* Tickets must be purchased for these performances. SHIMABAYASHI Ai (Tonbodama), Seki Minoru (Sanjôkai), MAEDA Shiro (Gotanda-dan) and MIURA Daisuke (Potudo-ru) are four directors who have taken on the challenge of HIRATA Oriza’s play ‘From S Plateau’ to create a new production ‘From fake S Plateau’. “What is universality? What is director? What is art? What is theater? What is actor/actress? What is play? What is death? What is love? What is life? I have posed these ultimate questions and prepared no answers. Watching just one version is all right, but if you watch all four versions, you might have a feeling of obtaining an answer to some of these questions. Love, and other things that human beings, who are continuously dying since they were born, think when they are in the face of death. I would not be surprised if someone says that these performances remain in history of theater.” Gotanda-dan MAEDA Shiro • Time: 28th August [Sun.] - 27th September [Tues.] 14:30, 19:30 * There are days when the 14:30 show is not on. • Venue: Komaba Agora Theatre • Tickets: One performance 2,000 JPY. / for four performances 6,000 JPY. • Booking: +81-3-3423-6235 or tpam@tpam.or.jp (TPAM Office) SHIMABAYASHI Ai (Tonbodama) Born in 1982, SHIMABAYASHI was brought up in Toyama Prefecture. She graduated Obirin University (Department of Performing and Visual Arts, College of Humanities) in 2004, where she had an opportunity to participate in Obirin Performing Arts Program (OPAP), and toured around the country as a performer in the OPAP + Seinendan production of “No More Winds Blow”. She writes and directs for Tonbodama, a theater company she founded in 2001, focussing on various struggles women have to experience in their lives. The company has also performed in unusual spaces, such as a gymnasium at a closed-down school. SEKI Minoru (Sanjokai) Born in 1972, SEKI left Chiba University before graduating, and founded Sanjokai based in Chiba City, in 1997. He has received the Prize for the Best Director at Toga Directors’ Contest 2001, while expanding his activities in and out of the country. ‘Why would modern plays written by people such as MISHIMA Yukio appeal to today’s audience?’ is the question he continues explore through bodies of the performers. Major works include “Luminous Moss” written by TAKEDA Taijun. He has also received the Chiba City Arts and Culture Award for the Newcomer 2005. Maeda Shiro (Gotanda-dan) Born in 1977, MAEDA is the leader of Gotanda-dan where he writes, directs, and performs. He has always created highly simple stage space in which meaningless rubbish is talked along while thinking of how man continues to live and die at the same time. He has received Kyoto Art Center Theater Award 2004 as a director. Major works include “Ie ga Tooi (Home is Far)”, “Oyasumanasai”, “Binbou-kun”, and “Iyamushirowasurete-gusa”. © Hikino Wakana MIURA Daisuke (Potudo-ru) MIURA is the leader of the theater unit Potudo-ru. His ‘hyper-realistic’ direction forces the audience to feel the overwhelming vividness and discomfort, and has caused sensation at every production. Recently, he is expected to be active not only in the field of “theater”, but also in the “film” business. Major works include “Knight Club”, “Shintai-kensa (Physical Examination)”, “Otoko no Yume (Dream of a Man)”, “Gekijo (Wild Emotion)”, and the film “Hatsukoi (First Love)”.