The triumphant return performance of the new style group "MWno's" has been decided.
An award-winning performance by the group "MWnos", which won the Drama Competition Grand Prize at the Kanagawa Short Drama Awards 2022, will be held from December 14th to 17th, 2023 at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Studio HIKARI. This time, we asked the three people who wrote and directed the play about their highlights.
Two dance companies come together
``ROBIN'', which won the grand prize, was the first work of MWnos, who explored and created a new form of fusion of dance and theater.
“ROBIN” was filled with anxiety and conflict.
MWnos: To be honest, I was surprised when I won the grand prize.
In a competition for short plays, we were worried and conflicted about whether our work, which included a lot of dance, would be seen as theater at all.
―I think ``ROBIN'' was a work worthy of this award, as it takes on the challenge of new theater.
Mr. Uemura: I am usually active in the field of dance, so I was genuinely happy to receive such a response. This may be the opposite of what I originally intended, but winning the award has made me think more deeply about the characteristics of the MWnos movement. Dance is not a genre where there is no speaking, but I believe that there is a world that we can reach because we have faced expression in a world where there are few words.
-Was there anything else that impressed you?
Mr. Kubo: It was exciting to be able to see the theater works of my generation even through a monitor. As we have only a short history as a collaboration, it was a good opportunity for us to reconsider our own colors, theater, dance, and expression.
Takahashi: When the results of the Kanagawa Short Drama Award were announced, the results were not just announced, but were judged publicly, so it was interesting to see how our works would be evaluated as theatrical works. In the end, we won the Grand Prix, and although I didn't really feel it at first, I was glad that we took on the challenge because we were able to find new ways of expression and creation as MWnos.
Using dance as a language, a full-length work “Hitoguramuhito”
MWno's: "Hitoguramuhito" is a work with the theme of "turning casual conversations into something special through diverse expressions," and this is the first time it will be shown. The connection from "ROBIN" is also one of the highlights, and it will be the first time for five members, three from MWMW and two from Von Noz, to take on the challenge.
Mr. Uemura: I mentioned in the leaflet that MWMW x Von・no's is a double performance of dance and theater, but the scale has literally been scaled up, so I hope you can relax, laugh, and enjoy it for a bit. I'm happy. I feel that we respected the strengths of both groups and their respective ideas and thoughts as much as possible, and proceeded with the creation with the idea that there are always three possible answers. It's a work that has three different interpretations, so I'd be happy if the audience could also come up with their own answers.
-There are a lot of things you are particular about, which is interesting. Are there other things to see?
MWno's: To be honest, it was winning the Grand Prix for "ROBIN" that gave us the opportunity to figure out who we are. Theater is about words, and dance is about physical expression. So, what happens if we consider dance as a language? ``This is the type of theater created by dancers,'' and I feel that by winning the Grand Prize, our style of expression has become clearer.
Mr. Takahashi: As I create the work, I think of it as × (multiplying) rather than + (plus), and I feel that it is not biased toward one or the other, but that it is a dance × theater work, so I would like to deliver this as another method of expression. . I think it's a work that even people who aren't familiar with dance or theater can enjoy, and I'd like people who are involved in dance or theater to see it as well.
The uncut version of "ROBIN" is also available on YouTube, so you might enjoy it even more if you check it out before coming to the venue.
-Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this Kanagawa/Yokohama performance.
Mr. Uemura: When I was young, when I thought of Yokohama, I thought of Chinatown. After learning about Yokohama Dance Collection, I learned that many art events are held in Yokohama, and my impression changed to that of Yokohama as a city of art. Being a port town, I get the impression that there is a lot of interaction. It's an honor to be able to perform a work in such a hot and lively area, and it's really exciting.
Kubo: Yokohama is home to KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Kanagawa Prefectural Hall, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, and many small theaters and art spaces, so I get the impression that it's a city that puts a lot of effort into the arts. We are also very excited to be able to perform in Yokohama. This time, the performance will be held during an art festival called Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting 2023 (YPAM2023), so we hope you will visit MWnoz's performance as you visit various venues as if you were going to a food stall. I would be happy if it were.
Takahashi: We have performed dance performances all over Yokohama in the past, but this time we will be participating in the Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting 2023 (YPAM2023) and will be able to perform at that time as part of the fringe program. A chance to let more people know about our activities. There will be audiences from overseas, so I hope this will be an opportunity for Yokohama to spread its wings to the world.
《MWnos》
“Hitoguramuhito” special page: Click here
Award-winning work “ROBIN” full version (YouTube): Click here
MWnos “Hitoguramuhito”
Date and time: December 14th (Thursday) to December 17th (Sunday), 2023
Venue Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Studio HIKARI [9-1 Momijigaoka, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture]
Written, directed and choreographed by: Moeto Takahashi, Yuki Uemura, Yoshie Kubo
Cast: Moeto Takahashi, Yuki Uemura, Yoshie Kubo, Itsuyo Kanamori, Yuki Nakatani
《MWMW》
Instagram: here
YouTube channel: here
《Von・nozu》
Instagram: here
