Written by
Hideki Noda
Translated by
Robert Tierney
Adapted & Directed by
Ong Keng Sen
About the show
Australian Premiere
“Our ears are filled with lies.”
In this witty satire of power from one of Japan’s most prolific writer-directors, Shakespeare is put on trial for falsifying history and defaming Richard Sandaime (Richard III), the Grand Master of Ikebana.
The playwright will pit his wits against his prosecutor, Maachan. But who is Maachan? And who will win?
With a queer and intercultural layering, this production by Ong Keng Sen, one of the world’s great directors, will fuse play, parable and performance with subversive glee.
This production is supported by the Keir Foundation.
Content Notice: Historical slurs
Hideki Noda is a playwright, director, actor, and Artistic Director of Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. While at the University of Tokyo, he formed his first theatre company, Yume no Yuminsha (Dreaming Bohemian). After disbanding the company in 1992, he went to study in London. Upon his return in 1993, he established a theatre production company, NODA∙MAP.
Since then, he has presented numerous acclaimed plays, including Kill, Red Demon, Pandora’s Bell, Egg, Q: A Night At The Kabuki, and Fakespeare. He also directs kabuki plays and operas. As a standard-bearer of performing arts, he continues working vigorously both inside and outside Japan, energetically beyond genres and borders. He was made an Honorary Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009. Other accolades include the Asahi Prize and the Medal with Purple Ribbon.
Ong Keng Sen has been the Artistic Director of Singapore’s T:>Works (formerly known as TheatreWorks) since 1988. He was the founding director of the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) from 2014 to 2017. He founded the international Curator's Academy, hosted by the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin. His productions have been seen in major theatres around the world, the latest being Trojan Women which recently played at BAM Next Wave Festival in New York.
He was the Artistic Director of the Amsterdam-based Prince Claus Funds’ digital 25-hour festival to commemorate its 25 years of existence. His seminal work was the nomadic artist residency, The Flying Circus Project, with international artists travelling through Asia, sharing their contexts amongst themselves and young people in local sites.
In 2022, Ong was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Arts London, and was the Valeska Gert Guest Professor at Freie University Berlin. He has been sharing his knowledge with graduate students at the Institute of Applied Theatre Arts in the University of Giessen, the Norwegian Theatre Academy in Oslo, and the University of Salzburg. He holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University.
Performance Dates
Thursday 26 October 2023, 7:30pm
Friday 27 October 2023, 7:30pm
Saturday 28 October 2023, 1:00pm, 7:30pm
Monday 30 October 2023, 7:30pm
Tuesday 31 October 2023, 7:30pm
Wednesday 1 November 2023, 7:30pm
Runtime: 90 mins no interval
Cast
In order of appearance
Truth/Chiropractor
Jackson Hurwood
Richard III/ Richard, sibling of Shakespeare/ Sandaime Richard
Juliette Coleman
Maachan/Shylock
Lập Nguyễn
Judge/ Shakespeare’s Pop/Iemoto/Keepsake
Holly Matthews
Shakespeare/ Ikenobo George
Hadrian Le Goff
Shrew/Anne/Chabōzu
Gabriel Sheehan
Shakespeare’s Mom/ Iemoto’s Wife
Madeline Li
Kurogos
Lucy Xingwang Dunning
Max Morgan
Understudies
Max Dijkstra
Caitlin Green
Aileen Lee
Creative Team
Director
Ong Keng Sen*
Set/Props Designer
James Stibilj
Costume Designer
Paris Burrows
Lighting Designer
Chris Milburn
Sound Designer/Composer
Keelan Ellis
Songs
Rap Lyricist /Composer Jackson Hurwood
Raps Composer/Cellist Helen Mountfort*
Voice Coach
Jack Starkey-Gill*
Production Stage Manager
Joel Montgomery
Deputy Stage Manager
Jemima Owen
Assistant Stage Manager
Thắng Tùng
Assistant Stage Manager/Microphone Technician
Finlay Hogan
Construction Manager
Maxime Armand
Properties Supervisor
Gaia Stein
Costume Supervisor
Michiru Encinas
Sound System Supervisor
Arwen Davidson
Head Electrician
Adetokunbo (TK) Abioye
Costume Makers
Natalie De Palo
Maverick Durkin
Michiru Encinas
Nina Price
Delan Woods
Properties Maker
Ari Gilbert
Set/Props Assistant Designer
Amelie Brown
Costume Assistant Designer
Alice Vance
Costume Assistant
Siann Lau
Properties Assistant
Rachael Palazzi
Dome Operators
Archer Dametto
Isabella Treleaven
Technical Assistants
Chaii Ki Chapman
Taylah Crouch
Thomas Hamilton
Niamh Nolland
Jasmine Power
Harry Smyth
Poppy Townsend
Dresser
Katrina Mark
Sustainability Coordinator
Chris Milburn
Special thanks to Freya Meany (Viola recording)
* Guest ** Staff