A Tale of the Sumida River / Sumidagawa
Co-Writer and Dramaturg: Gareth Mattey
Co-Writer and Performer:
Xanthe Gresham-Knight
Creative Producer: Akiko Yanigasawa
First performed as part of the Aldeburgh Festival 2024 at Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Subsequently performed at King’s Place as part of the Noh Reimagined Festival 2024
Sumidagawa (“Sumida River”), a masterpiece of Japanese Noh (traditional masked dance-drama), returned to the Aldeburgh Festival for the first time in 33 years, before additional performances in London as part of the Noh Reimagined Festival. This performance was presented by exceptional Noh performers from Japan including Shizuka Mikata in the role of the mother and the kotsuzumi player Tatsushi Narita.
The performance of the traditional Noh drama was be preceded by a newly written English re-telling of the story, A Tale of the Sumida River, co-written by storyteller Xanthe Gresham-Knight and the writer and dramaturg Gareth Mattey.
“Mesmerising… on the Snape Maltings stage, Xanthe Gresham-Knight, representing the spirit of the river, told the story first, thus obviating the need for surtitles as the drama itself – intoned in the ancient Japanese text – was then played out. But the universality of grief needs no translation and the madwoman’s final consoling vision of her son was clearly felt.”
★★★★★