'New Plays: Japan' was presented at the Royal Court Theatre in London, U.K. from 26 to 28 January 2023.

Three brand new Japanese plays developed out of the Royal Court Theatre × New National Theatre, Tokyo Playwrights' Workshop were staged in English translation.

• Not Yet Midnight
  

  Written by KOTAKA Tomoko
  Translated by SUZUKI Sayuri
  
  Director Dadiow Lin
  Cast
  James Bradwell
  Hanako Footman
  Yojiro Ichikawa
  Meg Kubota
  Kirsty Rider
  
  

• Onigoro Valley
  

  Written by CHIBA Saori
  Translated by Susan Momoko HINGLEY
  
  Director Mingyu Lin
  Cast
  Ashley Alymann
  Camilla Aiko
  Nino Furuhata
  Andrew Futaishi
  Susan Momoko Hingley
  Kumiko Mendl
  

• 28 hours 01 minute

  Written by MATSUMURA Shoko
  Translated by SUZUKI Sayuri
  
  Director Ailin Conant
  Cast
  Natsumi Kuroda
  Kanako Nakano
  Mark Takeshi Ota

KOTAKA Tomoko, MATSUMURA Shoko, CHIBA Saori

Photos by Theodorah Ndlovu

Reviews

• Plays To See
  ★★★★☆
  "Each play is unique, showcasing the playwrights' sensitivity and imaginative talent."
  
  
• A Young(ish) Perspective
  ★★★★☆
  "New Plays: Japan leaves you seeing the world through fresh eyes, in a masterclass of new playwriting."
  
  
• The Indipendent
  ★★★★☆
  "Indeed, it's a pleasure to see these script-in-hand performances and ideas in development, to imagine the final staging from stage directions read aloud. Both theatres benefit from this partnership, and long may it continue to blossom. "
  
  
• time & leisure
  ★★★★☆
  Not Yet Midnight
  "there's plenty of fabulous concepts throughout - a frame with a character pondering whether they are dead yet - good humour and relatable characters."
  28 hours 01 minute
  "28 hours 01 minute is weird, absurd, bizarre, quirky, funny, tragic, shocking, unexpected, outrageous and spectacular."
  Onigoro Valley
  "This Kwaidan-esque horror story needs a little bit more stage magic to truly shine but the concept is both moving and effective. "