Yukio Ninagawa

is a Japanese theatre director, particularly known for his Japanese language productions of Shakespeare plays and Greek tragedies. He has directed "Hamlet" differently six times.

Although most famous abroad for his touring productions of European classics, Ninagawa has also directed works based on contemporary writing from Japan, including the Modern Noh plays of Yukio Mishima (which toured to New York's Lincoln Center in early summer 2005) and several other plays by Japanese dramatists, including Shuji Terayama and Kunio Shimizu. His production of "Titus Andronicus" was performed in England in June 2006, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford and the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. In 2007 his company participated in the Barbican International Theatre Event (BITE) series at the Barbican Arts Centre in London, with their production of "Coriolanus".

Biography

In 1955 Ninagawa first joined theatre company "Seihai" (‘green actors’?). In 1967 he left the group and set up his own theatre company, "Gendaijin-Gekijo" (‘modern people's theatre’). He made his debut as a director in 1969 with "Shinjo afururu keihakusa" (‘genuine frivolity’?). After the disbandment of “Gendaijin-Gekijo” in 1971, in the following year he established a new theatre company called "Sakura-sha" ('cherry blossom company'), which once again resulted in disbandment three years later, 1974.

At the same time, the year 1974 has become the turning point for Ninagawa, when the then "Toho" theatre producer Tadao Nakane invited him to direct big theatres, and as a result he came to work on a Shakespeare play for the very first time - "Romeo and Juliet". Since then, he has become one of the most feted directors in the theatre world. He also often provides interesting topics such as launching the project in 1998 to direct all of Shakespeare's works, or in the year 2000 directing "Greeks" in which its performance lasted for a total of ten and a half hours.

Beginning in 1983 when he directed "Medea", Ninagawa continues to do overseas tours every year, which adds to his high reputation in Europe, United States and Canada. In recent years he has been invited to present a play each year in London, three years in a row – "Midsummer Night's Dream" in 1996, "Shintokumaru" (name of the male protagonist) in 1997, and "Hamlet" in 1998. In addition he has collaborated with the "Royal Shakespeare Company" from 1999 to 2000 and presented "King Lear" at London and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Ninagawa has won many awards in Japan, and also he has been given an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in 1992.

In his theatrical company "Ninagawa Studio (Ninagawa Company)", he continues to produce experimental productions with young group members. In 2006, he founded a new theatrical group for people over 55 years old called "Saitama Gold Theatre" which is based at Saitama Arts Theatre.

"This section is a translation of Ninagawa's [http://www.my-pro.co.jp/ninagawa/ Japanese official website] with additional notes."

Stage direction history

(Premier dates only)

*1969 "Nayameru kamigami wa, saredo shuppatsu shi tamawazu"（悩める神々は、されど出発し給わず） - by Toshiro Ishido
*1969 "Shinjo afururu keihakusa"（真情あふるる軽薄さ） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1970 "Ashita sokoni hana o sasouyo"（明日そこに花を挿そうよ） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1970 "Omoide no Nihon ichiman-nen"（想い出の日本一萬年） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1971 "Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan"（東海道四谷怪談） - by Nanboku Tsuruya IV
*1971 "Karasu yo, oretachi wa dangan o komeru"（鴉よ、おれたちは弾丸をこめる） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1972 "Bokura ga hijo no taiga o kudaru toki"（ぼくらが非情の大河をくだる時） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1973 "Moudouken"（盲導犬） - by Juro Kara
*1973 "Nakanai noka? Nakanai noka 1973-nen no tameni?"（泣かないのか？泣かないのか1973年のために？） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1974 "Romeo and Juliet (Romio to Julietto)"（ロミオとジュリエット） - by William Shakespeare
*1975 "Karaban, Taki no shiraito"（唐版・瀧の白糸） - by Juro Kara based on Kyoka Izumi
*1975 "King Lear (Lia-oh)"（リア王） - by William Shakespeare
*1976 "Oedipus the King (Oidipusu-oh)"（オイディプス王） - by Sophocles
*1976 "Mishima Yukio Kindai Nogakushu – Sotoba Komachi / Yoroboshi"（三島由紀夫・近代能楽集/卒塔婆小町・弱法師）- by Yukio Mishima
*1977 "The Threepenny Opera (Sanmon opera)"（三文オペラ） - by Bertolt Brecht
*1978 "Medea (Ohjo Media)"（王女メディア） - by Euripides
*1978 "Hamlet (Hamuretto)"（ハムレット） - by William Shakespeare
*1979 "Suicide for Love (Chikamatsu shinjuu monogatari)"（近松心中物語） - by Matsuyo Akimoto
*1979 "Notre Dame de Paris (Notorudamu do Pari)"（ノートルダム・ド・パリ） - by Victor Hugo

