You're sure to find a great script! A mecca for theater people

Go, see, and experience the world of art
File.14 Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Theatre Materials Room
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

I want to try acting too...!
Have you ever felt such an urge after being deeply moved by a wonderful stage performance? The Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center's Theater Archives is a reliable resource that can support those feelings.

Established in July 2005, the Yokohama Theatre Research Institute built its collection of theatre books and materials over more than half a century, and of course, continues to collect materials to this day.
The collection includes playbooks from Japan and abroad, theater books (primarily on contemporary theater), performance scripts, theater magazines, and performance materials from Kanagawa Prefecture and other parts of Japan.
We also discovered the script for "Spiral Staircase," a theatrical production that was also featured at Magcal Theatre!
The museum has a nearly complete collection of the three major modern theater magazines, "Teatro," "Shingeki," and "Tragedy and Comedy." It also has a large collection of magazines from various theater groups, including "Serifu no Jidai" and "Quarterly High School Theater," so even non-enthusiasts will be impressed.
Near the ceiling, there are posters that were actually used in major European theaters in the 1980s. These are all rare items, some of which may be the only ones of their kind in Japan, and they are modern, stylish, and simply looking at them is exciting.

And surprisingly, almost all of the library materials are on open shelves!
You can pick up and flip through almost all of the theatrical materials, including approximately 9,000 books and 10,000 magazines.
What's even better is that, with the exception of some rare materials, you can borrow them (up to 3 books at a time for 2 weeks; ID required).

What's noteworthy is the extensive collection of materials for high school and junior high school theater. Since publications of amateur theater scripts are limited, having such a comprehensive collection is rare even within Japan. Apparently, school drama club members sometimes come here to select plays, and people even travel from as far away as Kanazawa and other prefectures to search for materials.
It goes without saying that a play cannot be made with just a script and actors. Theater, public relations, advertising, lighting, sound, and other technical staff are also needed.
The theater archives are run by volunteer staff from the Kanagawa Prefectural Theater Federation, so they can answer such inquiries and, if necessary, refer you to specialists.

*Ms. Arai (right) and Ms. Yamamoto (left) who guided us.

Right next door is the small theater space "Studio HIKARI," and on the first floor is the Momijizaka Hall with 812 seats. Everything you need for theater is here.
I understood why the Youth Center is called a "sacred place" by many people in the theater world.

[Theater Archives]
[Location] 2nd floor of Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center
[Opening Hours] 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
[Closed days] Mondays, New Year holidays (December 28th to January 4th)
[Inquiries] TEL. 045-263-4400 (Extension: 5301)
*Click here to search our library collection! >>