Shochiku is bringing the extraordinary world of traditional Japanese kabuki back to London in January 2027 with KABUKI, a spectacular triple bill of classic kabuki pieces featuring two of the art form’s most anticipated rising stars.
This production marks the return of one of Japan’s most revered artforms to London after an absence of 17 years, and comes at a time of heightened audience interest in kabuki following the international success of the feature film Kokuho.
Featuring Ichikawa Somegorō VIII and Onoe Tatsunosuke III in their international stage debuts, KABUKI will be presented at Sadler’s Wells Theatre from 30 to 31 January 2027.
KABUKI will be made up of three dance pieces: Fuji Musume (藤娘) – The Wisteria Maiden; Yuki no Shakkyō (雪の石橋) – The Snowbound Stone Bridge – A Lion Dance; and Meoto Dōjōji (男女道成寺) – A Man and Woman at Dōjōji Temple.
In Fuji Musume (藤娘) – The Wisteria Maiden, performed by Onoe Tatsunosuke, a beautiful maiden in a black lacquered hat, holding a branch of wisteria flowers over her shoulder, stands beneath a great pine tree draped with cascading wisteria. She is the Wisteria Maiden, a familiar figure from Ōtsu-e folk paintings, which were sold as lucky charms to bring about a happy marriage. In dance, she expresses the feelings of a woman in love. Set to lyrics that weave in the Eight Views of Ōmi, she vividly expresses the anguish of a maiden in love with a man who remains indifferent to her feelings. In a delightfully tipsy mood, she dances on before once again placing the wisteria branch upon her shoulder and fading into the gathering dusk, returning to her true form as the wisteria spirit.
In Far Eastern tradition, the shishi is not a true lion, but a kind of mythical creature associated with the Buddhist bodhisattva Monju (Mañjuśrī). This version of Yuki no Shakkyō (雪の石橋) – The Snowbound Stone Bridge – A Lion Dance, performed by Ichikawa Somegorō, closely follows the classical nō play of the same name. The shishi displays his power by shaking his mane vigorously.
The original Musume Dōjōji, which is one of kabuki’s most famous dances, is based on the legend of the temple Dōjōji, in which a young maiden transforms into a serpent out of jealousy and destroys the temple bell under which the man she loves is hiding. In that version, the woman changes her costume repeatedly while depicting various kinds of love through dance. In this version, Meoto Dōjōji (男女道成寺) – A Man and Woman at Dōjōji Temple, performed by both Ichikawa Somegorō and Onoe Tatsunosuke, there are two dancers, one of which is eventually revealed to be a man in disguise. The dance reaches its climax when the two reveal their true identities.
Ichikawa Somegorō VIII said:
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to convey the power of kabuki to people overseas together with Tatsunosuke, a fellow actor of my generation. Kabuki was born over 400 years ago, and has continued to the present day, absorbing the culture, sensibilities, and values of the people of each era. I believe it is like a mirror that reflects what Japanese people have accumulated over a long period of time. It is very important for people overseas to experience this unique beauty of Japan. At the same time, I also want Japanese people to know more about kabuki. I would be happy if we could not only share kabuki internationally, but also bring something of what we gain from that experience back to Japan.”
Discover the extraordinary world of KABUKI as Shochiku brings three classic works to Sadler’s Wells in January 2027. Find out more about the production and book your tickets for this rare London appearance.
