Yukio Ninagawa

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Yukio Ninagawa (蜷川幸雄 Ninagawa Yukio?, born October 15, 1935 in Kawaguchi, Saitama) is a Japanese theatre director, particularly known for his Japanese language productions of Shakespeare plays and Greek tragedies. He has directed Hamlet differently six times.

Although most famous abroad for his touring productions of European classics, Ninagawa has also directed works based on contemporary writing from Japan, including the Modern Noh plays of Yukio Mishima (which toured to New York's Lincoln Center in early summer 2005) and several other plays by Japanese dramatists, including Shuji Terayama and Kunio Shimizu. His production of Titus Andronicus was performed in England in June 2006, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. In 2007 his company participated in the Barbican International Theatre Event (BITE) series at the Barbican Arts Centre in London, with their production of Coriolanus.

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[edit] Biography

In 1955 Ninagawa first joined theatre company "Seihai" (‘green actors’?). In 1967 he left the group and set up his own theatre company, "Gendaijin-Gekijo" (‘modern people's theatre’). He made his debut as a director in 1969 with Shinjo afururu keihakusa (‘genuine frivolity’?). After the disbandment of “Gendaijin-Gekijo” in 1971, in the following year he established a new theatre company called "Sakura-sha" ('cherry blossom company'), which once again resulted in disbandment three years later, 1974.

At the same time, the year 1974 has become the turning point for Ninagawa, when the then Toho theatre producer Tadao Nakane invited him to direct big theatres, and as a result he came to work on a Shakespeare play for the very first time - Romeo and Juliet. Since then, he has become one of the most feted directors in the theatre world. He also often provides interesting topics such as launching the project in 1998 to direct all of Shakespeare's works, or in the year 2000 directing Greeks in which its performance lasted for a total of ten and a half hours.

Beginning in 1983 when he directed Medea, Ninagawa continues to do overseas tours every year, which adds to his high reputation in Europe, United States and Canada. In recent years he has been invited to present a play each year in London, three years in a row – Midsummer Night's Dream in 1996, Shintokumaru (name of the male protagonist) in 1997, and Hamlet in 1998. In addition he has collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1999 to 2000 and presented King Lear at London and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Ninagawa has won many awards in Japan, and also he has been given an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in 1992.

In his theatrical company "Ninagawa Studio (Ninagawa Company)", he continues to produce experimental productions with young group members. In 2006, he founded a new theatrical group for people over 55 years old called "Saitama Gold Theatre" which is based at Saitama Arts Theatre.

This section is a translation of Ninagawa's Japanese official website with additional notes.

[edit] Stage direction history

(Premier dates only)

