“It showed exactly the path that a theater should take.”

-Dong-a Ilbo (From the article <THE BEE>)

The star of a Japanese theater that created a sensation with every work he presented, including <The Red Demon>, <THE BEE>, and <Half Gods>, Hideki Noda returns. Having captivated the audience through his creative and brilliant imagination, Hideki portrays the tragedy that results from indifference and fanatical obsession of a family comically but also with a serious tone. As a playwright, director, and actor, Hideki Noda presents a theater with a new style that transcends time and space by exquisitely blending ‘Noh’, a major form of classical Japanese theater, with western theater techniques. All the while laughing and enjoying the slapstick humor accompanied with live music, the family that tragically shatters asks us who are distrusting and self-absorbed, “Did you come to help us?”

“I sometimes had to use earplugs. Your story is too boring”

Father Bo, mother Boo, and daughter Pickle each had dinner plans tonight. The problem is that one of them needs to cancel plans to take care of Princess, the family’s dog that is pregnant. Each wanting to escape to find peace, their quarrel becomes more and more severe, but ultimately, all three are chained up inside the house, unable to move. They become thirsty and hungry since they are unable to drink or eat, and this state goes on for days, weeks, months, and years…

*  Photo by Kishin Shinoyama

Wrriten and Directed by Hideki Noda

A playwright, director, and actor, Hideki Noda is one of the most innovative and talented artists in Japan. He has been the Art Director of Tokyo Metropolitan Theater since 2009, and is currently a professor at Tama Art University in Japan. Hideki is continuously developing multi-cultural projects by actively presenting his works overseas and simultaneously inviting various international works to Tokyo Metropolitan Theater.

* Major works

Theater
<Half Gods> <THE BEE> <Red Demon> <Pandora’s Bell> <Oil> <The Driver> <Egg> <South> <The Character> <Richard III>

Kabuki
<The Tragedy of Tojitatsu> <Nezumi Kozo>

* Awards
2011 Japan Medals of Honor Purple Ribbon (Academic and artistic accomplishments)
2009 Asahi Prize 
2009 British Order of Chivalry OBE(Order of British Empire)

Creative Team

Written and Directed by Hideki Noda

English Translation Adapted by Will Sharpe

Set Design Yukio Horio

Lighting Design Christoph Wagner

Costume Design Kodue Hibino

Composer Denzaemon Tanaka XIII

Sound Design Marihiko Hara

Sound Junko Fujimoto

Traditional dance advisor Kikunojo Onoe

Noh Movement advisor Reijiro Tsumura

Video Shutaro Oku

Hair & Makeup Eri Akamatsu

Back translation Keiko Tsuneda & Peter Marsh

Assistant Director Raga Dahl Johansen

Production Manager Nick Ferguson

Cast

“Father” Kathryn Hunter

“Daughter” Glyn Pritchard

“Mother” Hideki Noda

Music Denzaemon Tanaka XIII

Official Airline ANA

Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs Government of Japan in the fiscal 2017