London opening at Noh Theater of Japan: Tonight at the Aldwych Theater - The Noh theater of Japan make their first appearance in this country. They are the third company in the 1967 World Theater Season, presented by the Governors of the Royal Shakespeare company at their London Theater, 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 exiting from of living drama and is based on the three elements o song, dance and mime. The definitive texts of Noh plays were established at least six centuries age and the majority of them are still acted in conditions similar to their earliest performance. The Productions 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 theater plays, The Robe of Feathers and The Ground Spidedr, and the Kyogen, The Tied Servants Program me two (17-22 April) consists of the Noh plays, The Chrysanthemum Child and The Lady Aoi, and The Kyogen, The Mosquito Wrestler. All female roles in the plays are taken by male actors.
Photo shows eight year old Hisaharu Hashioka, the youngest member of the company, in his ornate costume, during today's rehearsal for The Chrysanthemum Child.
Photo measures 10 x 8 inches.
Photo is dated 04-04-1967.
Photo back:
