PROGRAM
Farm Lab
Farm-Lab Exhibition Exploratory Performance Presentation ”Education (in your language)”
y/n Coming Out Lessons trial performance（2021）
@Kinosaki International Arts Center
Photo：bozzo
Performers:
Dia Hakim K. – Singapore (Singapore)
Kristy Lai – Taipei (Taiwan)
s i g l o – Manila (The Philippines)
HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi – Tokyo (Japan)
Establishing a temporary commonground.
Actor/director Kiyoshi Hashimoto and critic/dramaturg Kenta Yamazaki make up the artist duo y/n. They are known for presenting performance lectures that destabilize and question the relationship between the performer and the audience.
In this performance, they focus on education as their theme and embark on their first international collaboration with three Asia-based performers from various social and cultural backgrounds. During the creative process, y/n and the performers discuss their educational experiences and the social systems and customs behind them, thus exploring new perspectives on the topic of education itself. The duo creates the stage script by editing and structuring these discussions, sometimes arranging them into fictional scenarios.
In this Exploratory Performance Presentation, y/n hopes to create a space that allows each audience member to redefine their own understanding of education. The work will continue to change and develop through the audience’s individual feedback.
Theme: “Education”
We will be creating a new performance arts piece based on the theme of “education.” As y/n, we have always presented our work in a lecture performance format and held Q&A sessions between y/n and the audience after each presentation. The lecture (performance) and Q&A formats are, of course, strongly associated with education, and in that sense one could say that y/n has always pondered on the topic of education. However, that does not mean that these lectures (performances) and Q&A sessions intend to unilaterally deliver a “correct answer” to the audience. Rather, we, ourselves and our works have constantly evolved through our interactions with the audience. There is a side of information delivery to education, but by itself that undoubtedly leads to a kind of contracted reproduction. So what actually is going on, if not that? A great performance should also bring
about more than just the delivery of information (more than simply conveying an anti-war or anti-discrimination message, for example). For y/n, at least, thinking about education and thinking about performance are directly related. We do not necessarily intend to impose the lecture performance format on this new piece, but together with the performers, we will continue to explore how, and what kind of, relationships can be established with the audience.
Although y/n will be taking on the composition and direction (Hashimoto also plans to be in the performance), the material and ideas for the piece will be based on discussions between the performers and y/n.
We will discuss the education that each of us has experienced, its underlying social systems and customs, and our ideas surrounding these topics. Our hope is that the discussions we have together with participants from various different backgrounds will bring about new perspectives on education. Throughout the creation process and performance, we aim to create a space where y/n and the performers, the artists and the audience alike, may stimulate each other and evolve!
y/n (HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi + YAMAZAKI Kenta)
Director
y/n (HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi + YAMAZAKI Kenta)
Founded in 2019 by HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi (Director, Actor) and YAMAZAKI Kenta (Critic, Dramaturg). y/n makes performances that consider personal matters within the context of social structures through their research and documentary-based method. The unit name comes from the question yes/no, referring to binary opposition, contradiction, the state before reaching the answer. Previous works include Coming Out Lessons (2020), which deals with coming out as gay; Sex/Work/Art (2021), which deals with the work of sex workers and actors; and On Not Being Fooled Like You (2021), which deals with the history of magic tricks in Japan.
HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi
Tokyo (Japan)
Born in 1988, he is a director and an actor. He graduated from Nihon University College of Art, Department of Theatre, Directing Course, and in 2007 he launched Bruno Produce. He was a Saka-Agari Scholarship recipient from 2012 to 2015. His recent productions include Seinendan Link Cui Disturbing the Landscape (2019) and Seinendan Youth Group Independent Sakurauchi Project’s The Little Match Girl (2020). Other appearances include Naotoshi Oda’s play Es Ist Gut (2016-22), Ikunishi Yasunori The Standing Sticks: May Only I Live Long as part of Takao Kawaguchi Selection: Un Certain Regard at Tokyo Tokyo FESTIVAL Special 13 “TOKYO REAL UNDERGROUND” (2021), and Offton CCS/SC The Night Dominant (2022).
YAMAZAKI Kenta
Tokyo (Japan)
Born in 1983, he is a critic and dramaturg. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the theater review magazine Paperback and regularly reviews performing arts for the web magazine artscape. Major criticisms include "SF Aspects of Contemporary Japanese Theatre" (SF Magazine, February 2014 - February 2017) and "Just 'Cool' Is Not Enough for Mishima's Play - from Recent Performances" (Bungakukai, December 2020). In 2017 he participated in the Japan Foundation Asia Center's personal development program "Next Generation: Producing Performing Arts."
Performers
Dia Hakim K.
Dia Hakim K. (b.2002) is performer, writer and dramatist. Their training credits include a Diploma in Theatre (NAFA, English Drama) and Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Young Company ensemble. Their artistic practice draws on the intersections of Malayness, sexuality, gender, faith and family. As a writer, they work alongside Playwright’s Commune and have collaborated with entities such as ArtsEquator, Critic’s Circle and The Second Breakfast Company. Performance collaborations include projects with Teater Ekamatra, Pangdemonium and National Museum.
Kristy Lai
Kris (b. 1991) has become first round International alumni of National Youth Theatre in summer, 2016. One has been training and performing to play monologue in the past 10 years. Also worked in the field of devised theatre, immersive and environmental theatre.