*1980 "NINAGAWA Macbeth (NINAGAWA Makubesu)"（NINAGAWAマクベス） - by William Shakespeare
*1980 "Genroku minato uta"（元禄港歌） - by Matsuyo Akimoto
*1981 "Shitayamannen-cho monogatari"（下谷万年町物語） - by Juro Kara
*1982 "Ame no natsu, 30nin no Juliet ga kaette kita"（雨の夏、三十人のジュリエットが還ってきた） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1982 "Nanboku koi monogatari – Hito wa itoshiya"（南北恋物語－人はいとしや） - by Matsuyo Akimoto
*1983 "Kuroi tulip (Kuroi chulippu)"（黒いチューリップ） - by Juro Kara
*1984 "Nigorie"（にごり江） - by Ichiyo Higuchi
*1984 "Tango at the end of winter (Tango, fuyu no owari ni)"（タンゴ・冬の終わりに） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1984 "Genroku minato uta – Sennen no koi no mori"（元禄港歌－千年の恋の森） - by Matsuyo Akimoto
*1984 "Three Sisters (Keikoba to iu na no gekijyou de jyouen sareru Sannin shimai)"（稽古場という名の劇場で上演される三人姉妹） - by Anton Chekhov
*1985 "Kyofu jidai"（恐怖時代） - by Junichiro Tanizaki
*1985 "95kg to 97kg no aida"（95kgと97kgのあいだ） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1985 "Sakuhin tachi"（作品たち）
*1986 "Oedipus the King (Oidipusu-oh)"（オイディプス王） [2nd ver.]
*1986 "Chi no konrei"（NINAGAWA少年少女鼓笛隊による血の婚礼） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1986 "Hinmin kurabu"（貧民倶楽部） - by Kyoka Izumi
*1987 "The Tempest (Tenpesuto)"（テンペスト） - by William Shakespeare
*1987 "Niji no bacteria"（虹のバクテリア） - by Isamu Uno
*1987 "Nazeka seishun jidai"（なぜか青春時代） - by Kunio Shimizu
*1987 "Gips (Gipusu)"（ギプス） - by Isamu Uno
*1988 "Yokubou to iu na no shiden"（欲望という名の市電） - based on Tennessee Williams
*1988 "Hamlet"（ハムレット） [2nd Ver.]
*1988 "Kanadehon Chushingura"（仮名手本忠臣蔵）

