DRAMA: 2ND February, 2023
'New Plays: Japan' at the Royal Court Theatre
'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.
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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
![480pxMeg Kubota in Not Yet Midnight (1).jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/480pxMeg%20Kubota%20in%20Not%20Yet%20Midnight%20%281%29.jpg)
![720px_20230127_173100550_iOS.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/720px_20230127_173100550_iOS.jpg)
![720px_20230127_175808800_iOS.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/720px_20230127_175808800_iOS.jpg)
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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
![480px20230126_140247350_iOS.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/480px20230126_140247350_iOS.jpg)
![720px_20230126_120512200_iOS.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/720px_20230126_120512200_iOS.jpg)
![720px_Susan-Momoko-Hingley,-Kumiko-Mendl-and-Camilla-Aiko-in-Onigoro-Valley.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/720px_Susan-Momoko-Hingley%2C-Kumiko-Mendl-and-Camilla-Aiko-in-Onigoro-Valley.jpg)
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28 hours 01 minute
Written by MATSUMURA Shoko
Translated by SUZUKI Sayuri
Director Ailin Conant
Cast
Natsumi Kuroda
Kanako Nakano
Mark Takeshi Ota
![480px20230126_173345750_iOS.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/480px20230126_173345750_iOS.jpg)
![720px_20230126_171841340_iOS.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/720px_20230126_171841340_iOS_1.jpg)
![720px_Natsumi-Kuroda,-MarkTakeshi-Ota-and-Kanako-Nakano-in-28-Hours-01-Minutes.jpg](https://cms.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/720px_Natsumi-Kuroda%2C-MarkTakeshi-Ota-and-Kanako-Nakano-in-28-Hours-01-Minutes.jpg)
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. "