The UZAWA NOH TROUPE

In a traditional Japanese Noh theatre performance of LADY AOI and: a FREE Noh Theatre Workshop

(Vancouver, Canada): ONE SHOW ONLY! The exclusive Canadian engagement on the 12-member Uzawa Noh Troupe's North American tour of Lady Aoi (Aoi no Ue) features internationally acclaimed noh performer and teacher Hisa Uzawa. The Frederic Wood Theatre will be transformed into a traditional noh stage for the one-night-only performance of Lady Aoi--preceded by a free noh workshop by Hisa Uzawa on the evening prior. This is the first time in nearly twenty years that an authentic noh performance from Japan will be staged in Vancouver - don't miss out!

PERFORMANCE - Sat. Feb. 17, 7:30 pm: Lady Aoi, a story set in ancient Japan, is based on an episode from the famous epic, The Tale of Genji, in which the spirit of Lady Rokujô, Prince Genji's embittered lover, possesses the body of his pregnant wife Lady Aoi. The invocations of a mountain priest draw out the spirit in the form of a horned demon and the two fight to overpower one another. One of the noh repertory's most exciting plays, Lady Aoi features stunning costumes and the spectacular hannya demon mask. Rooted in 500 years of Japanese tradition, noh is a highly stylized form of theatre that integrates song, dance, poetry and percussion. Elaborate masks are worn by central characters; words are lengthened within a complex structure of chant. A single moment can last several minutes, while a long period of time can elapse in a second. Some noh plays are so difficult to perform that an actor can only undertake them at his/her peak, once in a lifetime. Performers expend so much energy in conveying intense emotion that it is common for their heart rates to reach 180 beats per minute even while stationary.

WORKSHOP - Fri. Feb. 16, 6:00 pm: Brief comments on the history and art of noh by UBC Asian Studies faculty Professors Christina Laffin, Joshua Mostow, and Sharalyn Orbaugh, followed by a lecture and demonstration by the Uzawa Noh Troupe. Learn about voice and movement techniques and the significance of gestures and dance patterns in noh theatre. The workshop will also include an introduction to the lavish costumes, wigs and masks used by noh actors.

HISA UZAWA is one of the first women to break into the male-dominated world of noh. Born into a family of actors, Uzawa debuted at the age of three and studied under Kanze Hisao, Japan's greatest post-war noh actor. Critical acclaim for Uzawa's work as an actor and teacher has led to greater acceptance of women in noh. Uzawa will make her appearance in Lady Aoi as the passionate, jealous spirit of the court woman Lady Rokujô.

"It is impressive that one does not sense the lead actor is female. Uzawa's technique, drama, and interpretation are deserving of high esteem.'women's noh' can no longer be excluded." -Noh Times, Japan (2002)

Presented by UBC Asian Studies & Theatre at UBC through the generous support of the Toshiba International Foundation, Japan Foundation, Pacific Western Brewing Company, and the Consulate-General of Japan. Additional support from UBC Women's Studies and the Centre for Japanese Research at the UBC Institute of Asian Research.