*1990 "Peer Gynt (Peerugyunto)"（ペールギュント） - by Henrik Ibsen
*1990 "PLAYZONE'90 MASK"（PLAYZONE'90 MASK ） - by Johnny Kitagawa
*1990 "Sotoba Komachi"（卒塔婆小町） - by Yukio Mishima
*1991 "1991, matsu"（1991・待つ） - by Isamu Uno and THE NINAGAWA COMPANY
*1991 "King Lear (Lia-ou)"（リア王） [2nd Ver.]
*1991 "Shichinin misaki"（七人みさき） - by Matsuyo Akimoto
*1991 "1992, matsu"（1992・待つ）
*1992 "The Flying Dutchman (Samayoeru Oranda-jin)"（さまよえるオランダ人） [Opera] - by Richard Wagner
*1992 "SHOW-geki MASK"（SHOW劇 MASK） - by Johnny Kitagawa
*1992 "Three Sisters (Sannnin shimai)"（三人姉妹） [2nd Ver.]
*1992 "Sennen no machi no Christmas"（千年の街のクリスマス）
*1993 "1993, matsu"（1993・待つ）
*1993 "Haru"（春） - by Isamu Uno
*1993 "Kiki's Delivery Service (Majo no Takkyuubin）"（魔女の宅急便） [Musical] - by Eiko Kakuno
*1993 "Shoka no yo no yume"（初夏の夜の夢）
*1994 "Peer Gynt" [2nd Ver.]
*1994 "A Midsummer Night's Dream (Natsu no Yo no Yume)"（夏の夜の夢） - by William Shakespeare
*1994 "Othello (Osero)"（オセロー） - by William Shakespeare
*1994 "Waiting for Godot (Godo o machinagara)"（ゴドーを待ちながら） - by Samuel Beckett
*1995 "Hamlet"（ハムレット） [3rd Ver.]
*1995 "Shintoku-maru"（身毒丸） - by Shuji Terayama and Rio Kishida
*1996 "Koboreru kajitsu"（零れる果実） - by Toshiro Suzuki and Naoshi Kariba
*1996 "1996, matsu"（1996・待つ）
*1997 "Kusameikyuu"（草迷宮） - by Rio Kishida
*1997 "Showa Kayou daizenshuu"（昭和歌謡大全集） - by Kunio Shimizu based on Ryu Murakami
*1997 "Giniro Kujira no jikan ryokou"（銀色クジラの時間旅行）
*1997 "Karumen to yobareta onna"（カルメンと呼ばれた女） - by Kensuke Yokouchi
*1997 "Hitachibou Kaison"（常陸坊海尊） - by Matsuyo Akimoto
*1998 "Romio and Juliet"（ロミオとジュリエット） [2nd Ver.]
*1998 "1998, matsu"（1998・待つ）
*1998 "Twelfth Night (Juuni-ya)"（十二夜） - by William Shakespeare
*1999 "King Richard III (Richaado Sansei)"（リチャード三世） - by William Shakespeare
*1999 "The Seagull(Kamome)"（かもめ） - by Anton Chekhov
*1999 "King Lear (Lia-ou)"（リア王） [3rd Ver.]
*1999 "Pandora no Kane"（パンドラの鐘） - by Hideki Noda

