Profile Theater/University spring 09

“Top Girls” J.F. Oberlin University
(University premiere: Prunus Hall, January 2009)
Premiered in London in 1982. Has been performed twice in Japan, in 1983 and 1992.
The author Caryl Churchill was born in London in 1983. She created a sensation with “Cloud 9” at the time of its presentation in 1979.
At the raise of the curtain we meet Marlene, a hard-bitten career woman who is employed at the 'Top Girls' employment agency. Marlene is a girl who left her working class background to pursue financial success, leaving her illegitimate child with her apparently infertile sister, Joyce.

Direction: Hisao Takase (Associate Professor J.F Oberlin University)
Text: Caryl Churchill
With: Oberlin University Students/ Professor: Masao Noso

“Even If the Girl Is Not the Flying Girl” Kyoto University of Art and Design
(Premiered at: Kyoto Art Theater [studio21], Japan, January 2009)
Inspired by “Quad”by Samuel Beckett, this dance work was born out of a search for the inherent images and movements found in the play. How can we liberate oureselves from the bodies we are trapped in? The dance is born when the borders between he bodies are crossed. We suddenly find ourselves linked, and then the connection is suddenly cut again, or we are urprised by an unforeseen distortion of the body.

Concept and direction: Setsuko Yamada (Professor)Text advice: Naoto Moriyama(Associate Professor, Kyoto University of Art and Design)
With: Kyoto University of Art an Design Students

“Shojo kamen” (The Virgin’s Mask) Kinki University
(Premiered at: Kinki University Student Hall, Japan, November 2008)
This one-act play was written by Juro Kara in 1969 for the Waseda Small Theater lead by Tadashi Suzuki. In 1970 the piece won the Kishida Kunio Playwright Award, stirring the water of the small theater movement.
In “Shojo kamen” we meet a woman who has named herself after the great star of Takarazuka Theater, Yachiyo Kasugano. She is the owner of an underground cafe named“Flesh”.

Text and direction: Juro Kara (Visiting professor)
With: Kinki University Students and Graduates
Advisor: Osamu Matsumoto (Associate Professor, Kinki University)

“Proserpina” Tokyo University of the Arts
(Premiered at Toga Studio, Japan, August 2008)
In 1776 the German literary master Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote “Proserpina” at the age of 27, inspired by the destiny of the goddess who was abducted by Pluto to live with hm in Hades. 200 years later the new work with the same title recontructs the myth of a life after death in Tokyo today. In 2008 the work received acclaim at the Toga Theater Concour.

Direction: Yukari Sakata (Fourth grade student)
Text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
With: Tokyo University of the Arts Students and Graduates
Advisor: Sachio Ichimura (Associate Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts)