This solo performance presents the tradition of masquerade theatre and superb technique. Through music and laughter, it poses profound questions.

Artist/Company
NPO Gekiken [From Kyoto, Japan] & Didier Galas [From France]
Date
Saturday, 28 September, 13:30-
Sunday, 29 September, 13:30-
*There will be a talkback after each performance.
Running Time
70 minutes (estimated)
Venue
Shikano Historic Road Exchange Center “Child Village Dream”
Price
Adults: 2,800 yen*
under 18: 500 yen
Preschool-aged children: Free
*Including one drink voucher for use at the Café
Language
Performed in English and French with Japanese subtitles
Mobile subtitles
Mobile devices for Japanese or English subtitles available
About the programme開く

Didier is a director and actor who is active in France. He has been a long-time friend of BIRD Theatre Company.

'Ahmed' is a theatrical character originating in France in the 1990s. In his masked appearance, you can see the resemblance to the famous character 'Arlequin' from the French classical comedy. Ahmed, like Arlequin in the past, is a representative of the masses and sharply points out the contradictions of the authorities and society with humour and wit. Ahmed begins to tell his story again in a modern world facing many difficulties.

The collaboration with musician NOMURA Makoto, who provides original music for this work, also makes this performance a must-see.

Synopsis開く

The story is about a character called Ahmed who tells the story of modern society, wrapping it in humour and music. The character Ahmed is inspired by immigrants and is performed wearing a mask. However, the character does not represent a specific person or ethnic group. Ahmed is a universal someone—everyone and no one. Live performances of various instruments and songs, a diverse array of music colours the piece, performed in multiple languages. 'Philosophical questions on racism' underlie the performance.

Cast/Staff開く

Written by Alain Badiou

Script, arranged, directed and Performed by Didier Galas

Music and performed by Makoto Nomura

Stage manager: YOSHIMURA Toshihiro

Light manager: IMURA Nami

Assistant Director: OKADA Shintaro

Producer: SUGIYAMA Jun

Message from the artist開く

Japan is facing the necessity of accepting more foreign workers. Beyond this situation, we can see racism being provoked and becoming a real social problem.

The piece's central theme can no longer be conveyed by words and acting alone. It is amplified by the power of music transcending words and acting. This ritual theatre that delivers laughter is shaken up by the music, which is obviously a poetic element.

It is interwoven with the creation of a global language today, as well as various music, songs, anger, and laughter.

Artist's profile開く

Didier Galas (France)

Studied under Claude Régy, Mario Gonzalez and Bernard Dudot at the Conservatoire de Paris in the 1990s. Didier studied Noh and Peking Opera in Japan and China, and in 2000 presented Monnaie de singes (English title: Funny Money) at the Avignon Theatre Festival. In 2001, he presented Le petit (H)arlequin and, subsequently, a Japanese version of that work (2010). In September 2014, he created The Invention of the Word with Japanese actors, dancers and musicians and presented it in Japan.

NOMURA Makoto

Composes music that crosses boundaries, for example, by collaborative composing. He is skilled at playing the piano and keyboard harmonica but also plays all kinds of objects, including whisky bottles and roof tiles. NOMURA received the 1st Asahi Beer Arts Award and more. His works include the gamelan《Odore! Beethoven》(1996),《Dajare was Iimasen》(2013) for violin and video, and 《new born sounds》(2023) for the ARAI Ryoji exhibition. Stage music includes SAKUMA Arata 《Dandan Tambo ni Yoakashi Kaeru》(2019) and Kitamari《Sumika (Dwelling)》(2022).

Host/Grant開く

【Grant】Sasakawa Japan-France Foundation