A total of 10 hours! Immerse yourself in the world of Greek tragedy with this trilogy.

(Top image) Photo by Yoshikazu Inoue

Go, see, and experience the world of art
File.22 KUNIO15 'The Greeks'
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

Sublime and majestic. That's generally the world that comes to mind when you hear the term Greek tragedy. I can almost hear some people saying, "It sounds a bit sleepy..."
But here's the thing!
KUNIO15's "The Greeks," a joint production between KAAT and KUNIO, was truly unique and different.

Although it reconstructs ten Greek tragedies into a single story using modern theatrical techniques, it is a massive production spanning three parts and a total running time of 10 hours. I stepped into the theater expecting to be prepared for anything, but what I found there was a landscape that felt inextricably linked to the everyday lives of Japanese people. The audience is effortlessly drawn into the world of ancient Greek tales from the "gateway to the story" prepared by director Kunio Sugihara.

*Photography: Yoshikazu Inoue

The stage, incorporating the image of the pine tree backdrop found on Noh stages, evokes a sense of purity befitting a story of the gods. By introducing vinyl and plastic, symbols of modern consumer civilization, the world of ancient Greece is linked to contemporary Japan. Sugihara, who also handles the stage design, presents a dynamic narrative that keeps the audience engaged. It's the kind of performance that makes you think, "Ten hours will fly by..."

*Photography: Yoshikazu Inoue

Greek tragedy is said to be the origin of many plays and stories today, and may be a challenge for directors. Having directed "Oedipus REXXX (Oedipus Rex)" at KAAT last year and feeling a sense of accomplishment with Greek tragedy, Sugihara chose "The Greeks" as his next step.

"I'm fully aware that this work goes against the trend of prioritizing simple and easy things in this era (laughs). But that's precisely why I wanted to believe in the power of storytelling, the power of art, and the power of theater, and present it to society."
"I want to convey to the audience the 'fun' and 'coolness' of classics. 'Greeks' was first performed in the UK in 1980, and has been restructured and expanded upon, so it may not be a 'classic' in the purest sense. Even so, tackling this play requires physical strength and stamina as a director. There were no directors around me, at least, who were willing to stage such a major work, and it would be extremely rare to find a theater that would allow it. For the actors and staff working with me, as well as the audience, it is an experience that you don't get to have many times in your lifetime (laughs)."

*Photography: Yoshikazu Inoue

The capricious, selfish, and highly individualistic gods of Greek mythology share some similarities with the gods of Japanese mythology. Greek tragedies depict humans being at the mercy of these gods, but ultimately, it was human imagination that created these "gods" in the first place.
Many of the Greek gods have names that are familiar to Japanese people. When you realize this, it's strange how, even though these stories were created long ago, they somehow feel like they're not just someone else's story.

After previews in Morishita (Tokyo) and performances in Kyoto, which could be considered Sugihara's second home, "The Greeks" is finally set to open at KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre.

"Kanagawa Prefecture is my hometown, and 'The Greeks' is a work that we've been rehearsing at KAAT, so it feels like I've 'returned to my home ground.' I think it's the culmination of everything I've cultivated in small theaters and a turning point for me, so I really want many people to see it."

This event has ended.
KAAT・KUNIO joint production
KUNIO15 " The Greeks "
[Date and Time] November 21st (Thu) - 30th (Sat)
*There will be no performances on the 22nd (Fri), 25th (Mon), and 28th (Thu).
Each day
Part 1 11:30~
Second part 15:00~
Part 3 18:30~
[Venue] KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Main Studio
[Edited and translated into English] John Burton, Kenneth Cavander
[Translation] Hidemi Ozawa
[Direction and Art] Kunio Sugihara
[Cast] Ryo Amamiya, Tamae Ando, Maki Honda (SPAC - Shizuoka Performing Arts Center), Akira Takeda (Gyoto), Mika Ishimura (Tegamiza), Akifumi Hakoda (Tegamiza), Yuya Tanaka (Nakano Naruki + Franken's), Ryo Watanabe, Sayuri Fujii, Kan Fukuhara (Hancho Yuuei), Masakazu Morita, Sadamu Ikeura (Otokoniku du Soleil) / Reiko Matsunaga (Nylon 100℃), Seiji Toyama (Bungakuza) / Yutaka Oda and others
[Prices] (All seats reserved) One-day pass: ¥10,000, <Tickets for each part> General admission: ¥5,000, Under 24: ¥2,500, High school students and younger: ¥1,000, Seniors (65 years and older): ¥4,500