Using “laughter,” “physicality,” and “poetry” to tell explosively energetic stories.  This is the style of storytelling I have been striving for over the past fifty years.

It must have been around forty years ago, when I was first invited to bring my Japanese theatre company to the Edinburgh International Festival and my younger self was encouraged by a certain review.  As I recall, it described the play as “blending Monty Python, David Bowie, and Jean Cocteau.” Looking back today, that review perfectly predicted those three elements that I have continued to pursue.

And then twenty years ago, I was once again encouraged by another review that we received for The Bee, a production that I created with British actors in London.  It said, “Make a beeline for it” (Daily Telegraph). It happened to be at a time when I was doubting whether my intentions were reaching the audience in a simple way, so those words hugely encouraged me.

As Britain is the home of theatre, even though I may sometimes be harshly criticised, maybe the reason I continue to cross the seas from the East Asia to present my work here is because somewhere in my heart I want my theatrical style to be loudly “criticised and encouraged”.  Ideally, with more encouragement than criticism…

So, with that in mind, I look forward to receiving the audience at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre — like a bee in a hive.