  • 1969 Nayameru kamigami wa, saredo shuppatsu shi tamawazu（悩める神々は、されど出発し給わず）
  • 1969 Shinjo afururu keihakusa（真情あふるる軽薄さ）
  • 1970 Ashita sokoni hana o sasouyo（明日そこに花を挿そうよ）
  • 1970 Omoide no Nihon ichiman-nen（想い出の日本一萬年）
  • 1971 Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan（東海道四谷怪談）
  • 1971 Karasu yo, oretachi wa dangan o komeru（鴉よ、おれたちは弾丸をこめる）
  • 1972 Bokura ga hijo no taiga o kudaru toki（ぼくらが非情の大河をくだる時）
  • 1973 Moudouken（盲導犬）
  • 1973 Nakanai noka? Nakanai noka 1973-nen no tameni?（泣かないのか？泣かないのか1973年のために？）
  • 1974 Romeo and Juliet (Romio to Julietto)（ロミオとジュリエット）
  • 1975 Karaban, Taki no shiraito（唐版・瀧の白糸）
  • 1975 King Lear (Lia-oh)（リア王）
  • 1976 Oedipus the King (Oidipusu-oh)（オイディプス王）
  • 1976 Mishima Yukio Kindai Nogakushu – Sotoba Komachi / Yoroboshi（三島由紀夫・近代能楽集/卒塔婆小町・弱法師）
  • 1977 The Threepenny Opera (Sanmon opera)（三文オペラ）
  • 1978 Medea (Ohjo Media)（王女メディア）
  • 1978 Hamlet (Hamuretto)（ハムレット）
  • 1979 Suicide for Love (Chikamatsu shinjuu monogatari)（近松心中物語）
  • 1979 Notre Dame de Paris (Notorudamu do Pari)（ノートルダム・ド・パリ）
  • 1980 NINAGAWA Macbeth (NINAGAWA Makubesu)（NINAGAWAマクベス）
  • 1980 Genroku minato uta（元禄港歌）
  • 1981 Shitayamannen-cho monogatari（下谷万年町物語）
  • 1982 Ame no natsu, 30nin no Juliet ga kaette kita（雨の夏、三十人のジュリエットが還ってきた）
  • 1982 Nanboku koi monogatari – Hito wa itoshiya（南北恋物語－人はいとしや）
  • 1983 Kuroi tulip (Kuroi chulippu)（黒いチューリップ）
  • 1984 Nigorie（にごり江）
  • 1984 Tango at the end of winter (Tango, fuyu no owari ni)（タンゴ・冬の終わりに）
  • 1984 Genroku minato uta – Sennen no koi no mori（元禄港歌－千年の恋の森）
  • 1984 Three Sisters (Keikoba to iu na no gekijyou de jyouen sareru Sannin shimai)（稽古場という名の劇場で上演される三人姉妹）
  • 1985 Kyofu jidai（恐怖時代）
  • 1985 95kg to 97kg no aida（95kgと97kgのあいだ）
  • 1985 Sakuhin tachi（作品たち）
  • 1986 Oedipus the King (Oidipusu-oh)（オイディプス王）[2nd ver.]
  • 1986 Chi no konrei（NINAGAWA少年少女鼓笛隊による血の婚礼）
  • 1986 Hinmin kurabu（貧民倶楽部）
  • 1987 The Tempest (Tenpesuto)（テンペスト）
  • 1987 Niji no bacteria（虹のバクテリア）
  • 1987 Nazeka seishun jidai（なぜか青春時代）
  • 1987 Gips (Gipusu)（ギプス）
  • 1988 Yokubou to iu na no shiden（欲望という名の市電）
  • 1988 Hamlet（ハムレット）[2nd Ver.]
  • 1988 Kanadehon Chushingura（仮名手本忠臣蔵）
  • 1990 Peer Gynt (Peerugyunto)（ペールギュント）
  • 1990 PLAYZONE'90 MASK（PLAYZONE'90 MASK）
  • 1990 Sotoba Komachi（卒塔婆小町）
  • 1991 1991, matsu（1991・待つ）
  • 1991 King Lear (Lia-ou)（リア王）[2nd Ver.]
  • 1991 Shichinin misaki（七人みさき）
  • 1991 1992, matsu（1992・待つ）
  • 1992 Wagner's The Flying Dutchman (Samayoeru Oranda-jin)（さまよえるオランダ人）[Opera]
  • 1992 SHOW-geki MASK（SHOW劇 MASK）
  • 1992 Three Sisters (Sannnin shimai)（三人姉妹）[2nd Ver.]
  • 1992 Sennen no machi no Christmas（千年の街のクリスマス）
  • 1993 1993, matsu（1993・待つ）
  • 1993 Haru（春）
  • 1993 Kiki's Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyuubin）（魔女の宅急便）[Musical]
  • 1993 Shoka no yo no yume（初夏の夜の夢）
  • 1994 Peer Gynt
  • 1994 A Midsummer Night's Dream (Natsu no Yo no Yume)（夏の夜の夢）
  • 1994 Othello (Osero)（オセロー）
