Sunrise Promotion Tokyo Co., Ltd.
A Tony Award-winning work starring Hironori Araki and Chinosuke Kataoka! Youth group drama “History Boys” will be performed! ……
We would like to express our gratitude for the continued success of your company.
We would like to announce the main cast, project outline, and synopsis of the title stage.
Please consider introducing this news at 10:00 on Monday, April 1, 2024. As the first announcement, we will announce 5 of the 12 performers, cast comments, synopsis, theater, and performance schedule. We will be announcing the second edition soon.
[Image: https://prtimes.jp/i/41063/587/resize/d41063-587-52369cba39d312af5e8c-0.jpg&s3=41063-587-c5e7af800abc91996763aff7672436d7-1245×1247.jpg] ≪Plan overview≫
CEDAR, which was selected as one of the top five best works in the first half of the 2022 Yomiuri Theater Awards, will present the play “History Boys,” which was highly acclaimed in the UK and the US and was also made into a movie.
The play “History Boys” by British playwright Alan Bennett humorously depicts the conflicts and growth of unique high school boys who aspire to study at Oxford or Cambridge universities, as well as conflicts with their teachers, and is set in contemporary Japan. This is a work that sharply highlights what true education is and what it means to be a prosperous human being.
Director Nozohiro Matsumori, who has taken on many outstanding plays both domestically and internationally, has long been eager to direct this work. Matsumori has a reputation for his ability to approach passionate speech drama in an orthodox style and for his directing that minutely shapes human figures, and attention will be focused on how he will approach this work.
Hironori Araki, who is active in a wide range of fields from 2.5-dimensional stage plays to straight play, plays the role of Irwin, a new teacher who provides innovative and thorough guidance for entrance exams. Chinosuke Kataoka, who is a hope in the Kabuki world and is attracting attention in various fields, plays the role of Deikin, who is a leader among the students. This work “History Boys” will be starring Hironori Araki and Chinosuke Kataoka.
The principal will be played by Hatsunori Hasegawa, who left a deep impression in the CEDAR performance “Long Journey into the Night” as a father who reconsiders his thoughts on family and love. The role of history teacher Lintott is played by Fumie Masuko, who has a reputation as an actor with a strong presence who plays a wide range of roles from comedy to serious. The role of the veteran teacher Hector is played by Zen Ishikawa, who is active in all genres, including stage plays, musicals, and TV dramas, and who leads the work with his solid acting and singing.
While we live in a convenient world where digitalization is
progressing and it is easy to satisfy our desires, human relationships are becoming weaker, we are unable to feel a connection between our hearts, and we are unsure of what we are looking for. Please look forward to this work, which contains many messages that should be delivered to modern Japan.
Hironori Araki Irwin
I have the opportunity to appear in the stage play “History Boys” as Irwin. This work has already been performed overseas and in Japan, and has also been made into a movie, so I think many people know the gist of the story. It’s a genre that’s difficult to understand because it’s from a different country and culture, and it’s from a different era, but I found it very interesting even though it was difficult. Furthermore, the movie contains elements of laughter as it is categorized as a comedy-romance. When it comes to the act of “laughing,” I think the point of laughter changes greatly depending on cultural differences. How does it appear to everyone when it is expressed in Japanese theater? It’s scary, but also very intriguing. Although I am Japanese and not highly educated, I was wondering how I could dig into Irwin and express myself. I am grateful that the great pressure and anxiety can be multiplied into something rewarding and motivated. I will do my best to express the vivid atmosphere that you can almost smell.
Chinosuke Kataoka Daikin
My name is Chinosuke Kataoka and I will be playing the role of Deikin. I have performed on stage before, but this is my first time working on a stage other than Kabuki, so I am both nervous and excited. I would like to be able to honestly portray the complex feelings of high school boys, including their fears and hopes for the future. We will do our best to create a stage that will please as many customers as possible, so we appreciate your continued support. Hatsunori Hasegawa Principal
Last year, I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Matsumori for the first time on his “Long Journey into the Night.”
The script was written by Eugene O’Neill, who is said to be the father of American theater. It is also a play that depicts the complicated and difficult circumstances of his family, something he wanted to write down before he hung up his pen.
It’s a huge play, very deep and heavy, just like a Beethoven piece. Mr. Matsumori kindly guided us on this great adventure.
Even now, when I look back on the interactions I played in the play, it was a heart-wrenching experience that brings tears to my eyes. Also, guided by Mr. Matsumori, I am mentally preparing to embark on such a deep and passionate journey through theater.
Masuko Wafumie Lintott
This is a masterpiece that won a Tony Award.
Anyway, I wonder what kind of play this lively and interesting line will turn out to be.
I get excited just thinking about it.
A high school boy in the prime of his youth and his quirky teachers. Come to think of it, school dramas on stage are rare.
Energetic, exciting, humorous, and a little silly… Despite that, it is a very intelligent play.
I can’t help but feel like it’s about to get interesting.
I would be happy if you could relax and watch it without worrying too much. I’m also looking forward to rehearsals starting.
Ishikawa Zen Hector
Climber George Mallory’s famous quote, “Because the mountains are there,” was uttered by an interviewer who didn’t know anything about mountains.
There is a theory that when asked why he wanted to climb Everest, he answered the question because he felt lazy.
This is exactly how I felt when I accepted the role of Hector. However, both the interviewer and myself answered.
“History Boys” is a wonderful play, but for me, it’s like an unexplored Mt. However, I was more excited than anxious!
I am truly grateful to have been able to take on this role, and I will do my best in this role!
Synopsis
Eight male high school students aim to study history at Oxford University or Cambridge University.
Hector, a veteran teacher in charge of English and general education classes, teaches about culture and art, which are not very useful for entrance exams, and Lintott, a female teacher in charge of history, teaches solid but orthodox classes that do not lead to success. Ta. The principal, who wants to improve the school’s academic performance, hires a new teacher, Irwin, who attended Oxford University. He teaches innovative lessons that are effective for entrance exams.
Dakin is handsome, smart, and a leader. Posner is Jewish and struggles with the fact that he is gay. Scripps is a devout Christian and aspiring writer. Rudge is good at sports, but can’t catch up with his peers when it comes to studying. Tims has a good sense of humor and enjoys Hector’s lessons. Akhtar is a Muslim and is interested in architecture. Lockwood offers sharp opinions from a unique
perspective. Krauser is interested in theater as a hobby.
The students are torn between Erwin and Hector, two teachers with contradictory ideas, as they aim to pass university.
Appearance
Irwin Hironori Araki
Deikin Chinosuke Kataoka
Principal Hatsunori Hasegawa
Lintott Masuko Wafumie
Hector Ishikawa Zen
The other seven students will be announced when the second round of information is released.
Performance overview
◆Theater
Owlspot [Toshima Performing Arts Exchange Center]
2F/3F Rise Arena Building, 4-5-2 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013 ◆Performance schedule
July 20th (Sat) – 28th (Sun), 2024
Performance details will be announced when the second round of information is released.
◆Staff
Written by: Alan Bennett Translated by: Keiko Tsuneda Directed by: Nozomi Matsumori
Producer: Naoko Kodama Copyright agent: Theater Lights
Sponsored/Planned/Produced by: CEDAR/MA Publishing General
Incorporated Association
◆CEDAR official website https://www.cedar-produce.com/
◆CEDAR official X account https://twitter.com/cedar_engeki
More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000587.000041063.html