Toshiki Okadas «Five Days in March»

The young Japanese theatre created by Toshiki Okada and his group chelfitsch is developed by means of a unique methodology involving everyday speech and gestures, challenging the rigid terms of conventional theatre. Okada, who was shortlisted for the Toyota Choreography Award – Discover Choreographers for the Next Generation with his piece “Air Conditioner,” established his own theatre company in 1997, based at ST spot, a small performance space in Yokohama.

  Interested in the kind of physical expression typical of the young generation, Okada’s use of spoken Japanese slang as well as movement choreography to reflect the contemporary mentality has been a hallmark of his theatre since its early days in 2001.

“Five Days in March” is a fine example of his approach to theatre, describing the reality of the young generation: nonchalant, digital, selfishly seeking quick thrills. The piece looks at young people in Tokyo over five days from March 21, 2003, when the United States began the Iraq War with their air raid on Baghdad. Seven actors and actresses do not perform fictitious roles but simply talk about their experience of these five days as if casually reporting to a listener. There ...