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The Japanese culture celebrated at the ”I.L. Caragiale National Theatre through two exceptional events
Exhibition of Japanese prints – Kabuki actors and theatre scenes, from the George Șerban collection – 12th June 2018
Kokaji, a NOH theatre play, in the performance of the Yamamoto NOH Theatre Company of Osaka, Japan – 19 June 2018
Cultivating for a long time a true privileged relationship with Japan, the ”I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre shall host, during a single week in June 2018, two exceptional cultural events, intended to get the Romanian audience acquainted with two of the major types of traditional Japanese theatre – Kabuki and Noh - by means of an exhibition and theatre play, respectively.
On Tuesday, 12th June 2018 from 6.30 p.m., in the foyers of the Studio Hall of the National Theatre, the Romanian audience shall be presented for the first time with a curatorial selection of over 140 Japanese prints from the 18th and 19th centuries, with Kabuki actors and theatre scenes, originating from the George Șerban private collection. The exhibition shall be followed by the publication of a dedicated album.
The George Șerban prints collection comprises over 1.000 works created by over 50 Japanese artists starting with the 17th century, pursuing with the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
The Kabuki theatre has been the favourite subject of the major schools of Japanese artists from their history, which you can retrace in the exhibition, but also in the subsequent album. To each of the exhibited artists, an exhibition area is dedicated, which shall contain, beside the original works also a dynamic presentation with details from works and presentation information on the 8 screens surrounding the exhibition space.
Curator: Cosmin Nasui
Research and documentation: Alina Cretu, Alina Șerban, Alexandra Jianu
Design and exhibition architecture Rizi Design. Restorer: Eugen Costache
Sponsor: Șerban and Associates Law Office
The album accompanying the exhibition is published by PostModernism Museum Publishing. A limited edition of 50 albums shall also be produced, accompanied by original prints.
The exhibition shall be open from 12 June - 1 July 2018.
On Tuesday, 19th June 2018, from 7.30 p.m., you are expected to the Studio Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest to a theatre play which can rarely be witnessed outside Japanese borders. It is Kokaji / The Blacksmith, a Noh play (classical Japanese drama, whose origins counts over seven centuries of existence) in the performance of the Yamamoto Noh Theatre company. Kokaji is a dynamic play in two acts from the Kiri Noh category (play with supernatural characters and animals), the author being unknown.
For the merits connected with the preservation and promotion of traditional values, Yamamoto Noh Theatre was included in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The company aims at continuing the tradition and making Noh known worldwide as a vivid and attractive form of classical theatre, which can be understood and appreciated by anyone. The leader of the Yamamoto Noh Theatre company of Osaka and of the eponymous name, well-known actor Yamamoto Akihiro is also the President of the Noh Theatre Actors’ Association of Japan. Through his company, he contributes to the promotion and transmission of unique values of one of the oldest forms of traditional Japanese art. For his activity, master Yamamoto Akihiro was bestowed in 2015 with the award of the Japan Foundation for ”Global Citizenship” and in the year 2017 with the award of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Yamamoto Noh Theatre Company is well-known and appreciated by the Romanian audience, where it was present in the last two years with several shows at the National Theatre of Bucharest (2016) and at the International Theatre Festival of Sibiu.
The Kokaji show is performed on 19th June 2018 from 7.30 p.m., in the Studio Hall of NTB, with surtitles in Romanian.
Spectators who shall view the Kokaji show shall have the opportunity of also visiting the exceptional Japanese prints exhibition in the foyers of the Studio Hall.
Tickets are available at the NTB box office and online, on MyStage.
Translated by Simona Nichiteanu