*2000 "Three Sisters (Sannin shimai)"（三人姉妹） [3rd Ver.]
*2000 "The Greeks (Guriikusu)"（グリークス） - by John Barton and Kenneth Cavender
*2000 "Modern Noh Plays (Kindai Nogakushuu)"（近代能楽集 卒塔婆小町／弱法師） [2nd Ver.]
*2000 "NINAGAWA Phoenix (NINAGAWA Hi no Tori)"（NINAGAWA火の鳥） - based on comics by Osamu Tezuka
*2001 "Shinjo afururu keihakusa 2001"（真情あふるる軽薄さ2001） [2nd Ver.]
*2001 "Macbeth (Makubesu)"（マクベス） [2nd Ver.]
*2001 "The Threepenny Opera"（三文オペラ） [2nd Ver.]
*2001 "Hamlet"（ハムレット） [4th Ver.]
*2001 "2001, matsu"（2001・待つ）
*2001 "Yotsuya Kaidan"（四谷怪談） [2nd Ver.]
*2002 "A Streetcar Named Desire (Yokubou to iu na no densha)"（欲望という名の電車） - by Tennessee Williams
*2002 "Oedipus the King (Oidipusu-oh)"（オイディプス王） [3rd Ver.]
*2003 "The Cherry Orchard (Sakura no Sono)"（桜の園） - by Anton Chekhov
*2003 "Pericles (Perikuriizu)"（ぺリクリーズ） - by William Shakespeare
*2003 "Electra (Erekutora)"（エレクトラ） - by Sophocles
*2003 "Hamlet"（ハムレット） [5th Ver.]
*2004 "Titus Andronicus (Taitasu Andoronikasu)"（タイタス・アンドロニカス） - by William Shakespeare
*2004 "Shin Chikamatsu shinjuu monogatari" （新・近松心中物語） [2nd Ver.]
*2004 "Shibuya kara toku hanarete"（シブヤから遠く離れて） - by Ryo Iwamatsu
*2004 "As You Like It (Okini mesumama)"（お気に召すまま） - by William Shakespeare
*2004 "Hamlet" [6th Ver.]
*2004 "Romeo and Juliet"（ロミオとジュリエット） [3rd Ver.]
*2005 "Maboroshi ni kokoro mo sozoro kuruoshi no warera Masakado"（幻に心もそぞろ狂おしのわれら将門） - by Kunio Shimizu
*2005 "The Kitchen"（キッチン） - by Arnold Wesker
*2005 "Medea"（メディア） [2nd Ver.]
*2005 "NINAGAWA Twelfth Night (NINAGAWA Juuni-ya)"（NINAGAWA十二夜） [Kabuki] - based on a play by William Shakespeare
*2005 "Tenpou Juuninen no Shakespeare"（天保十二年のシェイクスピア） - by Hisashi Inoue
*2006 "The Comedy of Errors (Machigai no Kigeki)"（間違いの喜劇） - by William Shakespeare
*2006 "Byakuya no warukyuure"（白夜の女騎士） - by Hideki Noda
*2006 "'Tis Pity She's a Whore (Aware kanojo wa shofu)"（あわれ彼女は娼婦） - by John Ford
*2006 "Orestes (Oresutesu)"（オレステス） - by Euripides
*2007 "Coriolanus (Korioreinasu)"（コリオレイナス） - by William Shakespeare
*2007 "The Lark (Hibari)"（ひばり） - by Jean Anouilh
*2007 "Love's Labour's Lost (Koi no honeorizon)"（恋の骨折り損） - by William Shakespeare
*2007 "Yabuhara kengyo"（藪原検校） - by Hisashi Inoue
*2007 "Senjyo no picnic"（船上のピクニック） - by Ryo Iwamatsu
*2007 "Eréndira"（エレンディラ） - adapted from the short novels by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
*2007 "Othello (Osero)"（オセロー） [2nd Ver.]
*2007 "Caligula"（カリギュラ） - by Albert Camus
*2008 "King Lear (Lia-ou)"（リア王） [4th Ver.]
*2008 "Farewell My Concubine (Saraba,waga Ai Haoubekki)"（さらば、わが愛 覇王別姫） - adapted from the novel by Lilian Lee
*2008 "Waga tamashi ha kagayaku mizu nari"（わが魂は輝く水なり） - by Kunio Shimizu
*2008 "Dougen no Bouken"（道元の冒険） - by Hisashi Inoue
*2008 "95kg to 97kg no aida"（95kgと97kgのあいだ） [2nd Ver.] - by Kunio Shimizu
*2008 "Glass Mask(Garasu no Kamen)"（ガラスの仮面） - adapted from the comic by Suzue Miuchi
*2008 "Much Ado About Nothing"（から騒ぎ） - by William Shakespeare
*2008 "Omote ura gennai kaeru gassen"（表裏源内蛙合戦） - by Hisashi Inoue
*2009 "The Winter's Tale(fuyu monogatari)"（冬物語） - by William Shakespeare
*2009 "Musashi"（ムサシ） - by Hisashi Inoue

