[The Magic of Art 01] Artistic Director Keishi Nagatsuka x KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre: Together with Things, People, and the City
KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre (hereinafter referred to as KAAT) is a creative theatre themed around "three kinds of creation": things, people, and the city. The 2024 preseason will begin in April, and the annual summer program, "KAAT Kids Program 2024," will be held in July. This time, we interviewed Artistic Director Keishi Nagatsuka to explore the appeal of KAAT.
What I learned from continuing to share my thoughts
— Mr. Nagatsuka, playwright, director, and actor, is now in his fourth year as the artistic director of KAAT.
Nagatsuka became involved with KAAT as an artistic advisor in April 2019, and was appointed artistic director in April 2021, a position he holds to this day.
— You've approached this from a multifaceted perspective, drawing on your career experiences to date. Looking back, what are your thoughts?
Nagatsuka , it went by so quickly. However, when I took over, it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, so I think the staff had a very difficult time dealing with that. Even without that, when the artistic director changes, the guidelines and public relations style change completely.
As for me, I've always kept in mind that "KAAT is a theater in Kanagawa Prefecture" and have continued to work with that in mind. I've introduced a seasonal system to bring a sense of the seasons and rhythm to the theater, and I've also implemented the KAAT Kanagawa Tour Project.
— What is the KAAT Kanagawa Tour Project?
This initiative aims to meet everyone in Nagatsuka , and through that, to introduce KAAT to people in Kanagawa Prefecture and spark their interest in theater. Since 2021, we have been taking works created at KAAT outside the theater and touring within Kanagawa Prefecture.
In February and March of 2024, as the second phase of the project, I presented two new plays that I wrote incorporating legends and episodes from various regions of Kanagawa Prefecture: "Beauty and the Beast of Hakone Mountain" and "The Little Mermaid of the Miura Peninsula," to Zama, Kawasaki, Odawara, Zushi, and Chigasaki. I blended famous Western stories with Kanagawa to create entertaining works that could serve as an entry point into the theatrical experience.
— The theater has put a lot of effort into the production.
Even as the situation changes moment by moment, I am determined not to stop moving forward or communicating.
As a result of our continued efforts, we've finally started to see each other's faces a little more recently, and we're beginning to feel a sense of connection with the community. We're still only at the very beginning, though.
Connections forged through the company magazine "KAAT PAPER"
— The quarterly magazine "KAAT PAPER" is also a tool that is typical of Mr. Nagatsuka. I like how it embodies KAAT's focus on things, people, and the town.
Thank you, Nagatsuka . Initially, I was involved from the planning meetings onwards, but now that our vision has become clearer, the editing staff is taking the lead in production.
— It's a very engaging read. What are some of the things you focus on when planning it?
Nagatsuka: I try to meet at least two people from new fields and people from the "town" in each issue. I believe that you can only truly understand each other by meeting in person, and that things can only be born from dialogue. I've had conversations with many people so far, but now a collaboration event with Naoki Tsubaki of TSUBAKI Shokudo is finally coming to fruition.
— You appeared in the Winter 2023 issue with Ms. Tsubaki, who is known for "Yokohama Vegetables" and "Yokohama 18-ku Donburi"?
Thanks to the article in Nagatsuka magazine, the long-awaited "KAAT Marche" will be held at the KAAT Atrium. I'm also looking forward to it, as Tsubaki-san's activities, which focus on local production and consumption in Yokohama and revitalize the city, have much in common with KAAT.
Also, Mr. Nobumasa Takahashi (*), Chairman of the Yokohama Chinatown Development Association Cooperative, who was featured in the inaugural issue (Autumn 2021), still places lanterns at KAAT during the Lunar New Year. We hope to come up with many more new initiatives with Chinatown. It's important not to be satisfied with just doing it once, but to deepen the relationship and continue it, so we want to continue to meet people and reach out to them.
*Titles are as of the time of the interview.
[KAat Marche]
July 6th (Sat) 11:00-18:00, July 7th (Sun) 11:00-17:00 (tentative)
Details: Click here
【KAAT PAPER】
Latest issue (Spring 2024): Click here
Watching real works and performances through the eyes of children
—The "KAAT Kids Program 2024" is fast approaching.
Nagatsuka: This year, for the first time in a while, we have two productions: a performance invited from overseas and a brand new work written by a promising Japanese playwright. The first is "Peck" from Scotland, a non-verbal performance by stage artist Andy Manley, who has a reputation for creating works aimed at young people. There are no lines, so you can enjoy it by feeling the expressions, gestures, and music, making it perfect for a child's first theater experience.
— Mr. Nagatsuka and Mr. Andy Manley, please share any anecdotes you have.
Nagatsuka: The first time I saw an Andy Manley play was over 10 years ago, in a globally popular production called "White." I still vividly remember how wonderful it was. It's been 5 years since the last performance at KAAT, back in 2019.
"Peck" was co-produced in Kyoto in 2023, and all four of its subsequent performances in Japan were well-received. Andy will be coming to KAAT with a few staff members and two suitcases (laughs). Please look forward to it.
—Two trunks! That sounds like a precious opportunity to experience true art.
Mr. Nagatsuka , I encourage you to enjoy the works and performances through the eyes of the children.
It's a wonderful thing to be able to see what interests your child and what they feel. Even if your child loses interest halfway through, that's okay; something will always remain with them.
[KAAT Kids Program 2024]
Details: Click here
The main season begins in September.
— The title of the main season for 2024, which starts in September, is "Someone." It's a word that can be interpreted in various ways.
Nagatsuka tries to come up with a fairly broad seasonal theme each year, and this year it's "a certain."
The internet and social media are overflowing with anonymous words from people whose faces we can't see. We don't know whose words they are, but they definitely exist, and sometimes they feel like our own. What can we see when we look through the lens of "someone" who is both me and you...?
KAAT offers a wide variety of performances. I'm sure you'll find something that resonates with you, so I hope you'll come and visit KAAT, the theater in Kanagawa Prefecture.
— It was recently announced that Mr. Nagatsuka has been reappointed as Artistic Director of KAAT. What are your goals for the six years until March 31, 2031?
During my first term as Nagatsuka , I was determined to push forward, but accepting a second term has extended my tenure by five years. I want to find what the theater needs and what people will want to see endure into the future. I want to think about ideas that will be passed on to the next artistic director, ideas that will inspire people to carry on into the future.
KAAT is a well-known theater in the theater world, situated in a convenient location and staffed by excellent professionals. However, for those unfamiliar with it, it remains a mysterious place. Now that it's finally starting to open doors to connect with the city and the people of the prefecture, we want to continue our engaging efforts to keep those doors wide open.
With its connections to nearby cultural facilities and international exchanges, the topics and projects are only deepening. Keep an eye on KAAT's future as it aims to be a theater open to society.
Text by Mai Shimura (editor/writer)
KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre
Address: 281 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number: 045-633-6500
Official website: Click here
