Translated from:
English Authors: Suzuki, Tadashi
Translated by: Savickienė, Kristina
ISBN: 9786096205060
Published in: Vilnius
Published on: 2017
Publisher: Apostrofa
“Culture is the Body: The Theatre Writings of Tadashi Suzuki” is a book about both Western world and Japanese theatre base and traditions. Tadashi Suzuki, a director who analyzes different theatre genres and forms, compares traditional Japanese Noh and Kabuki theatre to Greek dramas, Chekhov’s works and modern dramaturgy. It is important to notice how the author is trying to portray the actual work and mindset of a director and natural acting. How directors work and interpret text and turn it into a play.
The first part of the book focuses more onto interpretations of directors and actors, also, the difference between these interpretations. Interesting to read how the Japanese director explains how to express modern Chekhov’s works to the Japanese people. Also, how Tadashi Suzuki finds similarities between Western theatre forms like realism and Japanese Shingeki theatre and gives examples of it. Furthermore, in this book you can find Greek plays and their comparison to the Japanese Noh theatre. It is interesting to see how both of these originated far away from each other, however, they had the same goal, to create a play not only for the audience but also to the Gods.
Overall, it is really fascinating how Tadashi Suzuki portrays his view on modern world and traditional theatre together. Moreover, the part of the book where author talks about his decision to make a troupe and move to cold and snowy Japanese town Toga to run away from artificial world shows his true values. This book is a good way to learn more about Japanese theatre from one of the most well-known directors, it showcases many new cultural things about Japan that people would not normally think about.
Tadashi Suzuki- famous Japanese theatre director, who is working on many theatre forms not only in Japan but also all around the world.