National Theatre Wales set for its international debut with the New National Theatre, Tokyo from 9 April

National Theatre Wales (NTW) prepares for its international debut, The Opportunity of Efficiency, a co-production with the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NTT).

NTW’s Artistic Director, John McGrath, will be directing, and leading Welsh playwright Alun Harris has written a new play, The Opportunity of Efficiency. The play has been translated into Japanese. It will open on Tuesday 9th April, and will continue for the rest of the month.

The play is a story of small lives caught up in a global power struggle, inspired by the growth of efficiency as a force for change in society and the influence of big business on national and international affairs. It is set in Wales but staged at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, in Japanese, and directed by National Theatre Wales’s artistic director, John E McGrath.

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NTW will bring its trademark mix of digital, immersive theatre to NNT’s stage – the production will include 360degree video screens around the auditorium – and the company will work extensively with NNT to share its models of community engagement.

The production will also form part of National Theatre Wales’ second, month-long residency this year, which will include three key strands:

the company will work with artists in Japan to create the its first international Assembly, exploring the themes of efficiency and creativity in Japan today;

as part of its WalesLab initiative, NTW will be searching for two Japanese artists to come to Wales next year to develop their ideas; and

NTW will share its TEAM techniques with Japanese theatre practitioners.

Writer Alan Harris wrote the first ever production by National Theatre Wales, A Good Night Out in the Valleys, and has recently written a new play for BBC Radio 4 (Wolf) and adapted Rhinegold for liveartshow at The Yard theatre, London (currently nominated for an Off West End award). His other writing credits include: Manga Sister (liveartshow), The Lighthouse (BBC Radio 4), The Gold Farmer (BBC Radio 3), The Journey (Welsh National Opera MAX), Cardboard Dad (Sherman Cymru), Miss Brown To You (Hijinx Theatre), Brute (Operating Theatre Company), Orange (Sgript Cymru) and was part of Paines Plough’s Come To Where I’m From tour. Alan has worked with WNO’s MAX department on a range of projects (including a three-month residency writing short librettos for street opera) and is a new writing tutor with Sherman Cymru. He has also worked with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and in prisons, including with prisoners at HMP Cardiff on a play entitled I Forgot To Tell You (a Koestler platinum award winner). Currently he is also collaborating on a number of projects with Crashmat Collective, Kitch n Sync and Invisible Ink.

Director John E McGrath is Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales. He was Artistic Director of Contact Theatre, Manchester, from 1999 until 2008. John trained and worked in New York for several years, including a stint as Associate Director of leading experimental company Mabou Mines. As a director, he has worked with a wide range of artists including poet Lemn Sissay (Storm, Something Dark and Why I Don’t Hate White People) and hip hop theatre artist Benji Reid (b like water). For National Theatre Wales, he has directed A Good Night Out in the Valleys by Alan Harris, Love Steals Us From Loneliness by Gary Owen, The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning by Tim Price and In Water I’m Weightless by Kaite O’Reilly.

National Theatre Wales was launched in November 2009, and creates invigorating theatre in the English language, rooted in Wales, with an international reach. The Welsh Government and the Arts Council of Wales are supporting National Theatre Wales.  

New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) was founded in October 1997, and is Japan’s only national theatre dedicated to the performing arts of opera, ballet, dance and drama. The Opportunity of Efficiency will be the inaugural production of a new series entitled With – Connecting with World Theatre introduced by Keiko Miyata, the artistic director of drama, in which the NNTT will present new works developed in conjunction with international theatre artists.

Translated by Nagashima Kaku

Set Designer: Futamura Shusaku

Lighting Designer: Ogawa Ikuo

Music by Goto Hiroaki

Sound Designer: Kato Yutaka

Costume Designer: Ito Sanae

Hairstyling and Make-up: Kawabata Tomio

Video Designer: Tomita Norimichi

Stage Manager: Ogaki Toshiro

Cast includes: Toyohara Kosuke, Miyamoto Yuko, Tajima Yusei, Shibuya Haruka, Tajima Reiko and Nakajima Shu

Dates & Times: 9th-26th April 2013, times vary

Venue: The Pit Theatre, New National Theatre, Tokyo, Japan

Box Office: Tickets are on sale from the New National Theatre, Tokyo, from Sunday 24th February: www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english

Tickets: ¥1500-¥5250

NTW Assembly

Date & Time: 13th April 2013, 3pm

Venue: NNT rehearsal rooms

Tickets: FREE

Tag: #ntwjapan