THEATER/DANCE
Festival/Tokyo
The Launch of a new international performing arts festival in Tokyo.
Outline
“Festival/Tokyo” is an International Festival of Stage Arts to be held for about a month, between February 26 and March 29 2009, in various cultural locations around Ikebukuro including the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space. With the collaboration of the local community and citizens of Tokyo, special events and programs will add passion to the lineup of the 19 performances from home and abroad including new productions to be world premiered.
While there are various apparent social problems today, such as the weakening of human relationships due to digitalized technological advances, stage arts such as theater and dance, with their ability to directly convey the power of expression to the audience, are gaining renewed attention.
“Festival/Tokyo,” with support from the local community, will host various events in the vicinity of Ikebukuro to provide more people with opportunities to experience the charm of live art as can only be experienced through stage presentations. Organizational efforts strive to make the festival open in such a way as to encourage the public to return again and again to take in the various performances.
Through this festival, the revitalization of stage art culture will be promoted through the presentation of original Tokyo stage arts to the world, and the introduction of stage arts from abroad to the people of Tokyo.
While there are various apparent social problems today, such as the weakening of human relationships due to digitalized technological advances, stage arts such as theater and dance, with their ability to directly convey the power of expression to the audience, are gaining renewed attention.
“Festival/Tokyo,” with support from the local community, will host various events in the vicinity of Ikebukuro to provide more people with opportunities to experience the charm of live art as can only be experienced through stage presentations. Organizational efforts strive to make the festival open in such a way as to encourage the public to return again and again to take in the various performances.
Through this festival, the revitalization of stage art culture will be promoted through the presentation of original Tokyo stage arts to the world, and the introduction of stage arts from abroad to the people of Tokyo.
Time
February 26 (Thu)-March 29 (Sun), 2009
Feb 4 (Wed) Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall：Festival/Tokyo Pre-Opening International Symposium
Feb 4 (Wed) Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall：Festival/Tokyo Pre-Opening International Symposium
Venues
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space (Medium Hall and Small Hall 1 & 2)
Owl Spot (Toshima Ward Performing Arts Exchange Center)
Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory And others
Owl Spot (Toshima Ward Performing Arts Exchange Center)
Nishi-sugamo Arts Factory And others
Organizers
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee; Toshima ward, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation and NPO Arts Network Japan（ANJ）
Contact
Festival/Tokyo Office,
c/o NPO Arts Network Japan (ANJ)
Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory, Nishi-Sugamo 4-9-1, Toshima-ku, 170-0001 Tokyo,
Tel: 03-5961-5202 Fax: 03-5961-5207
Mail: toiawase@anj.or.jp
http://festival-tokyo.jp
c/o NPO Arts Network Japan (ANJ)
Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory, Nishi-Sugamo 4-9-1, Toshima-ku, 170-0001 Tokyo,
Tel: 03-5961-5202 Fax: 03-5961-5207
Mail: toiawase@anj.or.jp
http://festival-tokyo.jp
F/T Performance
Karl Marx: Capital, Volume One
Direction：Helgard Haug, Daniel Wetzel（ Rimini Protokoll）【Germany】
Date：Feb 26（Thu） ? Mar 1（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
Employing the technique of documentary theatre, Rimini Protokoll is enjoying immense popularity. Following the 2008 Tokyo staging of "Mnemopark", this time they re-visit Japan with Karl Marx' magnum opus in hand. This original Tokyo version features a Japanese cast of real economists, revolutionaries, labourers and socialists/capitalists.
Date：Feb 26（Thu） ? Mar 1（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
Employing the technique of documentary theatre, Rimini Protokoll is enjoying immense popularity. Following the 2008 Tokyo staging of "Mnemopark", this time they re-visit Japan with Karl Marx' magnum opus in hand. This original Tokyo version features a Japanese cast of real economists, revolutionaries, labourers and socialists/capitalists.
Othello
Direction：Lee Youn-Taek 【Korea】
Date：Feb 27（Fri）? Mar 1（Sun), 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
What happens when elements from Japanese Noh Theatre and Korean shamanism are added to Shakespeare's "Othello"? A pioneer in the world of contemporary Korean theatre, Lee Youn-Taek, employs both Japanese and Korean actors (Micari, Kazunori Abe, Koichi Ohtaka, KimMi-Sook and Lee Seung-Heon ) in his version of Sukehiro Hirakawa's Noh libretto "Othello in Noh Style". The music is created by Won Il, Ondekoza and Kuniko Kato.
Date：Feb 27（Fri）? Mar 1（Sun), 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
What happens when elements from Japanese Noh Theatre and Korean shamanism are added to Shakespeare's "Othello"? A pioneer in the world of contemporary Korean theatre, Lee Youn-Taek, employs both Japanese and Korean actors (Micari, Kazunori Abe, Koichi Ohtaka, KimMi-Sook and Lee Seung-Heon ) in his version of Sukehiro Hirakawa's Noh libretto "Othello in Noh Style". The music is created by Won Il, Ondekoza and Kuniko Kato.
Clouds. Home.
Direction：Akira Takayama（Port B）
Text：Elfriede Jelinek
Date：Mar 4（Wed）? 7（Sat）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
The first of Port B's two works re-staged for the festival, "Clouds. Home." by the Nobel Prize-winning author Jelinek is linked to "Sunshine 6 3". Diverted by the monologue in which 'we' are searching for our 'home', Sunshine 60 appears on the stage. Critical voices question state, race, history, land, home, body, life and death.
Text：Elfriede Jelinek
Date：Mar 4（Wed）? 7（Sat）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
The first of Port B's two works re-staged for the festival, "Clouds. Home." by the Nobel Prize-winning author Jelinek is linked to "Sunshine 6 3". Diverted by the monologue in which 'we' are searching for our 'home', Sunshine 60 appears on the stage. Critical voices question state, race, history, land, home, body, life and death.
Sunshine 63
Concept / Direction：Akira Takayama（Port B）
Date：Mar 4（Wed）? 8（Sun）,11（Wed）? 15（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Ikebukuro area
"Sunshine 63 " is a 'tour performance' where the audience forms groups of five 'tourists' walking around Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 , built on the former site of the Sugamo Prison. This tour tracing post-war and present Japan is a journey of recollection into memory and history for each of the participants.
Date：Mar 4（Wed）? 8（Sun）,11（Wed）? 15（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Ikebukuro area
"Sunshine 63 " is a 'tour performance' where the audience forms groups of five 'tourists' walking around Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 , built on the former site of the Sugamo Prison. This tour tracing post-war and present Japan is a journey of recollection into memory and history for each of the participants.
Fireface
Direction：Shu Matsui（Sample）
Text：Marius von Mayenburg
Date：Mar 5（Thu）? 8（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1
The young Japanese renowned playwright and director Shu Matsui directs Marius von Mayenburg's much talked-about work "Fireface", which left an unforgettable impression on the Japanese audience when it was staged by the German Schaubuehne Theater in 2005 . A family of four seems to live a life in harmony when the daughter's boyfriend shows up one day and the family's equilibrium starts to fall apart.
Text：Marius von Mayenburg
Date：Mar 5（Thu）? 8（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1
The young Japanese renowned playwright and director Shu Matsui directs Marius von Mayenburg's much talked-about work "Fireface", which left an unforgettable impression on the Japanese audience when it was staged by the German Schaubuehne Theater in 2005 . A family of four seems to live a life in harmony when the daughter's boyfriend shows up one day and the family's equilibrium starts to fall apart.
Kumquat Seed
Direction / Choreography / Design：Ushio Amagatsu（Sankai Juku）
Date：Mar 7（Sat）? 8（ Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
The recreation of "Kumquat Seed" marks the 30 th anniversary of the premiere of Sankai Juku's masterpiece, a work that has since been staged in 113 cities in 21 countries. A vivid and intense world is revealed against the background of thousands of tuna tails nailed to the stage wall, as a "boy dreams about the origins of life and death".
Date：Mar 7（Sat）? 8（ Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
The recreation of "Kumquat Seed" marks the 30 th anniversary of the premiere of Sankai Juku's masterpiece, a work that has since been staged in 113 cities in 21 countries. A vivid and intense world is revealed against the background of thousands of tuna tails nailed to the stage wall, as a "boy dreams about the origins of life and death".
