The second installment of the Magosaburou Koten Shougekijou performance series, designed by Magosaburou YOUKI, XII to give audiences a real taste of the delights of marionette theater in a small theater space. This latest performance once again allowed audiences to fully enjoy the allure of the classics and the sense of immediacy that can only be experienced in a small theater, where the thrill of puppetry can be savored up-close.
This was an invigorating production that made use of contemporary techniques within the framework of tradition; it featured the prominent female gidayu (traditional puppet theater music) performer Ayanosuke TAKEMOTO as tayu (singer/narrator) together with a shamisen and a tsure attendant, and also created the look of the time through a combination of classical aspects and digital images in the form of video that was well received at the last performance being projected onto the stage background.
Performers: Magosaburou YOUKI, XIII, Senyuu RYOUKAWA, III, Aki YUMOTO, Emi OOURA
Gidayu: Ayanosuke TAKEMOTO
Shamisen: Tsugahana TSURUZAWA
Tsure: Yaya TSURUZAWA
Composition/supervision: Jun TANAKA, Senyuu RYOUKAWA
Staff
Stage design: Tomoyuki IKEDA
Lighting: Keiichi OOYA
Sound: Takeshi SHIMA(STAGE OFFICE)
Video: Masahiro HAMAJIMA
Stage Manager: Junichi TAKAHASHI
YOUKIZA stage staff member: Yasuaki ONUKI
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation YOUKIZA
The Marionette Theater YOUKIZA was founded in 1635 by Youki Magosaburō I; to the present time of Youki Magosaburō XIII, the company has enjoyed a history of 385 years.
Its main activities are classical productions drawn from its jōruri repertory and new plays, magic lantern shows, and intercultural productions. Their experimental productions include actor-puppet performance, in which the puppeteer both manipulates puppets and performs as a character himself; the application of premodern puppetry techniques; and the insertion of Edo magic lantern visuals. The Youkiza continually seeks to develop and combine new aspects to enhance their distinctive performance style.
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation YOUKIZA
3-18-2, Nukuikitamachi, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-0015
Tel: +81-(0)42-322-9750
Fax: +81-(0)42-322-3976
E-mail: info@youkiza.jp
Theatre SAMSA, Tokyo