  • 1994 Waiting for Godot (Godo o machinagara)（ゴドーを待ちながら）
  • 1995 Hamlet（ハムレット）[3rd Ver.]
  • 1995 Shintoku-maru（身毒丸）
  • 1996 Koboreru kajitsu（零れる果実）
  • 1996 1996, matsu（1996・待つ）
  • 1997 Kusameikyuu（草迷宮）
  • 1997 Showa Kayou daizenshuu（昭和歌謡大全集）
  • 1997 Giniro Kujira no jikan ryokou（銀色クジラの時間旅行）
  • 1997 Karumen to yobareta onna（カルメンと呼ばれた女）
  • 1997 Hitachibou Kaison（常陸坊海尊）
  • 1998 Romio and Juliet（ロミオとジュリエット）[2nd Ver.]
  • 1998 1998, matsu（1998・待つ）
  • 1998 Twelfth Night (Juuni-ya)（十二夜）
  • 1999 King Richard III (Richaado Sansei)（リチャード三世）
  • 1999 The Seagull(Kamome)（かもめ）
  • 1999 King Lear (Lia-ou)（リア王）[3rd Ver.]
  • 1999 Pandora no Kane（パンドラの鐘）
  • 2000 Three Sisters (Sannin shimai)（三人姉妹）[3rd Ver.]
  • 2000 The Greeks (Guriikusu)（グリークス）
  • 2000 Modern Noh Plays (Kindai Nogakushuu)（近代能楽集 卒塔婆小町／弱法師）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2000 NINAGAWA Phoenix (NINAGAWA Hi no Tori)（NINAGAWA火の鳥）
  • 2001 Shinjo afururu keihakusa 2001（真情あふるる軽薄さ2001）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2001 Macbeth (Makubesu)（マクベス）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2001 The Threepenny Opea（三文オペラ）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2001 Hamlet（ハムレット）[4th Ver.]
  • 2001 2001, matsu（2001・待つ）
  • 2001 Yotsuya Kaidan（四谷怪談）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2002 A Streetcar Named Desire (Yokubou to iu na no densha)（欲望という名の電車）
  • 2002 Oedipus the King (Oidipusu-oh)（オイディプス王）[3rd Ver.]
  • 2003 The Cherry Orchard (Sakura no Sono)（桜の園）
  • 2003 Pericles (Perikuriizu)（ぺリクリーズ）
  • 2003 Electra (Erekutora)（エレクトラ）
  • 2003 Hamlet（ハムレット）[5th Ver.]
  • 2004 Titus Andronicus (Taitasu Andoronikasu)（タイタス・アンドロニカス）
  • 2004 Shin Chikamatsu shinjuu monogatari （新・近松心中物語）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2004 Shibuya kara toku hanarete（シブヤから遠く離れて）
  • 2004 As You Like It (Okini mesumama)（お気に召すまま）
  • 2004 Hamlet[6th Ver.]
  • 2004 Romeo and Juliet（ロミオとジュリエット）[3rd Ver.]
  • 2005 Maboroshi ni kokoro mo sozoro kuruoshi no warera Masakado（幻に心もそぞろ狂おしのわれら将門）
  • 2005 The Kitchen（キッチン）
  • 2005 Medea（メディア）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2005 NINAGAWA Twelfth Night (NINAGAWA Juuni-ya)（NINAGAWA十二夜）[Kabuki]
  • 2005 Tenpou Juuninen no Shakespeare（天保十二年のシェイクスピア）
  • 2006 The Comedy of Errors (Machigai no Kigeki)（間違いの喜劇）
  • 2006 Byakuya no warukyuure（白夜の女騎士）
  • 2006 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (Aware kanojo wa shofu)（あわれ彼女は娼婦）
  • 2006 Orestes (Oresutesu)（オレステス）
  • 2007 Coriolanus (Korioreinasu)（コリオレイナス）
  • 2007 The Lark (Hibari)（ひばり）
  • 2007 Love's Labour's Lost (Koi no honeorizon)（恋の骨折り損）
  • 2007 Yabuhara kengyo（藪原検校）
  • 2007 Senjyo no picnic（船上のピクニック）
  • 2007 Eréndira（エレンディラ）
  • 2007 Othello (Osero)（オセロー）[2nd Ver.]
  • 2007 Caligula（カリギュラ）
  • 2008 King Lear (Lia-ou)（リア王）[4th Ver.]
  • 2008 Farewell My Concubine (Saraba,waga Ai Haoubekki)（さらば、わが愛 覇王別姫）
  • 2008 Glass Mask(Garasu no Kamen)（ガラスの仮面）