Hey Girl!
Direction：Romeo Castellucci (Societas Raffaello Sanzio)【Italy】
Date：Mar 10（Tue）? 14（Sat）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
The unrivaled Italian director Romeo Castellucci's first Tokyo performance depicts an adolescent girl who experiences confusion and conflict as she is the reflection of Virgin Mary, Juliet and Joan of Arc, and countless other women. Like his other world-shattering masterpieces, "Hey Girl !" is distinguished by powerful, unforgettable images and unsurpassed plastic art.
Date：Mar 10（Tue）? 14（Sat）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
The unrivaled Italian director Romeo Castellucci's first Tokyo performance depicts an adolescent girl who experiences confusion and conflict as she is the reflection of Virgin Mary, Juliet and Joan of Arc, and countless other women. Like his other world-shattering masterpieces, "Hey Girl !" is distinguished by powerful, unforgettable images and unsurpassed plastic art.
blueLion
Concept / Direction / Choreography：Tsuyoshi Shirai
Date：Mar 13（Fri）? 15（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1
"blue Lion" featuring the renowned dancers Misako Terada and Yukio Suzuki, and live music played by 'genreless' musicians, is the result of a two-month residency at the Kyoto Art Center. In his new work the winner of the 2006 Toyota Choreography Award is challenging a new type of choreography crossing the genres of text, music, and body.
Date：Mar 13（Fri）? 15（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1
"blue Lion" featuring the renowned dancers Misako Terada and Yukio Suzuki, and live music played by 'genreless' musicians, is the result of a two-month residency at the Kyoto Art Center. In his new work the winner of the 2006 Toyota Choreography Award is challenging a new type of choreography crossing the genres of text, music, and body.
KOKASHITA
Choreography：Shigehiro Ide
Date：Mar 14（Sat）? 20（Fri）, 2009
Venue : Owlspot Theater
Known for his original and humorous dance works, the leader of Idevian Crew embarks on a collaboration project together with dancers from Thailand. I de went to Bangkok himself, where he selected a number of dancers who are to perform together with Japanese dancers at Festival/Tokyo. This special team will illustrate the cultural gap and differences between Tokyo and Bangkok today!
Date：Mar 14（Sat）? 20（Fri）, 2009
Venue : Owlspot Theater
Known for his original and humorous dance works, the leader of Idevian Crew embarks on a collaboration project together with dancers from Thailand. I de went to Bangkok himself, where he selected a number of dancers who are to perform together with Japanese dancers at Festival/Tokyo. This special team will illustrate the cultural gap and differences between Tokyo and Bangkok today!
Between 95 and 97 kg
Direction：Yukio Ninagawa
Text：Kunio Shimizu
Date：Mar 18（Wed）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
Spearheaded by the internationally renowned director Yukio Ninagawa, the Saitama Gold Theater consists uniquely of people above 5 5 years. In this unforgettable performance they are seen performing along side Eiji Yokota and other professional actors from Ninagawa's own theater company, the NINAGAWA STUDIO.
Text：Kunio Shimizu
Date：Mar 18（Wed）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Nishi-Sugamo Arts Factory
Spearheaded by the internationally renowned director Yukio Ninagawa, the Saitama Gold Theater consists uniquely of people above 5 5 years. In this unforgettable performance they are seen performing along side Eiji Yokota and other professional actors from Ninagawa's own theater company, the NINAGAWA STUDIO.
Voiceprints City － Letter to FATHER
Text / Direction：Masataka Matsuda（Marebito-no-Kai）
Date：Mar 19（Thu）? 22（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1
Taking inspiration from Shakespeare' s" Hamlet ", Kafka' s " Letter to My Father" and videos of his father living in Nagasaki, frequently seen in his early works, the internationally acclaimed Kishida Kunio Playwright Award and Yomiuri Theater Award winning Masataka Matsuda questions the paternal rights today.
Date：Mar 19（Thu）? 22（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1
Taking inspiration from Shakespeare' s" Hamlet ", Kafka' s " Letter to My Father" and videos of his father living in Nagasaki, frequently seen in his early works, the internationally acclaimed Kishida Kunio Playwright Award and Yomiuri Theater Award winning Masataka Matsuda questions the paternal rights today.
