Noh Reimagined 2024: Sumidagawa and Kinuta – Classics of Noh Tragedy

Noh Reimagined festival returns in June celebrating two masterpieces of traditional Japanese theatre, Sumidagawa and Kinuta. Curated and produced by Akiko Yanagisawa (Mu Arts) in partnership with Kings Place, the biannual festival unwraps the art of Noh, the iconic theatre tradition that originated in fourteenth-century Japan, and offers a creative platform for genre-defying, cross-cultural collaborations, connecting tradition with contemporary life and culture.

Sumidagawa by Kanze Motomasa (c. 1394-1432) is one of the most renowned Noh plays and has inspired countless artists over the years, including Benjamin Britten for his opera Curlew River. This performance at Kings Place is one of only two in the UK and the only performance in London, with the other taking place at this year’s Aldeburgh Festival. It also features a newly written English re-telling of the story by Xanthe Gresham Knight. Kinuta is believed to be the last and greatest work by Zeami Motokiyo (c.1363 – c.1443), who established Noh of the current style almost 600 years ago.

Starring some of the most esteemed Noh performers from Japan, including Mikata Shizuka as the mother in Sumidagawa and the wife in Kinuta, Noh Reimagined 2024 offers a unique opportunity to experience the enduring power of classical drama alongside workshops, talks and more.

Tickets: Free, £10 - £50