One’s recent appearances include National Theater Ideas Lab selected production “A Century’s Dark Journey” (2021, developed from 2018 "yeh chang meng duo") and DPK “Dance for Me” dance proposal performed (2022).
s i g l o
s i g l o (b. 1992) is an art-maker whose works interweave in the cultural ecology of puppetry, game performance, theatre and community engagement. s i g l o is curious to investigate dynamic relationships of social act-ors and the systems they navigate on. His practice in puppetry piqued his musings on the cultural ecology of movements, operations, and creative expressions in societies. Since 2016, s i g l o has actively involved himself in various participatory performance works engaging different communities and audiences.
To places you cannot reach alone
Farm-Lab Exhibition, part of Tokyo Festival Farm, is a trial creation program in which emerging artists based in Asia collaborate with other members from various cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds. The product will be a work-in-progress presentation, with the ambition of ultimately showing at Tokyo Festival and elsewhere in Asia. This year will feature two teams, each with different directors: Serena MAGILIW, based in Manila, The Philippines (a past participant of Tokyo Festival Farm 2021 Asian Performing Arts Camp); and y/n, based in Japan (a unit consisting of director/actor HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi and critic/dramaturg YAMAZAKI Kenta). NAKAJIMA Nanako, a dance dramaturg who is active in both Japan and overseas, and NAGASHIMA Kaku, dramaturg and co-director of the Tokyo Festival Farm, will act as mentors to support the creation process.
Collaboration begins online in early August, and participants will come to Tokyo for a 10-day residency in late September. In early October, they will perform their work-in-progress to the public at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre’s Atelier East and Atelier West (TBD), where the artists will receive feedback from the audience to further improve themselves and their work.
Performance schedule
Friday, Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9, 6:00 p.m.
* Box office/doors open: 15 minutes before the performance starts.
* Program duration: 90 minutes (30 minutes for performance, 60 minutes for feedback session)
*After each performance there will be a feedback session with audience members and artists.
The artists will use audience feedback including impressions and questions to brush up on the performance.
Booklet (PDF)
Please click here to download the booklet.
Accessibility/Subtitles
– Child care facility (reservation required)
*Please see below for more information.
https://www.geigeki.jp/rent/kids/
Language
English, Japanese (TBD)
Ticket information
Free (reservations required)
Reservations will be available from Saturday, Sept.17, 10:00 a.m. (JST)
Click here for details
Notice to visitors
This performance will be held with measures in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Please be sure to check the following link on the Tokyo Festival website when visiting:
Tokyo Festival anti-coronavirus measures
https://tokyo-festival.jp/2022/en/info/covid19/
-Please wear a mask at all times.
-Please be advised that those who have a temperature of 37.5℃ or higher or those who are not feeling well may be denied admission on the day of the performance
Venue
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Atelier East)
Staff credits
Farm-Lab Exhibition Exploratory Performance Presentation ”Education (in your language)”
Director: y/n (HASHIMOTO Kiyoshi + YAMAZAKI Kenta)
Assistant Director: Fu HAMABE (Kujogeki)
Creative Intern: HUANG Mu-Wei
Farm-Lab Exhibition
Mentor: NAKAJIMA Nanako, NAGASHIMA Kaku
Lighting: NAKAYAMA Nami
Sound designer: WADA Masashi
Stage manager: SATO Yukimi (Stage Work URAK Co.,Ltd)
Stage Manager Assistant: MORITA Chihiro (Stage Work URAK Co.,Ltd)
Art Translators Collective: TAMURA Kanoko, MIZUNO Hibiki, HARUKAWA Yuki, MORIMOTO Yume
Art Translator Assistant: ODAGIRI Minami, UMEDA Ayaka, HAYASHI Keiko
Program Coordinators: FURUKAWA Mao, OKAWA Satoshi
Production Coordinator Assistants: HIRANO Minano, SEKI Ayumi
Farm Editorial Office
Chief Editor: Rieko Suzuki
Assistant Writers: FUNAKOSHI Chihiro, NAGANUMA Wataru, SEKIGUCHI Mao, SUZUKI Matsuri
Farm-Lab Office
syuz’gen LLC.
Chief Manager: UEMATSU Yuko
Program Manager: TANI Akiho
Program Coordinators: FURUKAWA Mao, TERADA Rin, EGUCHI Masato, OKAWA Satoshi, MIYAHARA Kanae, MITO Ayumi
Public Relations: YUKAWA Yuko
Back Office: KAWAMURA Mihoka, SOMEYA Hinako
Communication Design Team
Art Translators Collective
Team Lead: TAMURA Kanoko
Members: YAMADA Kyle, MIZUNO Hibiki, HARUKAWA Yuki, MORIMOTO Yume, UEDA Haruka
Tokyo Festival Farm Director: TADA Junnosuke
Tokyo Festival Farm Co-Director: NAGASHIMA Kaku
Tokyo Festival Executive Committee
Manager (Farm): MUROUCHI Naomi
Organizer credits
Organizers
Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation, Toshima City, Tokyo Festival Executive Committee [Toshima City, Toshima Mirai Cultural Foundation, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre & Arts Council Tokyo), Tokyo Metropolitan Government]
Supported by
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in fiscal 2022
Sponsored by
Asahi Group Japan, Ltd.
Related link
About Tokyo Festival Farm
https://tokyo-festival.jp/en/tf_farm/
Inquiries
Farm-Lab Office
farm@tokyo-festival.jp
+81(0)3-4213-4293 (Open weekdays 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. )