Utopia?
Text / Direction：Oriza Hirata 【Japan】, Amir Reza Koohestani【Iran】, Sylvain Maurice【France】
Date：Mar 23（Mon）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Owlspot Theater
Will the first ever Japanese / Iranian / French co-production crossing the borders of language and culture be able to bring the theatre to a state of "Utopia"? With a prologue and epilogue by Sylvain Maurice, Amir Reza Koohestani's work offers a view backstage of Oriza Hirata's newest work, "Christmas in Teheran".
Date：Mar 23（Mon）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Owlspot Theater
Will the first ever Japanese / Iranian / French co-production crossing the borders of language and culture be able to bring the theatre to a state of "Utopia"? With a prologue and epilogue by Sylvain Maurice, Amir Reza Koohestani's work offers a view backstage of Oriza Hirata's newest work, "Christmas in Teheran".
Transfer Student
Direction：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
Text：Oriza Hirata
Date：?Mar 26（ Thu）? 29（ Sun）, 2009
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
Featuring 2 1 female high school students auditioned from the Shizuoka prefecture, Norimizu Ameya's staging of Oriza Hirata's work " Transfer Student " draw a lot of attention at the time of its premiere at the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center in 2007. Now the renowned work is available for the Festival/Tokyo audience.
Text：Oriza Hirata
Date：?Mar 26（ Thu）? 29（ Sun）, 2009
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Medium Hall
Featuring 2 1 female high school students auditioned from the Shizuoka prefecture, Norimizu Ameya's staging of Oriza Hirata's work " Transfer Student " draw a lot of attention at the time of its premiere at the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center in 2007. Now the renowned work is available for the Festival/Tokyo audience.
Theater/University 09 Spring
Date：Mar 24（Tue）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1 & 2
Participating universities and performances will be announced on the homepage.
Today it is possible to take dance and drama lessons at the universities under the instruction of professional artists. In the "Theater/University series" emerging artists are invited to present their work at Festival/Tokyo. followed by discussions, Theater/University is a place for cultural exchange and dialogue contributing to build the future of theater.
Venue：Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space, Small Hall 1 & 2
Participating universities and performances will be announced on the homepage.
Today it is possible to take dance and drama lessons at the universities under the instruction of professional artists. In the "Theater/University series" emerging artists are invited to present their work at Festival/Tokyo. followed by discussions, Theater/University is a place for cultural exchange and dialogue contributing to build the future of theater.
Performances co-presented by F/T
Piper NODA・MAP 14 th performance
Text / Direction / With：Hideki Noda（ NODA・MAP）
Date：Jan 4（Sun）? Feb 28（Sat）, 2009
Venue：Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon
The location is Mars one thousand years into the future. The planet that used to be the object of our dreams is now the home to humans and the mysterious" Piper". Is it ａｎ ａｎｉｍａｌ, a machine, or a human being? Featuring Takako Matsu and Rie Miyazawa, "Piper" is a story about a metamorphosis that occurred as man's dream came true.
Date：Jan 4（Sun）? Feb 28（Sat）, 2009
Venue：Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon
The location is Mars one thousand years into the future. The planet that used to be the object of our dreams is now the home to humans and the mysterious" Piper". Is it ａｎ ａｎｉｍａｌ, a machine, or a human being? Featuring Takako Matsu and Rie Miyazawa, "Piper" is a story about a metamorphosis that occurred as man's dream came true.
Spiral of Love
Text / Direction：Daisuke Miura（Potudo-ru）
Date：Feb 26（Thu）? Mar 16（Mon）, 2009
Venue：THEATER/TOPS
The uncrowned king of the small the atre world, Daisuke Miura, received the 5 0 th Kishida Kunio Drama Award for this scandalous comedy. Moving into the realms of documentary theatre, [Spiral of Love] depicts the night of a promiscuous party.“ Ordinary ” people reveal their delicate and grotesque personalities as they engage in sexual relationships with each other.
Date：Feb 26（Thu）? Mar 16（Mon）, 2009
Venue：THEATER/TOPS
The uncrowned king of the small the atre world, Daisuke Miura, received the 5 0 th Kishida Kunio Drama Award for this scandalous comedy. Moving into the realms of documentary theatre, [Spiral of Love] depicts the night of a promiscuous party.“ Ordinary ” people reveal their delicate and grotesque personalities as they engage in sexual relationships with each other.
