HANCHU-YUEI is a theatre collective based in Tokyo, founded in 2007, and tours nationally and internationally.

Suguru Yamamoto writes and directs all productions for the theatre collective.

 

His works focus on the boundary of reality and unreality, and the story travels between each side of the boundary and questions the locations of un/reality.

Suguru’s creation starts at the topics that he comes up with, such as life and death, family, sense and words, collective society…and aims further to access universal ‘questions’.

His works have received attention not only in Japan but in other Asian countries for his unique way of rendition integrating the projected letters, photos, movies, colours, lights and shadows with the performers on the stage, and for his strong scripts, which often makes the audience question their ethical viewpoint and boundaries.

 

He was awarded the Best Original Script and the Best Play in Bangkok Theatre Festival 2014 for Girl X.

His work, Umaretenaikara Mada Shinenai (I can’t die without being born) was shortlisted for the Kishida Prize for Drama.

 

The constituent members of HANCHU-YUEI are six – Suguru Yamamoto (representative, playwright, stage director), Sachiro Nomoto, Kan Fukuhara (all the above actors), Kazuki Takakura (art director), Satoshi Kawaguchi (writer), and Momo Sakamoto (producer).