Double Nora (JP)
The Natori Theatre production Double Nora fuses the ancient Noh tradition with modern theatre.
Directed by Teater Natori
Noh theatre has roots in 14th century Japan. Slow, carefully rehearsed movements, song, masks, and colourful silk costumes contrasting with basic stage sets.
In this show we meet two Noras, one embodied by a regular actor, the other by a masked Noh actor. When Noh Nora is on stage, Modern Nora follows her like a doppelganger. A four-person chorus sing out Nora’s emotions, as well as the situations she finds herself in. This way, Modern Nora gets to observe the actions of Noh Nora, while Noh Nora senses the existence of Modern Nora, without being fully aware of her. In the play, only Noh Nora contains this duality, and as the plot unfolds, Noh Nora realises that this doppelganger is, in fact, herself.
The director Mitsuya Mori has published several books on Ibsen’s plays. For this experimental production, he has joined forces with Noh expert Kuniyoshi Ueda. Ueda has previously produced Noh versions of Western classics such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Othello.
Featuring: Noh Nora – Reijiro Tsumura, Modern Nora – Yu Mizuno, Noh Helmer – Noburu Yasudu, Krogstad – Hiroshi Murakami, Dr. Rank – Hiroshi Murakami.
Written and directed by: Kuniyoshi Ueda and Mitsuya Mori. Noh adaptation by: Reijiro Tsumura. Scenography and costume design: Ben Uchiyama.