Review: A NIGHT AT THE KABUKI, Sadler’s Wells

Photo credit: Alex Brenner

Playwright, director, actor and self-professed ‘British enthusiast’ Hideki Noda could never be accused of a lack of ambition. Or imagination.

His latest play A Night At The Kabuki is inspired by the story of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, reimagining the aftermath of the famed love story mashed up with the classic Japanese story of the battle between the Genji and Taira clans, all set to the music of Queen’s iconic 1975 album ‘A Night At The Opera’. And as the title suggests, Noda’s play has elements of kabuki theatre including exaggerated make up and impressive physical theatre and dance (very fitting on the Sadler’s Wells stage).

Hideki Noda’s script borrows familiar passages from Shakespeare’s work, with nods not only to Romeo and Juliet but The Tempest and Hamlet, and works in familiar references to bring this traditional form and 400-year-old story into the present day. A Night At The Kabuki is raucous, cheeky, pantomimic but also profoundly beautiful and tender at its core.

Takako Matsu and Tayaka Kamikawa are a dynamic double act as the older Juliet and Romeo, bearing traces of their former youthful naivety as they attempt to rewrite their own destiny and change the story of their love.

Their younger counterparts are Jun Shison (Romeo) and Suzu Hirose (Juliet), whose doe-eyed innocence and passion fades to a poignant and quiet bitterness in the second act.

The entire ensemble cast are astonishing, confidently clambering over Yukio Horio’s set and managing the complex sequence of revolving doors, confining the inevitable slapstick collisions to those in the script. Every actor in this production throws themselves bodily into their role, and there is a real sense of lightness and mischief in the choreography by Shigehiro Ide, which helps this rather long production fly by.

The entire team of designers deserve hearty applause for their work on this eye-popping production. There are some truly gorgeous effects and moments of stage magic.

There are few words of praise that feel fittingly unique to this once-in-a-lifetime performance. A Night At The Kabuki is riotous production with boundless energy, and a feast for the eyes and ears.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett

A Night at the Kabuki plays at Sadler’s Wells until 24 September, with tickets available here.