a viewer would like to see in this film, so I constructed a little poll. Please take a second to give me your two cents.

I am planning to do an identical poll in Japanese and very curious to see if the results will differ. I will of course keep you posted on this space.

And, finally, a call to arms, or support, help, anything, really, from anyone who is willing and able.

This is a brand new world for me. My first feature, my first documentary, first attempt to get a film shown in several countries.

In order to complete this project, I need equipment, cash and know-how. Further down the line, we will need more cash and know-how (whenever don’t you need those?) but not least help and assistance to get this film out to as many people as possible.

I am looking into ways to setting up support here on the website, but for now, please contact me on sofiesfilms@gmail.com. I welcome any comments, offers, requests, party packs.

But most importantly, spread the word. Please, please, tell people about Izumi, her show, her music – and this website. As anyone who has had the honour of meeting her and seeing her show will know, she deserves a film. Let’s give her one.

(Photo courtesy of Susan Gowans)

Goto Izumi the movie is now a wrap! Tour safely and succesfully over, Izumi is back in Hiroshima, I am back in Copenhagen. Now remains the long and hard work of going through the footage (20 hours!) and putting together the film.

More than anything, I want to capture Izumi’s shows and her personality in all their colour and beauty. And I want to give full justice to all the wonderful people and places we met along the way.

Watch this space for more info and for a trailer. I am hoping to have the latter done before the end of September.

Many thanks to everyone again,

Sofie