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Books

  • Horowitz, Arthur (2004). Prospero's "True Preservers": Peter Brook, Yukio Ninagawa, and Giorgio Strehler - Twentieth-Century Directors Approach Shakespeare's The Tempest. Newark: U of Delaware P. ISBN 087413854X. 
  • (2001) "Interview with Ninagawa Yukio", in Ryuta Minami, Ian Carruthers & John Gillies, eds.: Performing Shakespeare in Japan. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 208-219. ISBN 0521782449. 
  • Kishi, Tetsuo (1998). "Japanese Shakespeare and English Reviewers", in Takashi Sasayama, J. R. Mulryne, and Margaret Shewring, eds.: Shakespeare and the Japanese Stage. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 110-123. ISBN 0521470439. 
  • Mulryne, J. R. (1992). "From Text to Foreign Stage: Yukio Ninagawa's Cultural Translation of Macbeth", in Patricia Kennan and Mariangela Tempera, eds.: Shakespeare from Text to Stage. Bologna: Clueb, 131-143. ISBN 8880911317. 
  • Pronko, Leonard C. (1996). "Approaching Shakespeare through Kabuki", in Minoru Fujita and Leonard Pronko, eds.: Shakespeare: East and West. Surrey: Japan Lib., 23-40. ISBN 031216145X. 
  • Yong, Li Yan (2005). "Shakespeare and the Fiction of the Intercultural", in Barbara Hodgdon and W. B. Worthen, eds.: A Companion to Shakespeare and Performance. Oxford: Blackwell, 527-549. ISBN 1405111046. 
  • (1996) "Yukio Ninagawa", in Maria M. Delgado and Paul Heritage, eds.: In Contact With Gods?: Directors Talk Theatre. Manchester: Manchester UP, 191-200. ISBN 0719047625. 

[edit] Articles

  • Hanratty, Conor (2008). ""What Ninagawa did next" - Notes on Productions of Greek Tragedy by Yukio Ninagawa after Medea in 1999". Staging of Classical Drama around 2000, eds. Pavlína N. Sípová and Alena Sarkissian: 7-30. 
  • Im, Yeeyon (2004). "The Pitfalls of Intercultural Discourse: The Case of Yukio Ninagawa". Shakespeare Bulletin 22 (4): 7-30. 
  • Kennedy, Dennis (1995). "Shakespeare and the Global Spectator". Shakespeare Jahrbuch 131: 50-64. 
  • Lamont, Rosette C. (1990). "Foreign Shakespeare". Stages 5 (1): 5-7. 
  • Miyashita, Nobuo (1987). "Ninagawa Yukio, Theatrical Pacesetter". Japan Quarterly 34: 400-404. 
  • Mulryne, J. R.; Shewring, Margaret (1995). "Authenticity and Cultural Translation: Ninagawa's The Tempest". Shakespeare Worldwide 14-15: 287-298. 
  • Smith, Kate (2000). "King Lear on Canvas". A Groat's Worth of Wit: Journal of the Open University Shakespeare Society 11 (1): 17-21. 
  • Yamamoto, Hiroshi (1979). "Adaptation of Shakespeare in Japan". Renaissance Bulletin (Tokyo) 6: 4-8. 

[edit] External links

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