On a top of a hill overlooking a fiord. The dependent relationship between a sister, brother and his wife becomes dramatically shaken by the accidental death of their child.

Artist/Company
BIRD Theatre Company TOTTORI [From Tottori, Japan] + Korea National University of Arts(K-Arts) [From South Korea]
Date
Thursday, 14 September, 19:00-
Friday, 15 September, 19:00-
Saturday, 16 September, 13:30-
Sunday, 17 September, 13:30-
*There will be a talkback after the performance on Saturday, 16, and Sunday, 17.
Running Time
120 minutes (estimated)
Venue
The Katsutani Gymnasium
Price
Adults: 2,800yen*
Students: 1,000 yen
under 18: 500yen
Preschool-aged children: Free
*Including one drink voucher for use at the Café
Language
Performed in Japanese and Korean with Japanese subtitles
Mobile subtitles
Mobile devices for Japanese or English subtitles available
About the programme開く

The modern world is an amalgam of many enormous dreams and desires, filled with prejudice and hatred. This late work by Ibsen brilliantly portrays ourselves and our society today through the figures of people struggling with self-realisation and dreams. In this performance, theatre artists from Japan and Korea reflect on their own present and think about a better world for the future beyond the differences in language and past events.

Synopsis開く

A family of three lives wealthy on a hill overlooking the fiord: husband Allmers, his beautiful wife Rita, who helps him, and son Eyolf, who has one leg disabled. The husband has stayed in the mountains to finish a book he was working on and has just returned from there. His beloved sister Asta visits him. While his wife and sister expect him to finish his work, he declares that he will give it up and devote himself to his son's education. Although they are puzzled by this sudden change of direction, Allmers talks enthusiastically about his new dream. Then an old Rat-Wife appears, who makes her living luring rats out of houses and killing them. She is shooed away, but her appearance triggers a fatal accident, revealing the pasts, individual desires and irritations of the three, who appeared prosperous and peaceful.

Cast/Staff開く

Written by Henrik Ibsen

Directed by NAKASHIMA Makoto

Performed by SAITO Yoriaki (Bird Theatre), YAMAMOTO Yoshiro(YAMANOTE Jijosha), Hwang Kyuchan, Kim Doyeun, Lee Changhyun, Lee Subin

Set/Lighting Design Nam Youngju

Message from the director開く

The production will be premiered at the BIRD Theatre Festival. It is currently under rehearsal. 'Self-realisation' continues to plague people today. What are 'self' and 'I'? What does 'realisation' mean, and how do we do it? Ibsen tackled this question at the end of the 19th century, depicting the confusion and suffering that arise when the 'I' is pursued. At the end of the play, he shows the possibility of overcoming a challenge that is very much relevant today. It seems somewhat abrupt. However, it seems to me that it is a mature understanding that is still applicable today.

The concept of Jiga = ego was born in the West. It was associated with freedom, and developed society and the economy. Nevertheless, it has also led to various 'illnesses'. As the world has become more affluent, the confusion and suffering caused by the ego have become an important and urgent issue in the East and continue to shake us today in all sorts of ways.

In this performance, Japanese and Korean theatre artists create a piece together. Through the work, they look deeply into the various contemporary 'illnesses' surrounding the 'self' and think together about them. Furthermore, they consider how people can overcome current challenges based on the traditional Oriental values of coexistence with nature and other people. With the hope of igniting a small but solid fire in the darkness of a world full of violence, inequality, prejudice and poverty by creating a theatre piece founded on ideas that have been shared since time immemorial.

Artist's profile開く

Korea National University of Arts(K-Arts)

Korea's first national four-year art university. It has seven schools and faculty: School of Drama, School of Visual Arts, School of Film, TV & Multimedia, School of Music and so on. School of Drama has produced many talents in the world of theatre and film, etc. In November 2018, they signed an agreement with the BIRD Theatre Company. They continuously carry out joint projects for the development of the arts and the cultivation of human resources.

Host/Grant開く

K-Arts Platform of Drama school, Korea-Japan collaboration project in 2023

【Host】BIRD Theatre Company TOTTORI   Korea National University of Arts

【Grant】Agency for Cultural Affairs Subsidy for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts (Project for Promoting the Functional Enhancement of Theatres, Music Halls, Etc.)/ Japan Arts Council/ FY2023 Tottori Prefecture Subsidy for Art Promotion and Regional Revitalisation Projects through the Creation and Dissemination of Excellent Theatre