Japanese re-telling of The Brothers Karamazov set against the backdrop of the World War II atomic bomb with new twists and turns and an unexpected ending.
Taking place in Nagasaki during the final months of the Second World War which culminated with the devastating 1945 atomic bombing of the city, acclaimed Japanese writer, director and Nagasaki native Hideki Noda transports the key events from the original novel and re-imagines them at a pivotal time in modern global history, presenting a Japanese view of the effects of the disaster in his most personal work yet.
The play follows the Karamatsu clan of firework makers and the family’s three brothers; a fireworks marker, a physicist and a priest who are torn apart when their father is murdered, seemingly by the oldest son Tomitaro after the revelation he was involved in a love triangle with his father over the same woman. But as more evidence comes to light in the courtroom, the truth starts to emerge and another triangle materialises.
Combining Noda’s trademark spectacular visuals with fast paced direction, this powerful drama asks questions of justice, faith and love about those who dropped the bomb and those who endured it.
The show arrives in London following a critically acclaimed sold out 75-date tour of Japan and features a cast of twenty-five, including some of the most prominent stars of Japanese entertainment performing together on stage for the first time. Actor and member of J-pop group Arashi, Jun Matsumoto plays the oldest son of the family and he is joined by Eita Nagayama, most recently seen globally in last year’s critically acclaimed Japanese psychological film Monster, as the middle brother and Masami Nagasawa, best known internationally for her role in 2019’s action movie Kingdom, who plays two roles including the youngest son. Also in the cast are Naoto Takenaka as the patriarch of the family and Noda Map regulars Nozomi Muraoka, Nobue Iketani and Kazushige Komatsu. The director and writer of the show Hideki Noda also makes one of his trademark cameos.
Listings
Love in Action: 31 October – 2 November 2024
Sadler’s Wells, Roseberry Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN
The London shows will be performed in Japanese with English subtitles.
Tickets: NODA MAP - Love in Action - Sadler's Wells Theatre (sadlerswells.com)
Further Information: Welcome to Sadler’s Wells (sadlerswells.com)