GALAXY TRAIN – London Concert
Théatre Lapis is presenting a concert version of a new musical ‘Galaxy Train’, which runs between the 24th and 26h March 2023 at The Other Palace Theatre Studio. The musical was created by director Yojiro Ichikawa (My Neighbour Totoro, Urinetown, Pearl and Dagger) and composer-lyricist Eden Tredwell (The Last Nativity, Pearl and Dagger), based on the beloved 1927 Japanese novel ‘Night on the Galactic Railroad’ by Kenji Miyazawa.
This musical heralds another British-Japanese collaboration. Developed over lockdown, the piece received a Japanese-language workshop in Tokyo to audience acclaim. The song ‘Those Stars’ also won the Stiles & Drewe ‘Best New Song Prize’ in 2021. This concert marks the UK and English-language premiere of the show, and the introduction of a piece of famous Japanese literature to British audiences.
For more information, visit here
My Neighbour Totoro
Our Artistic Director Yojiro Ichikawa has performed as the puppeteer of Chu-totoro in the world premiere of ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Improbable at Barbican Theatre. The show received a huge number of five-star reviews, and we are so delighted! Huge congrats to the whole company!
Kuwento-物語 (Monogatari): Revisited Tales of Japan and the Philippines
Théatre Lapis is proud to present ‘Kuwento-物語 (read as Monogatari): Revisited Tales of Japan and the Philippines’, an online performance created through the collaboration between artists in the UK, Japan, France and Manila.
The online release will be on the Theatre Lapis Youtube Channel on December 18th, 2020 . This project is supported by The Japan Foundation, Manila.
‘Kuwento-物語: Revisited Tales of Japan and the Philippines’ is a digital storytelling exploration of Japanese folktales told in English, providing the children and audience all over the world with the opportunity to experience the authentic Japanese culture, retold through the unique fusion of the creativity of Japanese and Filipino artists. Its aim is to raise and increase awareness of Japan, and its culture, and to invite the audience to the world of Japanese aesthetics.
This show is a unique, international, cross-collaboration among Japanese, British, French and Filipino artists from different corners of the globe. Overcoming challenges of the isolation induced by COVID-19 in the year 2020, this project seeks to create innovative ways of sharing stories even in a remote setup.
The performance will be premiered at 10am UK, 7pm JP, 6pm PH on the 18th December 2020.
Please join us with the live chat feature, some of the company members might join you!
Here’s the link to the video
Pearl and Dagger – Project 2020
We are delighted to announce a couple of new chapters for our ‘Pearl and Dagger’!
1. Concert version at the Bandstand Battersea Park
Last year’s musical ‘Pearl and Dagger’ RETURNS! Come and join us at Battersea Park bandstand on Sunday the 16th of August at 1pm for a special concert version of the show, featuring new friends and old.
2. Music Video Project
We are releasing a series of music videos, featuring wonderful East Asian performers all around the world singing songs from the show in both English AND Japanese!
Jellicle Songs for All とどけジェリクル
We just released the video of ‘Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats’ sung by alumni of CATS Japan, encouraging those who are having a hard time caused by COVID-19. The video is directed by our artistic director Yojiro Ichikawa.
劇団四季在団中にCATSに出演していた方々が集まって、コロナの影響で苦しい思いをしている方々へ向けてのエールとして、「ジェリクルソング」を歌いました。芸術監督の市川が演出させていただきました。苦しいことがあっても、ジェリクルキャッツのように誇らしく、たくましく生きてまいりましょう。
#jelliclesongsforall
URINETOWN
We are thrilled to announce that our Artistic Director Yojiro Ichikawa is directing ‘URINETOWN’, once again collaborating with SEDOS. The tickets can be purchased through SEDOS website.
ONDINE
We are thrilled to announce that our Artistic Director Yojiro Ichikawa is directing ‘ONDINE’ as the third-year students’ production of BA World Performance at EAST 15 Acting School in February 2018.
Come join us to explore the mystical world of nymphs.
Ordinary Days 2017, update
The cast has been announced!
CAST
Jason | Inti Conde
Claire | Louisa Roberts
Deb | Kate Gledhill
Warren I Glen Jordan
All other information can be found here.
Bridewell Theatre ‘Ordinary Days’ website
Tickets are on sale now!!
