The legendary stage play by BETSUYAKU Minoru is now handed down to the next generation.
The “patient,” has been hospitalized due to a keloid scar on his back caused by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Although the memory of the war is fading, and his wounds now have lost their heroic value, he yearns to come back to where it all started. On the other hand, the “nephew” believes that all the victims should wait for the time to die apart from people, while the “nurse” expresses her desire to have a baby despite the future she certainly knows.
Playwright BETSUYAKU Minoru is renowned for his varied writing endeavors, including children’s stories, essays, and criticism. He has authored 140 plays and is credited with establishing the Japanese absurd play. With an acute awareness of the ambiguous communication style of the Japanese language, he has carved a significant niche in contemporary Japanese theatre history, creating a unique style that evokes a strange and poetic sense of anxiety, emptiness, and alienation in human society. His historic masterpiece “The Elephant” was penned in 1962 for the newly formed company Jiyu Butai, in collaboration with SUZUKI Tadashi (the first General Artistic Director of SPAC), and it left an indelible impact on subsequent generations.
The emotions of the ‘hibakusha’ (atomic bomb survivors) and the alienation they have suffered from society depicted in this work resonate with the present day, where a sense of stagnation prevails. Emerging director EMMA breathes new life into this work and presents it to a world still shaken by war.
Direction: EMMA (TOYONAGA Junko)
Text: BETSUYAKU Minoru
▼A scene from the rehearsal at BOX theatre
Cast
MAKIYAMA
Yudai
ABE
Kazunori
YOSHIUE
Soichiro
KONAGAYA
Katsuhiko
SAKAKIBARA
Yuumi
WATANABE
Takahiko
Information
2024
7 December, Saturday at 6:30pm
8 December, Sunday at 2:00pm＊Lecture／Special Talk
14 December, Saturday at 2:00pm＊City walking tour with Japanese guide／Lecture／Backstage tour
15 December, Sunday at 2:00pm＊City walking tour with English guide／Lecture／Backsage tour［Babysitting service］
At Shizuoka Arts Theatre
*Notice Regarding English Surtitles
Duration：TBA（Be planning to 90min）
In Japanese with English surtitles
*Please refrain from taking infants to the ordinary seats.
Related Events
Pre-Performance Talk
Starting 25 minutes before each performance.
Free of charge. No reservation required.
Special post-performance talk by the artists who participated in the SCOT SUMMER SEASON 2024 “Momotaro Meeting”: after the performance.
8 December
Free of charge. No reservation required.
City Walking Tour of Shizuoka’s War Memories ＊See here for details and application. https://forms.gle/pRrSMdcSmuXP3rWD6
14 December［with Japanese guides］, 15 December［with English guides］
Japanese tour: 1,000yen / English monitoring tour: free
Reservation required.
*High school students and under…Free of charge
*The English-language monitoring tour on Sunday, March 15 is for foreigners and others who need a guide in English.
*People who have booked “The Elephant” on a different day from this program may also participate. Participation in this tour only is not available.
Cooperation：Shizuoka Peace Center, Volunteer guides “Sumpu Wave”
Guidance of BETSUYAKU Minoru for theatre beginners
SPAC staff OOKA Jun will introduce the appeal of BETSUYAKU’s works. This event can be participated in by both those seeing the performance for the first time and repeaters.
［For drama club students］8 December at 12:30pm／［For the public］14 December at 12:30pm
Duration: About 60 minutes
In Japanese
Entry fee: 500yen / High school students and under: free
Reservation required. Up to 30 people.
Backstage tour
The technical staff will take you on a special backstage tour.
14 December and 15 December after the performance
Duration: About 30 minutes
Free of charge. Reservation required. Up to 40 people.
Meet us at Cafe Cinderella!
After the performance, the actors will come to see you off in their stage costumes. We hope you will take this opportunity to interact with the actors!
Ticket Price
4,200 yen (One viewing for regular adult)
●Student Discount:
［U25 and University students］2,000 yen
［High school students and under］1,000 yen
*Please present ID/student ID at door
●Disability discount: 2,900 yen (for those with a disability pocketbook)
*Please present disability pocketbook or Mirairo ID at door
*Free for One attendant.
*More than one discount cannot be claimed per purchase.
*Please claim any discount when making a reservation
SPAC Membership Discount
3,500 yen (One viewing for regular adult)
How to Purchase
◆Prior Reservation for Membership begins:
6 October at 10:00
◆Advance Tickets Sale begins:
13 October at 10:00
●Online reservations
– Please enter from the language button “English”.
– Payment is possible with the following credit cards: DC, UFJ, NICOS, VISA, and Master. Tickets purchased through this website can be received at the venue from one hour prior to each performance.
●Phone reservations
from 10:00-18:00 at SPAC ticket center
TEL. +81-(0)54-202-3399
●Purchase at BOX Office
SPAC ticket center (10:00-18:00)
Day Ticket
Available at the entrance counter for leftover seats, from one hour prior to each performance.
*Please confirm ticket availability on the day by phone or by visiting X (@_SPAC_)
*Ticket reservations will finish at 18:00 on the day before the performance.
Please refrain from taking infants to the ordinary seats.
［Nursery room］
For the Shizuoka performances, there is a nursery room where parents can watch the program with their infant children.
*A babysitting service is available on 15 December.
*The only language our childcare staff speaks is Japanese.
*Fee is 1,000 yen per child
*Reservations are required for childcare services.
Please use the form below to make a reservation.
https://forms.gle/o6ESJ2VZQnmkyAut9
Staff
Stage design：YOSHIDA Yuna
Lighting design：HANAWA Yuki
Sound design：SAWADA Yukino
Costume design：SEI Chigusa
Stage manager：OGAWA Tetsuro
Stage：YAMAZAKI Kaoru
Lighting：TAKEZAWA Akira （Shizuoka：MIZUNO Hikaru）
Art work production：MORI Masashi
Wardrobe：MAKINO Saho
English surtitle translation: Roger Pulvers
English surtitling: OISHI Takako
English surtitle manipulation: SUZUKI Mariko
Technical director：MURAMATSU Atsushi
Production：YUKIOKA Jun, SATO Misaki
Production Intern：MIYAGI Hana
Managing director：NARUSHIMA Yoko
Flyer design: ABE Taichi (TAICHI ABE DESIGN INC.)
Comission: Japan Cultural Expo 2.0
Organized by Toga Cultural Foundation, Japan Arts Council, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
Co-hosted by SPAC-Shizuoka Performing Arts Center
