MISHIMA Yukio was born in 1925, and BETSUYAKU Minoru was born in 1937. MISHIMA delivers his logical structure in gorgeous and eloquent words. BETSUYAKU expresses sincere anxieties about life fragmentarily and in whispering tones. The two artists established completely different theatrical worlds. MISHIMA gained international acclaim, while BETSUYAKU was regarded as the pioneer of the Theatre of the Absurd in Japan. No one can compare to OOKA Jun, a playwright and director, in his ability to talk about the charm of theatre in a fascinating way. He will reveal the characteristics of the two most significant Japanese playwrights from his unique viewpoint.
OOKA Jun (Playwright)
OOKA Jun
OOKA Jun is a director, playwright and critic, born in 1970 in Hyogo Prefecture. He graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Philosophy, specialising in philosophy. He is currently a staff member of the Department of Literature at SPAC—Shizuoka Performing Arts Center, an advisor to ZERO-MEGA CO.,LTD., an advisor to the editorial department of Bukyu Publishing Company and a tutor at Kawaijuku COSMO (private tutoring school). Major works of plays include Gekidan Watanabe's Teikoku (directed by WATANABE Ryoji / 2010), SPAC's Ookoku, Sora wo Tobu! (directed by OOKA Jun / 2015), SPAC's 1940 – Richard Strauss Villa – (directed by MIYAGI Satoshi / 2017), etc. His translation work includes The Three-Penny Opera by Bertolt Brecht (published by editorial republica, 2018).
【Host】Toga Cultural Foundation /Japan Arts Council/ Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
【Co-Host】BIRD Theatre Company TOTTORI