From the Program Director

Our world, our era, is about to undertake a vast change. Within this climate of a great turn in civilization that cannot easily be predicted, I feel that there is a large quake of change approaching our Performing Arts environment as well. In The “Wakabacho Wharf” , an art-center founded in order to break free of our pre-assumptions on theatre and its creating process, and facilitate creation with a more liberal mind, invites you to “The Wharf Workshop” for adventurous artists who collaborate in the wide regions of Asia. The workshop aims to create a network between the artists who have gathered, in the future, create works of art that have sprung from their communication. In September 2019, 19 artists from 5 cities of China, Singapore, and Tokyo, took part in a fruitful 20 days in “The Wharf Workshop 2018”. In March 2020, we have scheduled a follow-up workshop based on ideas proposed by participants of the 2018, and coming 2019 workshops. We hope to meet performers from all fields – theatre, dance, anything - with the passion and interest to create a new performing arts.

Macoto Satoh

Playwright, Director. Macoto began his work in 1966 when he joined in the founding of the “Underground Theatre, Jiyu-Gekijo”. In 1970, he founded the “Black Tent 68/71” (the Current Black Tent Theatre Company), and wrote and directed for the group. For the following 20 years, he continued to work on a touring theatre style, traveling 120 cities across the nation, performing in large tents. Since the 1980’s, Macoto has also worked along with artists abroad, especially in South-East Asia. He has been a major voice in discourse over topis such as “Asian Theatre”, “The Public aspect of Theatre”, “Theatre and Education”, Community Theatre” – on defining the border-line of theatre and society. His most recent devotion has been his continued work in Asia centered in collaborations with Chinese independent theatre artists and young Kunqu actors in Nan-Jing, aiming further to create an alternative network of Asian theatre. Macoto was the Artistic Director of the Setagaya Public Theatre between ’97 and ’02, and from ’09 is the Artistic Director of Za-Koenji Public Theatre. In June 2017, he personally founded the “Wakabacho Wharf” with an aim to create an art center that engages in unique activities.