(TOP image) Photography: Yoshikazu Inoue
Visit, see and feel the world of art
File.22 KUNIO15 “Greeks”
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)
Sublime and majestic. That's the kind of world that comes to mind when you hear the word Greek tragedy. I can almost hear you saying that you're feeling a little sleepy.
But what's wrong?
KUNIO15 ``Greeks'', co-produced by KAAT and KUNIO, had a completely different taste.
Although it is a retelling of 10 Greek tragedies into a single story using modern drama techniques, it is a blockbuster work with a three-part structure and running time of 10 hours. I stepped into the theater thinking, ``I have to be prepared for this...'' but what I saw there was a scene that was closely connected to the daily lives of Japanese people. Through the ``story entrance'' prepared by director Kunio Sugihara, the audience is easily drawn into the story world of distant ancient Greece.
*Photographer: Yoshikazu Inoue
The stage, which incorporates the image of Matsubame, which is the background of a Noh stage, gives a sense of purity suitable for weaving stories of the gods. By introducing vinyl and plastic, which can be considered symbols of modern consumer civilization, the world of ancient Greece is linked to modern Japan. Mr. Sugihara, who also handles the stage design, creates dynamic developments that will keep the audience entertained. With this, 10 hours will pass in a blink of an eye.
*Photographer: Yoshikazu Inoue
Greek tragedy is said to be the origin of today's plays and stories, and may be a challenge for directors. Mr. Sugihara directed ``Oedipus REXXX'' at KAAT last year, and felt that he had a good experience with Greek tragedy, so he chose ``Greeks'' as his next step.
“I am fully aware that this work goes against the times when simple and convenient things are prized (lol).However, that is precisely why I believe in the power of story, the power of art, and the power of theater and want to present it to society. I thought"
``I want to convey to the audience the fun and coolness of classics.'' ``Greeks'' was first performed in the UK in 1980, and since it has been restructured and added to, it is a ``classic'' in its purest sense. "Maybe not. Still, it takes a director's stamina and strength to face this play.At least there was no director around me who had the desire to stage such a large-scale work, and There are very few theaters that allow us to do this.It's not an experience that can happen again and again in a lifetime, not only for the actors and staff who work with us, but also for the audience.''
*Photographer: Yoshikazu Inoue
The moody, selfish, and unique gods of Greek mythology are similar to the gods of Japanese mythology. Greek tragedy is a story about humans at the mercy of such gods, but it was human imagination that created the "gods" in the first place.
Many of the names of Greek gods are familiar to Japanese people. When you realize this, it's strange because even though the story was born a long time ago, it somehow feels like it's not someone else's business.
After a preview in Morishita (Tokyo) and a performance in Kyoto, Sugihara's second hometown, ``Greeks'' will finally open at the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater.
``Kanagawa Prefecture is my hometown, and ``Greeks'' was rehearsed at KAAT, so it feels like I've come back to my home turf.It's the culmination of what I've cultivated in small theaters, and for me, I think this work will be a turning point for the future, so I hope many people will see it."
This event has ended.
KAAT・KUNIO joint production
KUNIO15 " Greeks "
[Date and time] November 21st (Thursday) - November 30th (Saturday)
*Closed on the 22nd (Friday), 25th (Monday), and 28th (Thursday)
each day
Part 1 11:30~
Second part 15:00~
Part 3 18:30~
[Venue] KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater Large Studio
[Edited and translated into English] John Burton, Kenneth Cavander
[Translation] Hidemi Ozawa
[Direction/Art] Kunio Sugihara
[Cast] Ryo Amamiya, Tamae Ando, Maki Honda (SPAC-Shizuoka Performing Arts Center), Akira Takeda (Fish Lantern), Mika Ishimura (Tegami-za), Akifumi Hakoda (Tegami-za), Yuya Tanaka (Nariki Nakano) +Frankens), Ryo Watanabe, Yuri Fujii, Kan Fukuhara (Hanchu Yusei), Masakazu Morita, Sadamu Ikeura (Otoko du Soleil) / Reiko Matsunaga (Nylon 100℃), Seiji Toyama (Bungakuza) / Yutaka Oda et al.
[Price] (All seats reserved) One-day ticket ¥10,000, <Tickets for each section> General ¥5,000, Under 24 years old ¥2,500, High school students and under ¥1,000, Silver (over 65 years old) ¥4,500
