The All Kawasaki Project Aiming for the World: "Kawasaki Romeo & Juliet"

The place where plays are born
File.2 Kawasaki Romeo & Juliet
Koichi Imai (Editor/Writer)

One of the dreams of the theater company "Kawasaki Alice," based in Kawasaki City, is to expand internationally. It's a little sad that young theater companies these days don't make such ambitious statements, although it sounds good to say they know their limits.

Ash, the head of the theater company, worked as a musical actress in an American touring theater company when she was in her twenties.

"When you work in America, naturally, the language is English. At some point, I started wondering, 'Why am I acting in English?' I wanted to take the musicals I created in Japan overseas, so I came back to Japan. After searching for about two years, I heard that Tokyo University of the Arts was creating a course where you could study theater, and I thought, 'This is it!' So I went back to university, not to be an actor, but to study directing."

Among the various theater figures he met was Satoshi Miyagi, who leads the Ku-Nauka Theater Company. Ku-Nauka is a theater company that developed its own unique style, in which two actors, one moving and one speaking, play a single role. However, what attracted Ash was not the acting style, but the fact that they were realizing the idea of "putting the Japanese language to music" on stage.
The music that fills our daily lives is Western rhythms like rock and pop. But Ku-Nauka's lyrics were set to rhythms that were comfortable for Japanese people. I was also attracted by their energetic overseas performances. I was invited to join Ku-Nauka as part of the production team and worked under Miyagi for a long time.
Then, when Miyagi moved his base of operations to become the artistic director of SPAC (Shizuoka Performing Arts Center), he became independent. It's quite surprising how that's when his connection with Kawasaki City began.
I started my theatrical career through a combination of connections: I got a job teaching drama at a high school, I did a residency with an Indonesian company through my connection to Miyagi Prefecture, and I became close with the president of an architectural design firm.

In fact, many of the members of "Kawasaki Alice" are former students who, after pursuing various career paths, decided they wanted to do theater in Kawasaki after all. The aforementioned architectural firm also provides them with a rehearsal space. And so, they have gradually begun to put down roots in Kawasaki City.
* Run, Melos! at Engaku-ji Temple in Kamakura

"Through Miyagi-san's connection, I also participated in Suzuki Tadashi's theater workshop in Toga Village. It was a shocking and fascinating experience that completely overturned my concept of theater, but more than anything, I was surprised by how closely they were working with the local community and how they were creating theater with a social impact. When I thought about it, I realized that I, too, am interested in engaging with the community, and I reaffirmed that I really enjoy doing things in Kawasaki."
*From Toga's "The Blue Bird"

The theater company's name includes "Alice" because they aim to create plays that evoke the feeling of being suddenly drawn into Wonderland, or being transported to an unreal world. Eight years have passed since the company was founded. In 2017, Ash himself won the Outstanding Director Award at the Toga Theater Artists Competition.

In December 2018, he produced two versions of "Kawasaki Romeo & Juliet," a performance commemorating the 12th anniversary of Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Sol, sponsored by the city of Kawasaki, creating the Crimson Team and the Light Blue Team.

"I feel like we've reached a new stage as a theater company. I never once thought I wanted to end up as just a local theater company; my original dream was to take our works out to the world. It took some time, but I'm happy that we've reached the point where we've been offered the opportunity to produce our own show."

* "The Weak Monk" performed with high school students at Plaza Sol

Plaza Sol is a small theater located inside a shopping center in front of Kawasaki Station. My connection with the place began when I staged a play there with high school students.
"Romeo and Juliet" is Shakespeare's masterpiece depicting the love story of Romeo and Juliet, young people from two rival families, that unfolds across their short lives. This story will be adapted into a musical drama set in a city resembling Kawasaki, approximately 200 years later, and will feature live music.

"When you hear 'Romeo and Juliet of the Future,' it conjures up images of science fiction, but I always create my works with the question in mind: 'What will this play be like seven generations from now?' Since it's a work that has survived for over 400 years, it will surely continue to live on. The world may be even more technologically advanced than it is now, but I believe that the fundamental activities of humanity will remain the same. Even if society and the environment change, 'Romeo and Juliet' should still be performable. We've tentatively set the story 220 years in the future, but we create it while discussing, 'What will Kawasaki be like then?' I hope this performance will serve as a catalyst for nurturing future theater professionals and fostering the culture of Kawasaki."

A large-scale audition will be held this summer. The assembled members will be divided into two groups: the Kurenai (Red) group will pursue an artistic performance style that Ash aims for, while the Hanada (Blue) group will create a work that deepens the drama of "Romeo and Juliet."

* 'Romeo and Juliet' Production Announcement

In these times when inciting conflict is becoming a global trend, Kawasaki is a microcosm of this phenomenon. However, Ash feels that it is precisely because of these negative aspects that a vibrant and powerful city is being created. How will this story be received?

"I feel that everything in the world is structured in conflict, to a greater or lesser degree. Humans, by nature, create conflict everywhere. Whether it escalates into a fight or not is another matter, but some things are born from the tension of conflict. Art is one example. I think 'Romeo and Juliet' is a story that will resonate with the people of Kawasaki, who live amidst conflict and diverse cultures."

Ash hasn't written the ending of the script. That's something the young actors will discover through their rehearsals in Kawasaki. Naturally, the endings for the two couples will be different.

"I think there are pros and cons to adapting classics. I decided to take the plunge and use the universally shared treasure of 'Romeo and Juliet' to 'enrich life,' and started with the translation. I wasn't simply replacing it with a story set in Kawasaki; I aimed to make it our own story. People living in Kawasaki might find it amusing. And I would be happy if the audience who sees this play, although it is tragic, can find a glimmer of hope within it."

* 'Romeo and Juliet' Promotion @ Kosugi Festa

The members supporting the play are, as Ash said, "We aimed for an all-Kawasaki production staff," local friends from Kawasaki. Theater is a live art form, so no matter how interesting the creation, the emotions can only be shared with those who are there at that time and place. Because this one-time nature is the charm of theater, they put a lot of effort into the visual aspects to disseminate information in advance. Supporting them was the local creative team "Nokuchi Kichi," whose name is derived from "Mizoguchi."

"Even though we'd like to put more effort into things like flyers, our budget isn't large enough to cover that. This time, the representative of Nokuchi Base said, 'Let's raise our fees through crowdfunding.' We'll do our best to create a work that lives up to the spirit of the people of Kawasaki."

This event has ended.
Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Sol 12th Anniversary Commemorative Event
"Kawasaki Romeo & Juliet"

■Date and time: December 6th (Thursday) - December 11th (Tuesday), 2018
■Venue: Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Sol
■Written by: William Shakespeare
■Translation, adaptation, and direction: Ash (Kawasaki Alice)
■Ticket Information: General Advance Ticket: ¥4,000 / Kawasaki Discount: ¥3,800 / University & Vocational School Students: ¥3,000 / High School Students and Younger: ¥2,000
The "Hanabane" set is 7,600 yen *Advance reservations only. Includes admission to two performances.
■Showtimes: 6th & 7th 19:00, 8th & 9th 13:00/18:00, 10th 14:00/19:00, 11th 12:00/16:00