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Miho Project, Teatro Kyogen - Kyoto,
Teatro Paravento - Locarno
Kyogen is a type of Japanese theatre which has its
roots in the celebrated Nõh theatre. A "kyogen" is
in fact a short burlesque in the Nõh style that is
traditionally staged between two dramatic works. Today
however Kyogen is often performed unaccompanied.
Originating with the common people of Japan and using
their language, Kyogen began to evolve in the 18th
century, becoming increasingly stylised in a way that
emphasises its highly ceremonial nature. The Kyogen style
is notable for its precision and economy of gesture,
deliberate and highly expressive. When the Compagnia
Teatro Paravento travelled to Kyoto in 1998 it brought
about a meeting of two cultures, as Japan's Kyogen came
face to face with Italy's commedia dell'arte. There are
indeed many similarities between these two forms of
theatre, and particularly between the main character
central to each tradition: Arlecchino (Harlequin) and
Tarokaya.
Together with Akira Shigeyama, actor and director of
Kyogen and the Miho Project - Kyoto, Paravento formed the
idea of a collaborative effort. The first part of this
project calls for a tour of Japan and Europe by the two
troops in the year 2000, when they will perform one
commedia dell'arte type farce, "I casi della fame e
dell'amore" (the cases of hunger and love) and one Kyogen
farce, entitled "Bound to the stake". The second half of
the project will be a coproduction in the year 2001.
100 minutes, with intermission
European tour 16-30 September 2000
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