Hideki Noda OBE is a multi-award winning Japanese playwright, theatre director, and actor. This September he presents his sell-out production of A Night At The Kabuki for just three nights in London’s Sadler’s Wells theatre – the only opportunity to see the production outside Asia – with his company Noda Map.
 

RR: Can you tell us a little about ‘A Night At The Kabuki’?
Hideki Noda: Around five years ago, I was writing a new script and I had already decided I was going to use Romeo and Juliet. I wanted to write about after Romeo and Juliet. If they both survived, what would happen next? Also, it's connected with after the conflict - what would happen in general? At the end of the Romeo and Juliet both families say that now we have to make peace because of the miserable death. But I want to know, in one week later, or a month later, one year later, what will happen to them?

Then, during writing this one, I got an offer from Queen. Unbelievable. They like Japan because when Queen debuted, I think Japanese fans supported more than other countries and then they liked Japanese culture. So they wanted a Japanese director to make a new production using ‘A Night At The Opera’ So I said I will do the workshop for Queen.

Then I started doing the workshop with the Japanese artists.  It's amazing because I knew the tunes when I was in my 20s,  when I’d hear them in the cafe or as background music - but I didn't know what the tunes meant. But ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is totally clear - our boy killed somebody (in Romeo and Juliet). ‘Love Of My Life’? Totally Romeo and Juliet stuff.  

Image: A Night At The Kabuki by Kishin Shinoyama

RR:  What difference do you find making work for a British audience rather than a Japanese audience?
Hideki Noda: No difference. If an audience sees a fantastic performance, they love it. Of course I know the differences between Japanese and British theatre - in British theatre, they focus more on the language. English lies at the center of language all over the world. In Japanese, I think audiences like to see more visuals and images for example. I’m always a bit scared performing for British audiences. 

RR: What can Western theatre-makers learn from Japanese theatre practice?
Hideki Noda: I want to say to Japanese theatre, that we should learn English theatre. The system of producing and writing and bringing young playwrights through is fantastic. If you want to learn from Japanese theatre though, I think the way we use our ensemble is amazing. All of the actors are always linked to each other. I think British actors are great.

RR. What was it like working with your all-star Japanese cast? There are many famous people there…
Hideki Noda: But only in Japan! I think a ‘star’ has something quite attractive about them - at the Noh theatre, in the 14th century, they said that some actors had a kind of ‘flower’ about them that you can’t learn. It’s in their spirit. 

RR: What would you like audiences to take away from the show?
Hideki Noda: Everyone will take away something different. But after Covid, people want to be more happy. Happiness is very important. So if you’re coming to the theatre not so happy, this performance will make you happy. Also, the stories we are talking about are about love. I want you to find love in your life, regardless of your age.

Image: A Night At The Kabuki by Kishin Shinoyama

RR: You could have taken this production anywhere in the world - why London?
Hideki Noda: In my 20s I was invited to the Edinburgh International Festival and it was an amazing experience. Then I stopped my theatre company in Tokyo and came to London to study the theatre. It’s like a second home. In 1993 I made a lot of theatre friends here. I came here to perform ‘A Red Deamon’ in 2003 and it was a very harsh experience because I got terrible reviews from the critics. But still, it was like studying theatre in the temple. Then in 2006, I came back to London to make a production ‘The Bee’ with British actors, including Kathryn Hunter. It went down very well with London audience and critics. This piece went all over the world and has been performed. So London, my second home has become my cosy second home.
 

A Night at the Kabuki plays a limited run at Sadlers Wells Theatre from 22-24 September 2022. For more information, please head here.