Coriolanus
From April to June 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe brought theatre companies from around the world to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 languages. The Globe to Globe season was part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival.
Coriolanus is no longer available but you can still see some of the Globe to Globe plays featured on The Space.
CORIOLANUS
Performed in Japanese by the Chiten theatre company
(with subtitles in English)
THE COMPANY
The Kyoto-based theatre troupe, which has been led by director Motoi Miura since 2005, has gained a reputation beyond Japan for its minimal, contemporary interpretations of Western classics including Chekhov’s The Seagull and The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
THE PLAY
Caius Martius, a brilliant Roman general, takes victory against the city of Corioli and honoured with the name Coriolanus. But his contempt for the common people of Rome mean his fortunes are short lived and he is banished. In exile, Coriolanus makes an allegiance with his old enemy Aufidius and swears vengeance against the city he once loved. Desperate for mercy, Coriolanus’ mother Volumnia visits him and dissuades her son from destroying Rome. Coriolanus instead brokers peace between the Volscians and the Romans.
PRINCIPAL CAST AND CREDITS
Coriolanus: Dai Ishida
Choros – interchangeable roles: Satoko Abe, Shie Kubota, Saki Kohno, Yohei Kobayashi
Director: Motoi Miura