Theater and its space ｜ Regional revitalization through “theater”

Do you usually go to the theater?

In recent years, the theme of “theater” has been taken up frequently in the fields of architecture and cities.

For example, in the planning of architecture and cities, there are cases where the idea of theater is incorporated,
There are actually cases where theater festivals attract customers and revitalize local communities.

It is said that "theater" originally began as a religious event in ancient Greece, and existed as a place for citizens to gather in one place to watch a play being performed and to discuss the play.

In today's world, where the Internet has spread and dialogue in real places is becoming more important,
I feel that this is the reason why the existence of this “theater” is attracting attention again.

This time, with the power of this “theater”, a small village where depopulation has progressed,
Here are some examples of how the area has changed to attract people from overseas.

Toga Village, Toyama Prefecture, which has come to be called the "sacred place of theater"

About an hour's drive up the mountain from Toyama City, there is a small village of 500 people called Togamura.
More than 90% of the area is surrounded by nature such as mountains, and depopulation was once a problem.

 　　　　* Image data: Provided by Theater Company SCOT / Toga Village Toga Art Park

Such a land
Through the activities of Japan's leading directors, it has transformed into a place where theater people from all over the world gather.
Today, it is internationally acclaimed and is popular as a “sacred place for theater.”

Efforts to become a “theater mecca”

I will briefly introduce three points.

1: Creating a base for a theater company headed by a world-class Japanese director

In 1976, Toga Village was selected as the base for a theater company led by world-renowned Japanese director Tadashi Suzuki. I set up the facility.

2 Creating a system for developing theater people

Such as training programs and competitions for actors created by Mr. Suzuki,
By implementing a program to nurture theater people and preparing a lodging facility that can accommodate 200 people,
A system was put in place to accept people from all over the world who came to study the theater in which Mr. Suzuki's spirit resided.

3 Holding international performing arts festivals and performing in multiple languages

The theater company SCOT's activity policy is to be an "organization that engages in international activities", and many performances dealing with multiple languages are performed.
In addition, by holding international theater festivals, it has become a place where theater people from around the world gather and interact.

Although it is easy
It seems that Toga Village has become a “theater mecca” through these efforts.

and,
This year, an international performing arts festival called "Theatre Olympics" was held here.

* Theater company SCOT HP https://www.scot-suzukicompany.com/scot.php
＊Toyama Prefecture Toga Art Park HP http://www.togapk.net/introduction.php

Theater Olympics, an international art festival that further raised the profile of Toga Village

What is Theater Olympics?

Including Mr. Suzuki, who was introduced earlier
It was founded in Athens, Greece in 1994 by directors and playwrights who are active around the world.
It is an international performing arts festival.

This year is the ninth time since its establishment, and it will be held simultaneously in Japan and Russia.
In Japan, Toga and Kurobe in Toyama Prefecture were selected.

It has been featured in magazines and web media,
It was an opportunity to gather not only theater people but also people who are interested in the field of art.

I have actually been to Theater Olympics, so I will tell you about the charm I felt there!

The charm of Toga village that I actually felt at the international art festival

“Six theaters” full of individuality

Surrounded by nature, there are 6 unusual theaters.

・"Toga Sanbo": A theater in a renovated gassho-zukuri house
・Open-air theater: Greek-style semi-circular theater
・Iwabutai: Theater with rocks surrounding the stage
・"Toga Daisenbo": A theater converted from a gymnasium
・"Shin Toga Sanbo": The largest theater in Japan, refurbished in a modern style.
・"Toga Creative Exchange Hall": A theater made of concrete and painted black inside

Theaters that are different from the box-shaped theaters you usually see are gathered,
It was a place worthy of being called the holy land of theater.

A Greek-style "open-air theater" with a sacred atmosphere

as a side note,
"Toga Sanbo", "Outdoor Theater" and "New Toga Sanbo" were designed by architect Arata Isozaki.

In an interview about Toga Village's theater design, Mr. Isozaki said,
“In terms of the stage design, the more thoroughly one characteristic is achieved, the better. says.
*Toyama Prefecture Toga Art Park HP http://www.togapk.net/people/detail.php?person_id=2

Modern theaters are mostly box-shaped theaters that are similar everywhere in the building,
The unique theater that exists here in Toga Village,
They may play an important role in drawing out the individuality of the theater company and the quality of the works they perform.

Theater seen in an outdoor space, not inside a building

I saw performances at the "Outdoor Theater" and "Iwabutai".
I was able to enjoy a slightly fresh sensation that is different from the experience of watching it in a regular theater.

"Outdoor Theater"

A theater consisting of a semi-circular stage with a pond and mountains behind it and fan seats (teatron) surrounding it.

State of the open-air theater

Founded in the 5th century BC,
Ancient Greek theater was performed in open-air theaters without stage equipment.

This "open-air theater" in Toga Village has been reproduced as close as possible to the prototype of the ancient Greek theater.
It blends into the nature of Toga.

Insect voices welcome visitors to the theater.

The sound of rain falling even during the performance.

The mountains of Toga rise massively behind the stage.

The pond at the back of the stage reflects the great nature of Toga.

Nature and theater become one,
By overlapping coincidences,
At that time, you can appreciate the work that can only be tasted at that place.

By the way, the play I saw here was a work about the Trojan War called "The Trojan Woman".
There was no stage art as a large-scale set, and it was a stage art that used shoes and cloth as items.

Performance of "The Trojan Woman"

This work, which deals with the theme of "life" and "death",
By performing in a natural setting with as few artificial stage equipment as possible,
It was a production that felt more like human life.

I wonder if the ancient Greeks watched the stage like this...
I felt like I was able to communicate with ancient people just a little bit, and it made me feel strange.

"Iwabutai"

A small outdoor theater with rocks exposed from the stage and audience seats.

State of Iwabutai

The work I saw here was "Today in 2016", a work with sci-fi elements.

By using video production,
go back and forth between the past and the future,
A production was used that made it possible to go back and forth between various places.

again,
While linking with the video, the actor appeared using a car from the plaza behind,
A drone that resembles a spaceship floats above the audience, and
It was fresh that the production was unique to the outdoor space.

Performance of "2016, Today"

A travel distance of 400 km (4.5 hours) from the city center that creates a sense of exhilaration and lingering

Poor access from central Tokyo
I go to see a play in a small village where I would hardly have the chance to go unless I had a special reason.

This is
It gave me a special feeling different from when I usually see a play in the city.

The scenery seen from the Shinkansen and the window of the car changes like a gradation,
On the way there, I wondered, "What kind of world is this?"
On the way back, I am immersed in the afterglow of "Is there such a world?"

Not only when watching a performance,
By moving to "Toga Village",
I was able to fully immerse myself in the world view presented by the theater.

Spatial activity through the power of theater

Theater not only takes the viewer to an extraordinary world,
The work I saw there overlapped a little with the person's daily life,
It can bring a little change of heart.

Unlike the images you see in movies or on the internet,
Reality created on the spot by real people who are actors,
At the same time, in the same space, the audience will share together,
By creating together
It will be a special experience that can only be obtained on the spot.

In the case of Toga Village, there are
In addition, they created a “special feeling for the moment” and “uplifting and lingering”.

In the modern age of the Internet,
By copying a work of art,
As long as we have a terminal, we have become a world where anyone can watch it anytime, any number of times.

However, when I watch theater, I feel the importance of “raw” and “real”.

By sharing the same time and place of this “theater” and triggering new discussions,
There may be more examples of revitalization of space in modern times.