The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Show reviews
    • Interviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
  • Music
    • Live music
    • Album reviews
    • Interviews
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
    • Fringe
    • Vault Festival
    • Interviews
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Interviews
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join the team
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Culture Theatre

A Night at the Kabuki at Sadler’s Wells

A Night at the Kabuki at Sadler’s Wells | Theatre review
23rd September 2022
Csilla Tornallyay
Avatar
Csilla Tornallyay
23 September 2022

Theatre review

Csilla Tornallyay

A Night at the Kabuki

★★★★★

Dates

22nd September - 24th September 2022

Price

From £65

Off the London West End, highly anticipated Japanese play A Night at the Kabuki welcomes a foyer buzzing with a multi-generational and international crowd. Acclaimed theatre director, playwright and actor Hideki Noda, with his intention to bring Japanese theatre to global audiences, takes the London stage for three autumn days and nights and connects the unimaginable dots between William Shakespeare’s well-loved Romeo a Juliet, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and the late 12th century Samurai age in Japan. The reimagined classical story plays with the aftermath of Romeo and Juliet’s disaster should they have survived, through modern theatrical devices, comical dialogue, extravagant Japanese costumes, loud music, dancing and even a little irony. 

The first act of the play is undoubtedly the stronger half with a satirical introduction of social expectations around women’s swimming costumes that certainly offers a more layered dialogue than just jokes simply leaving the actors’ lips. As the star-crossed lovers’ familiar journey unfolds, Queen’s Love of My Life and You’re My Best Friend blast from the speakers, and samurai clans clash on the stage, just as the Capulets and Montagues did. The audience laugh, clap and then realise that they are invited to a familiar yet mysterious adventure. Utilising selfie sticks as weapons, sneaking in a joke about Japanese brand Muji, a play on words where Platinum is Mercury’s twin brother, and running around in breathtaking kimonos are just some elements that make the production colourful, brave and a unique experience for European audiences. Not to mention, this time, Romeo and Juliet are given a second chance, and finally survive and fall out of love. 

It’s undeniably clear that the songs of Queen hold a special place in Noda’s heart, and that Freddie Mercury (as he did in the past)– would reciprocate the gesture towards the playwright, Japanese theatre and, not least, A Night at the Kabuki. After several curtain calls along a standing ovation, the audience leaves, and some rush to the stage doors to greet and celebrate the actors. Non-Japanese speakers will have only one wish left after a two-hour-50-minute play, which is that they would have learned a bit of Japanese in advance, only if for a night.  

★★★★★

Csilla Tornallyay

A Night at the Kabuki is at Sadler’s Wells from 22nd September until 24th September 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch a trailer for the production here:

Related Itemsfeaturedreview

More in Theatre

The Homecoming at the Young Vic

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre

Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story at Alexandra Palace

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

The House of Bernarda Alba at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Constance A
Read More

Peter Pan Goes Wrong at Lyric Theatre

★★★★★
Benedetta Mancusi
Read More

The Witches at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

★★★★★
Sarah Bradbury
Read More

Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen at Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

Wishmas

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Csilla Tornallyay

A Night at the Kabuki

★★★★★

Dates

22nd September - 24th September 2022

Price

From £65

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Candy Cane Lane
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Your Christmas or Mine 2
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Homecoming at the Young Vic
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre
    Theatre
  • The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre
    Theatre
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Homecoming at the Young Vic
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Your Christmas or Mine 2
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Wonka
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Homecoming at the Young Vic
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre
    Theatre
  • Wonka
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Your Christmas or Mine 2
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
  • Contact us
  • Join the team
  • Subscribe to the mailing list
  • Support us
  • Writing for The Upcoming

Copyright © 2011-2023 FL Media