Further reading

Books

*cite book
last = Horowitz
first = Arthur
title = "Prospero's "True Preservers": Peter Brook, Yukio Ninagawa, and Giorgio Strehler - Twentieth-Century Directors Approach Shakespeare's The Tempest"
publisher = U of Delaware P
date = 2004
location = Newark
isbn = 087413854X
*cite book
chapter = Interview with Ninagawa Yukio
pages = 208-219
title = "Performing Shakespeare in Japan"
editor = Ryuta Minami, Ian Carruthers & John Gillies, eds.
publisher = Cambridge UP
year = 2001
location = Cambridge
isbn = 0521782449
*cite book
last = Kishi
first = Tetsuo
chapter = Japanese Shakespeare and English Reviewers
title = "Shakespeare and the Japanese Stage"
pages = 110-123
editor = Takashi Sasayama, J. R. Mulryne, and Margaret Shewring, eds.
publisher = Cambridge UP
year = 1998
location = Cambridge
isbn = 0521470439
*cite book
last = Mulryne
first = J. R.
chapter = From Text to Foreign Stage: Yukio Ninagawa's Cultural Translation of Macbeth
title = "Shakespeare from Text to Stage"
pages = 131-143
editor = Patricia Kennan and Mariangela Tempera, eds.
publisher = Clueb
year = 1992
location = Bologna
isbn = 8880911317
*cite book
last = Pronko
first = Leonard C.
chapter = Approaching Shakespeare through Kabuki
title = "Shakespeare: East and West"
pages = 23-40
editor = Minoru Fujita and Leonard Pronko, eds.
publisher = Japan Lib.
year = 1996
location = Surrey
isbn = 031216145X
*cite book
last = Yong
first = Li Lan
chapter = Shakespeare and the Fiction of the Intercultural
title = "A Companion to Shakespeare and Performance"
pages = 527-549
editor = Barbara Hodgdon and W. B. Worthen, eds.
publisher = Blackwell
year = 2005
location = Oxford
isbn = 1405111046
*cite book
chapter = Yukio Ninagawa
title = "In Contact With Gods?: Directors Talk Theatre"
pages = 191-200
editor = Maria M. Delgado and Paul Heritage, eds.
publisher = Manchester UP
year = 1996
location = Manchester
isbn = 0719047625

Articles

*cite journal
last = Hanratty
first = Conor
title = "What Ninagawa did next" - Notes on Productions of Greek Tragedy by Yukio Ninagawa after Medea in 1999
journal = Staging of Classical Drama around 2000, eds. Pavlína N. Sípová and Alena Sarkissian
volume =
issue =
pages = 7–30
date = 2008
*cite journal
last = Im
first = Yeeyon
title = The Pitfalls of Intercultural Discourse: The Case of Yukio Ninagawa
journal = Shakespeare Bulletin
volume = 22
issue = 4
pages = 7–30
date = 2004
*cite journal
last = Kennedy
first = Dennis
title = Shakespeare and the Global Spectator
journal = Shakespeare Jahrbuch
volume = 131
pages = 50–64
date = 1995
*cite journal
last = Lamont
first = Rosette C.
title = Foreign Shakespeare
journal = Stages
volume = 5
issue = 1
pages = 5–7
date = 1990
*cite journal
last = Miyashita
first = Nobuo
title = Ninagawa Yukio, Theatrical Pacesetter
journal = Japan Quarterly
volume = 34
pages = 400–404
date = 1987
*cite journal
last = Mulryne
first = J. R.
coauthors = Shewring, Margaret
title = Authenticity and Cultural Translation: Ninagawa's "The Tempest"
journal = Shakespeare Worldwide
volume = 14-15
pages = 287–298
date = 1995
*cite journal
last = Smith
first = Kate
title = "King Lear" on Canvas
journal = A Groat's Worth of Wit: Journal of the Open University Shakespeare Society
volume = 11
issue = 1
pages = 17–21
date = 2000
*cite journal
last = Yamamoto
first = Hiroshi
title = Adaptation of Shakespeare in Japan
journal = Renaissance Bulletin (Tokyo)
volume = 6
pages = 4–8
date = 1979

External links

* [http://www.ninagawastudio.net/ NINAGAWA STUDIO WEBSITE]
* [http://www.my-pro.co.jp/ninagawa/ Yukio Ninagawa Official Website (Japanese only)]