Japanese contemporary performance has been plunged into a very interesting and exciting phase, breeding many different styles from the younger generation who are quite often free from existing codes. The Japan Foundation once again looks at a leading example of a Japanese contemporary play by award-winning playwright Shiro Maeda, who is believed to have been instrumental in leading performing arts in Japan into a new phase. This play reading of Getting Lost will offer to a UK audience the first chance to experience, in English, this piece of very recent high-calibre Japanese theatre.

Shiro Maeda is the leading figure on the recent Japanese performing arts scene, among the younger generation. Born in the 1970s, he arguably represents the voices of those of the "Lost Decade" in Japan, living through social and economic uncertainty. As an award-winning playwright, his work cannot be detached from such circumstances, but he is most recognized, indeed highly praised, for the way that he deals with the heavy and eternal issues that all of us embrace in lightweight conversation, in a subtly humourous or even absurd manner, instead of pushing them explicitly; this creates a surreal and sometimes chilling world, where he crosses freely the lines of time and space. Being a director and an actor also, his stage always respects the intimate relationship with the audience, offering them "something to share".

Lunchtime talk with photographer: 21 November 2011, 1:00 - 1:40pm

Exhibition: 21-22 November 2011, 10:00am - 5:00pm

The Japan Foundation hosts a talk by Satoshi Ueda, a young man with a very personal connection to the 3.11 disaster in Tohoku. Although he himself was in Tokyo when the earthquake hit, his hometown of Rikuzen-takata was devastated, and sadly he was to lose his mother that day.

Virtuoso Chinese pianist Lang Lang will be celebrating his hero Franz Liszt’s 200th birthday with a one-off anniversary concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Charles Dutoit, and it will be broadcast live and as-live into cinemas throughout the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe and Asia on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 2pm (UK time).
In order to find out the nearest cinema broadcasting this exceptional event, visit www.xdcentertainment.com

Following successful premieres in Sweden, Singapore, and the USA this summer, TAO Dance Theater 2011 World Tour continues to New York City, Amsterdam, Birmingham, and London this fall!

Tour Dates 巡演日程

November 3, 4 / 11月3,4日

NYC premiere in “Fall for Dance” Festival at New York City Center
舞团纽约首演在纽约都市剧院的秋季舞蹈节


November 8, 9 / 11月8,9日

European premiere of co-commissioned work “2” at Theater Bellevue, Amsterdam
"２"欧洲首演在荷兰阿姆斯特丹贝尔维尤剧场

November 11,15,16 / 11月11,15,16日

UK Company Premiere at
DanceXchange, Birmingham (Nov 11) &
Lilian Baylis Studio Sadler's Wells
(Nov 15,16)
舞团的英国首演在
伯明翰DanceXchange（11月11日）与
伦敦沙德勒之井剧院（11月15,16日）

Photo: Lars Ake Stomfelt