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Workshop and talk event by the theater company Ahahi
“Intersection of plays”

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Schedule/Program‍‍

“Tokyo” Workshop “Theatre in the Media”

2024/1/24 (Wed) 18:30 to 21:00

venues　Waseda Small Theater Dorama Hall

1-101-3 Totsuka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0071

‍lecturers　Takanori Sudo (Video Director)

What is the summaryHere

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The theater company Ahahi “Theater Crossing” was held at Waseda University's Dorama Hall, where student theater is popular. The first day in Tokyo was a workshop with video director Takanori Sudo.

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Mr. Sudou is involved as a video staff on many stages, not to mention the performances of the theater company Ahahi. They set up directing intentions, proposed new methods of expression on how to incorporate images into the work, and introduced themselves as actually doing production. Most of the participants are actors, and they are young people who are probably students. Cameras, projectors, and screens have been placed on the stage since opening hours, and everyone seemed curious about what kind of content the title of the day was “Play in the Media.”

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When the workshop began, Sudou first explained the definition of “media” and changes in its interpretation. Then, it was conveyed that “media” is a “message” became the keyword for this day.

At the time of reception, participants were given several sheets with written sentences, and it is explained that they are part of the novel “Textbook of Cat Language.” The first task is for everyone to read this novel little by little and grasp the overall picture. Although it is a novel, it is divided into 10 scenes by Mr. Sudo, and each is summarized on about A4 and a half pages. As you read, you'll see that this is a story written from a “cat's” perspective.

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After reading the book, it's time to sort out the characters that appear in this novel. There was also an explanation about the background of the work in the preface to this novel. After arranging the components that I think are necessary to express this work, I will move on to the next work.

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What followed was to think about a lot of plans to express this novel on stage, and then illustrated its structure. For example, in the case of a scene where a cat is talking to a kitten, there is a pattern where the “audience” is watching the “cat” alone talk, and a pattern where the “cat” talks to the “kitten” on stage, and the “audience” is watching it is also conceivable. We will add “media” as yet another element here. Assuming that cameras, projectors, screens, lights, microphones, etc. that can create shadows on the stage can be used freely, the issue is what kind of patterns can be considered when using them.

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What Mr. Sudo showed me as an example is a pattern where the story of the “cat” is narrated using a “microphone,” the appearance of the “cat” is drawn with a “shadow picture,” the “kitten” is watching it, and the “audience” is watching the situation. By using technology, the options for how to express themselves will increase, and the possibilities of plans will expand at every level. Each person works on this work and writes as many patterns as possible on paper.

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Once the time for individual work is over, the whole thing is now divided into 2 groups, and each plan is discussed within the group. It's a time to present your own plans, explore where you can combine them with other people's plans, and create better plans. We spent quite a long time here. I was also able to try out the equipment on stage, and I think it was a meaningful experience where I was able to verify what would happen when I actually tried what I had thought in my head. The plan that has been settled in this way will be announced for each group, 2 scenes at a time. Both groups made good use of technology and created interesting works.

Now, in response to the announcement, Sudou-san will comment on each of them. There was feedback from a professional point of view for the group that used shadows to express scenes of human couples having conversations, their facial expressions could not be read due to shadows, and it was an allegorical or symbolic scene, and for the group that dared to hold a microphone and express it silently, they were able to use the “meaning” that it has itself rather than a function of technology, etc., and it was a huge learning experience for the participants It looked like it had become.

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What Mr. Sudo was talking about even before the presentation was that many ideas for using cameras, microphones, and projectors come up, but it is better to be aware of what kind of “effects” they will have. At the end of the meeting, he also said, “As the world is becoming more diverse and complicated, communication is also becoming linked in unexpected directions. In the future, when trying to show such a modern state of affairs, “media” will always be necessary. Also, he told me that “using images itself is not important; how” images are used is important, and “how” they are used becomes a “message” as is.” I feel like it was the moment when the first keyword “media” is “message” came to pass.

If you are a young theater person working in a small group, you cannot incorporate the latest equipment into your expression, and as a result, I feel that it is quite difficult to arrive at a production using technology as an idea. Taking a workshop on this kind of video will be an opportunity to expand the possibilities of directing, and I think the range of things I want to express in the future will also expand. I would like to hope that the participants this time will bring back what they have absorbed here to their respective groups, and that more and more new expressions will be born from young actors.

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Report: Fukunaga Mitsuhiro