Japanese TraditionalTheatres

andA Shakespeare

adaptation

Theme

Brief Introduction of Japanese Traditional Theatres ; Kabuki, Noh and Kyogen

Noh Stage and the Globe theatre

Introducing a Shakespeare Adaptation in Traditional Theatre Style (Kyogen)

Traditional Theatres

Kabuki 歌舞伎

Noh & Kyogen 能と狂言 (They are played on the same stage)

Bunraku 文楽 , Joruri 浄瑠璃 (Puppet) etc..

Kabuki 歌舞伎

The oldest preserved Kabuki theatre in Japan: 金丸座

Kabuki- Specific features

Famous Popular Culture

Flamboyant

Started in EDO era (1606-)

Early Girls Theatre banned by Government

Turned to the play by males

Noh 能

Left: 小面（ Woman’s Mask ） Right: 般若 (Transformed Woman ：Devil)

Noh- Specific features

Tragedy (Gods, Fighter, Love&Woman, Mad, Ghost)

Family Business

Ritual, Use Masks, terd by Edo King

Started 700~800? – 　 (Origin: China)

Sophisticated to the present style by Zeami (1363-1443) in Medieval Era

Stage position; Centre actor measure his position by the 4 pillars (columns)

Noh- Stage

Itsukushima Shrine, a Noh stage build by 1680 on the beach

The ancient style open-air stage, Nara, 芝舞台

Noh Stage Roof

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Hakusan_Shrine_Nogakuden.jpg

The Globe theatrein London

Noh Stage Plan

https://jtwebber2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/noh-japanese-theatre/

Kyogen 狂言

Neongyoku 「寝音曲」（ねおんぎょく）の一場面

Kyogen- Specific features

Comedy (Funny, Family Drunk Episode, Lord and Sevant, Dance, etc..)

Entertainment, sometime Serious

Separate from Noh-Gaku

Clown Role =“Taro-Kaja”

Rarely use Masks

A Shakespeare adaptation

Played by a Kyogen Family

Comedy of Errors

in a Modern Theatre

the dance became famous in TV show (yayakoshiya!; How complicated!)

間違いの狂言

An adaptation of “Comedy of Errors”

狂 = Errors

狂言 = Comedy

Syracuse = Shira ( 白=White)

Antiphoius

Nanosuke White island and Black island

Dromio

Taro-Kaja of White island and Black island

Mask as representing “another man” (double act)

Mask as representing “another man” (double act)

2 worlds separated by sides

Watch Video

DVD Play(1h22m46s to 1h24m41s)

Scene of the twin brothers meet each other.

Thank you!