An award-winning, site-specific opera, inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's novel “The Key”
wonderfully and meticulously crafted piece" |
an inspired synergy between words, music, visuals and space" |
an intellectually and sensually stimulating experience" |
‘20 years of marriage yet, I can’t speak with my wife’
But the husband is desperate to discuss their mutually unfulfilling sex life.
When he notices his wife paying attention to Kimura, a man they intended to set up with their daughter, he is surprised to finds he enjoys feeling jealous.
He writes about this in his diary and subtly encourages his wife to read it.
Thus begins a new marriage with the couple communicating their feelings and fantasies tacitly through their diaries.
When their daughter discovers these diaries, she and Kimura cooperate to turn her parents' wishes into reality.
However, as their actions become riskier, the couple’s new-found fulfilment threatens to be tragically cut short...
But the husband is desperate to discuss their mutually unfulfilling sex life.
When he notices his wife paying attention to Kimura, a man they intended to set up with their daughter, he is surprised to finds he enjoys feeling jealous.
He writes about this in his diary and subtly encourages his wife to read it.
Thus begins a new marriage with the couple communicating their feelings and fantasies tacitly through their diaries.
When their daughter discovers these diaries, she and Kimura cooperate to turn her parents' wishes into reality.
However, as their actions become riskier, the couple’s new-found fulfilment threatens to be tragically cut short...
Music and words by Francesca Le Lohé with excerpts from Junichiro Tanizaki’s original in Japanese.
Audiences are invited to peer into the private lives of this complex family as they struggle with communication, intimacy, gender expectations and changing cultural identities.
The intimate drama unfolds through an exciting combination of Japanese and Western art-forms. Each character, portrayed by a trio, performs in separate rooms of a house. Audiences become voyeurs, moving freely around and eavesdropping on these small ensembles of singers, a dancer, and Japanese and Western instruments.
Audiences are invited to peer into the private lives of this complex family as they struggle with communication, intimacy, gender expectations and changing cultural identities.
The intimate drama unfolds through an exciting combination of Japanese and Western art-forms. Each character, portrayed by a trio, performs in separate rooms of a house. Audiences become voyeurs, moving freely around and eavesdropping on these small ensembles of singers, a dancer, and Japanese and Western instruments.
Winner of the "19th Keizo Saji Prize" (2019) awarded by The Suntory Foundation for the Arts
The concepts of Francesca Le Lohé, who is responsible for both composition and direction, fit perfectly in the keyhole provided by “The Key.”
Morihide Katayama, Keizo Saji Prize Committee Member
Productions to date
Find out more about each run of performances by clicking on the images
Tokyo 2018
World premiere 19th May 2018 Nakacho House, Tokyo Staged by: ‘Kagi’ Project Executive Committee
Supported by: The Mutomai Fund for Music Creation, Education and Research and Kickstarter donators Cooperation: Arts Access “Otomachi” Whole Hog Theatre Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation |
Tokyo 2019Staged by: ‘Kagi’ Project Executive Committee
Supported by: Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) and the Japan Arts Council (Japan Arts Fund) Cooperation: Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, Ueno-Sakuragi Denchu Hirakushi House and Atelier, NPO Taito Cultural and Historical Society, Arts management group 'Yanaka no Okatte', Whole Hog Theatre |
London 2019Staged by: ‘Kagi’ Project Executive Committee
In partnership with Japan Foundation, Mu Arts, Azuki Foundation and Powell Tuck Associates Supported by: Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), Arts Council England, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, RVW Trust Cooperation: Tête a Tête: The Opera Festival, Southbank Sinfonia, London Festival of Architecture, Whole Hog Theatre Official event of the Japan-UK Season of Culture |
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