A man who owes his life to science sets out to repay his debt — by finding the angel bone, known to hold the secret of life and which fulfils man’s desires.
But why does the bone in his arm keep trembling? It opens a door into genetic memory, hurling his whole world back through time: from a modern fossil excavation site to a medieval laboratory and to the ancient world.
−320°F is the latest play from visionary writer-director Hideki Noda OBE — a Faustian descent through myth, memory and other bad ideas. Twenty-five acclaimed Japanese performers in a production of extraordinary physical exuberance dig up a question that lies deep within us: what is life?
Starring Sadawo Abe, Suzu Hirose, Eri Fukatsu, and Hideki Noda himself.
Straight from a landmark run at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
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.
- Hideki Noda, February 2026