Get Ticket
River Lethe
Collaborating with RL Productions, Yojiro is directing ‘River Lethe’ by Ioannis Souris as part of THEATRE IN THE POUND at the Cockpit Theatre on the 10th July.
All the details can be found on this website
Ordinary Days 2017
We are delighted to announce that our artistic director Yojiro will be directing Ordinary Days once again, in London, collaborating with SEDOS. The show opens on the 27th September 2017 at Bridewell Theatre, and runs only for a week. All information and updates can be found on the website below.
REVIEWS and A New Trailer of The Red Candle – Mermaids in the East
The reviews for The Red Candle – Mermaids in the East are coming in! We are runinng til the 20th. Don’t miss it!!!
Tickets for The Red Candle – Mermaids in the East are on sale now!
☆☆☆☆☆
“a beautiful performance in a spectacular venue. Short but sweet, the storyline resonated with past and current events. A combination of dance, music, song and the effective use of masks and fabrics conveyed the story perfectly.”
- The Audience Club member
☆☆☆☆☆
“so impressed with the way this was interpreted with the use of drapes and masks. The cast were excellent and really drew you into this Japanese fable. Beautiful music and great venue.”
- Sachin & Rachna Patel, The Audience Club member
☆☆☆☆
“Director Yojiro Ichikawa Hassall has taken Nozomi Abe’s writing and mixed ‘straight’ acting, interpretive dance, singing and puppetry that fuse together to tell the story of the child and her family with a grace and beauty you seldom see in a traditional show. ….lovely and beautifully delivered production.”
- Terry Eastham, London Theatre 1
☆☆☆☆
“A lovely and moving recreation of a Japanese fairy tale, beautifully combining elements of Western and Eastern theatre styles. Live piano music created a haunting atmosphere in this amazing underground location. Something really original.”
- Caroline Gardiner, The Audience Club member
Here is a sneak peak of the run through.
The Red Candle – Mermaids in the East
We are delighted to announce our new production of The Red Candle – Mermaids in the East in November 2016 at the beautiful Grand Entrance Hall of the Brunel Museum. We will keep you updated.
Tickets for The Red Candle – Mermaids in the East are on sale now
Marco Polo the Musical
Yojiro Ichikawa joined the world premiere production of “Marco Polo” the musical at the Shaw Theatre in London. He appeared as General Irinchin, between 23rd August and 4th September.
Screw-Eyed
Our artistic director, Yojiro Ichikawa is directing “Screw Eyed” as part of Rapid Write Response at Theatre 503. The performance takes place on the 17th and 18th July.
Tell Me On A Sunday & Grand Hotel
The new publicity image has been released for Tell Me On A Sunday which our Artistic Director Yojiro is directing at New National Theatre Tokyo in June 2016
Yojiro is also working as the translator in Grand Hotel the musical directed by Thom Southerland which opens in April 2016 in Tokyo.
Tell Me On A Sunday
In June 2016, Our Artistic Director Yojiro Ichikawa is directing the Japanese premiere production of Lloyd Webber’s ” Tell Me on a Sunday” at The New National Theatre Tokyo. So excited to collaborate with Megumi Hamada, who originated Nala in The Lion King, the title role of AIDA, and Elphaba in Wicked in Japan.
PRINCE OF BROADWAY
Our Artistic Director YOJIRO ICHIKAWA is currently working on PRINCE OF BROADWAY, a new musical conceived and directed by legendary Harold Prince. The show premieres in October in Tokyo. Yojiro is the translator of the script for subtitles and Japanese narration.
PRINCE OB BROADWAY website
TITANIC the musical 2015
Our Artistic Director YOJIRO ICHIKAWA recently worked as the Assistant Director to Thom Southerland in Japanese Production of TITANIC the musical which was transferred from Southwerk Playhouse. He also adapted the show into Japanese and worked as the vocal supervisor.
REVIEWS
“歌詞が明瞭に聴こえ、６拍子における二連符を丁寧に歌うなど、歌唱が行き届いているのが優れた点の一つだ。：One of the prominent things about this production was the vocal supervision. I didn’t find any problem in understanding the Japanese lyrics which is quite rare in translated musicals and could see that the vocal of actors were well supervised very much in details.”
- 小山内 伸, Theatre Artsシアターアーツ