Shun-kin A co-production between Setagaya Public Theatre and Complicite
Direction：Simon McBurney（UK）
Date：Beginning ? mid Mar
Venue：Setagaya Public Theatre
Delving into the psyche of the characters in "Shunkin Sho" (A Portrait of Shunkin) by Junichiro Tanizaki, Simon McBurney applies elements from the traditional Japanese performing arts in his staging of "Shun-kin". Among others the acclaimed actress Eri Fukatsu appear onstage together with shamisen and hand drum players in this
original production.
Date：Beginning ? mid Mar
Venue：Setagaya Public Theatre
Delving into the psyche of the characters in "Shunkin Sho" (A Portrait of Shunkin) by Junichiro Tanizaki, Simon McBurney applies elements from the traditional Japanese performing arts in his staging of "Shun-kin". Among others the acclaimed actress Eri Fukatsu appear onstage together with shamisen and hand drum players in this
original production.
The Rainy Table Strange Kinoko Dance Company × plaplax
Choreography / Concept / Direction：Chie Ito（Strange Kinoko Dance Company）
Stage design / projections / media technology：plaplax
Date：Mar 19（Thu）? 22（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Theatre Tram
Known for taking in spiration from everyday life, Strange Kinoko Dance Company launches on a groundbreaking collaboration with the internationally renowned interactive art unit plaplax, and musician Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter) in their creation of "The rainy table", a work that was developed during a residency at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media（YCAM）.
Stage design / projections / media technology：plaplax
Date：Mar 19（Thu）? 22（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Theatre Tram
Known for taking in spiration from everyday life, Strange Kinoko Dance Company launches on a groundbreaking collaboration with the internationally renowned interactive art unit plaplax, and musician Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter) in their creation of "The rainy table", a work that was developed during a residency at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media（YCAM）.
another BATIK
Concept / Direction / Choreography：Akira Kasai
Date：Mar 26（Thu）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Setagaya Public Theatre
Upon request from Ikuyo Kuroda, Butoh dancer Akira Kasai has taken on the quest to choreograph BATIK's first new show in two years. "another BATIK" is a work in three parts, in which the BATIK dancers already familiar with Ikuyo Kuroda's extreme use of the body, challenges the unknown world of Akira Kasai.
Date：Mar 26（Thu）? 29（Sun）, 2009
Venue：Setagaya Public Theatre
Upon request from Ikuyo Kuroda, Butoh dancer Akira Kasai has taken on the quest to choreograph BATIK's first new show in two years. "another BATIK" is a work in three parts, in which the BATIK dancers already familiar with Ikuyo Kuroda's extreme use of the body, challenges the unknown world of Akira Kasai.
Festival/Tokyo Pre-Opening International Symposium
"Rethinking culture today around three cultural systems: US, France and Japan"
A pre-opening event to Festival/Tokyo, F/T Symposium adds to the publication of the French journalist Frederic Martel’s overview of the American culture and art policy “De la culture en Amerique” in Japanese. Together with one of the central cultural figures in Japan, Oriza Hirata, he is discussing the possibilities of new cultural systems in the 21st century.
Date:February 4 (Wed) 14:00-18:00
Venue:Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space Medium Hall
Free Entrance In Japanese and French with simultaneous interpretation
Rental of earphones for simultaneous interpretation receivers:￥1,000
Reservation via website:http://festival-tokyo.jp/en/event/
A pre-opening event to Festival/Tokyo, F/T Symposium adds to the publication of the French journalist Frederic Martel’s overview of the American culture and art policy “De la culture en Amerique” in Japanese. Together with one of the central cultural figures in Japan, Oriza Hirata, he is discussing the possibilities of new cultural systems in the 21st century.
Date:February 4 (Wed) 14:00-18:00
Venue:Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space Medium Hall
Free Entrance In Japanese and French with simultaneous interpretation
Rental of earphones for simultaneous interpretation receivers:￥1,000
Reservation via website:http://festival-tokyo.jp/en/event/
