Noh Theatre of Japan performing in London

1967 - London Opening Of NOH Theatre of Japan: Tonight at the Aldwych Theatre the Noh Theatre of Japan make their first appearances in this country. They are the third company in the 1967 World Theatre Season, presented by the Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company at their London Theatre, the Aldwych. Peter Daubeny, now a consultant director of RSC, is artistic director of the season, which this year contains a record number of eight companies, five new to London, in a total of fifteen plays. Noh is the oldest existing form of living drama and is based on the three elements of song, dance and mime. The definitive texts of Noh plays were established at least six centuries ago and the majority of them are still acted in conditions similar to their earliest performances. The production to be seen at the Aldwych will conform as nearly as possible to those staged in Japan itself but the total running time will be two-and- a half hours instead of the five to seven hours normally seen in Japan. During their two-week visit, the Noh Theatre will give two separate programmes, each containing two Noh plays and one Kyogen, a comic piece possibly even older than Noh. Programme One consists of the Noh plays The Robe of Feathers and The Ground Spider, and the Kyogen, the Tied-Servants. Programme Two (17-22 April) consists of the Noh plays, The Chrysanthemum Child and The Lady Aei, and the Kyogen, The Mosquito Wrestler All females roles in the plays are taken by male actors. Photo Shows Mazaburo Umewaka, about to be helped on with his mask, in readiness for today's rehearsals of the Robe of Feathers at the Aldwych Theatre today

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Acted Aldwych Appearances Centuries Chrysanthemum Companies Conform Consists Consultant Containing Contains Definitive Earliest Elements Established Existing Fifteen Helped Instead Itself Kyogen Least Majority Mime Mosquito Nearly Normally Oldest Performances Possible Programmes Readiness Rehearsals Roles Separate Similar Spider Staged Texts Tonight Two-week Wrestler

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