The Theatre of Suzuki Tadashi

A comprehensive study of Suzuki, Japan's best-known director, including in-depth descriptions of his most acclaimed productions.

Suzuki is Japan's best-known director. He has been internationally acclaimed for his postmodern adaptations of classics by Nanboku, Euripides, Shakespeare and Chekhov since the 1970s, including The Trojan Women, King Lear and Three Sisters and, equally, for his powerful actor training system, which combines elements of Noh and Kabuki with Western realism. Inviting artists from around the world to perform at his Toga and Shizuoka International Festivals, Suzuki has fostered productive exchanges with Jean-Louis Barrault, Robert Wilson, Kanze Hisao, Ashikawa Yoko and numerous others. This 2004 book traces Suzuki's rise from Little Theatre director to international festival celebrity, links his unique Surrealist dramaturgy with his intercultural training system, and gives in-depth descriptions of his most acclaimed productions.

List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Chronology; Introduction: Suzuki's work in the context of Japanese Theatre Takahashi Yasunari; 1. Rethinking Japanese theatre: cracking the codes Ian Carruthers; 2. Inaugurating an age of decentralisation Ian Carruthers; 3. Suzuki training: the sum of the interior angles Ian Carruthers; 4. Adaptations of Japanese classics: On the Dramatic Passions II and John Silver Ian Carruthers; 5. Suzuki's Euripides (I): The Trojan Women Ian Carruthers; 6. Suzuki's Euripides (II): The Bacchae Ian Carruthers; 7. Suzuki's Chekhov: The Chekhov and Ivanov Ian Carruthers; 8. Suzuki's Shakespeare (I): Macbeth Ian Carruthers; 9. Suzuki's Shakespeare (II): King Lear Takahashi Yasunari; Notes; Select bibliography; Index.

This book, traces Suzuki's rise from Little Theatre director to international festival celebrity, links his unique Surrealist dramaturgy with his intercultural training system, and gives in-depth descriptions of his most acclaimed productions.

Ian Carruthers has taught in the Theatre and Drama Department of La Trobe University since 1985.
Takahashi Yasunari sadly died in 2002. He was Professor Emeritus of English Literature at the University of Tokyo University and Professor of English at Showa Women's University, Tokyo.