14 October 2022
A Cross-genre Collaboration with 9PROJECT.

A collaborative performance of Taishu Engeki actors and an independent theatre group, 9PROJECT, was held at the Shinohara Engeijo Hall. Its scriptwriter and stage director, Kazunori Watanabe, is one of the JCTEA advisers, and he is also the leader of 9PROJECT, the theatre unit that mainly performs works by the renowned playwright, Kouhei Tsuka.
On 13 October 2022, 9PROJECT organised a performance of “Netorare Sousuke (Sousuke’s Anguish from his Wife’s Adultery)”, a legendary piece by Kouhei Tsuka, at Shinohara Engeijo Hall, and Taishu Engeki actors, Ren Sawamura and Akito Misaki, were invited to perform amongst the 9Project actors for the occasion.

This was the initial, ground-breaking attempt to rent out the Shinohara Engeijo Hall to a non-Taishu Engeki theatre company.

On the following day, on 14 October, a Taishu Engeki version of “Netorare Sousuke” was staged at Shinohara Engeijo Hall. The script was adapted by Kazunori Watanabe, and the performance was directed and starred by Birei Ryu, while also featuring 9PROJECT’s signature actress Megumi Takano as one of the cast. Taishu Engeki’s Ren Sawamura, Akito Misaki, Hanamaru Ichikawa and Aira Misaki collaborated with 9PROJECT’s Tomoyuki Ogawa (who had played the lead role of Sousuke the day before and also appeared in a different role). The collaboration of 9PROJECT and Taishu Engeki can be traced back in the past as well, when Taishu Engeki’s Akito Misaki was asked to perform as a “pinch-hitter” at 9PROJECT’s Tokyo performance in Ikebukuro on 6-9 October, due to a sudden cast change.

In this way, these three collaborative performances have come to take place rather unexpectedly. At the performance held on 14 October, Birei Ryu was apparently overcome with emotion during the curtain call, and was seen to be rather teary to the surprise of co-actors and audiences. The extravagance of the finale dance show performed by actors from both Taishu Engeki and 9PROJECT was a great success! As a result, many theatre fans from two different genres, Taishu Engeki and the independent theatre scene (such as 9PROJECT), ended up expanding their fields of interest across the genres – those who had previously never heard of Taishu Engeki (and had never been to the Shinohara Engeijo Hall) visited the Hall and enjoyed Taishu Engeki for the first time, and returned for more to enjoy other performances later. Conversely, fans of Taishu Engeki also experienced the joy of the small independent theatre plays through these collaborative events. The performers and backstage supporters on both sides were greatly stimulated by completely different staging and rehearsal methods of the two genres. For example, Taishu Engeki’s Shogeki troupe took charge of the backstage supporting in the collaborative performance on 14 October. As a closing remark, its leader, Ren Sawamura, expressed his gratitude for this exceptional opportunity by saying, “Although it was hard work, I believe both myself and the troupe on the whole managed to elevate ourselves to another level through this experience.”

The Taishu Engeki version of “Netorare Sousuke” was presented as part of the Shinpu Project Innovation Series #1. The fun and theatrical excitement of one play being transformed into a different stage performance from different genre to another left an indelible mark on the hearts of many audiences.
Examples of some favourable remarks expressed by fans are as follows:
“The costumes, lighting, stage sets and theatrical construction of Taishu Engeki are wonderful. I rediscovered its charm.”
“I was proud of the exceptional standard of Taishu Engeki as an entertainment.”
“I wish there were more innovative projects like these.”