Hamlet Stages by theatrical groups invited from overseas vol.2 The International Theatre Chekhov Festival in Moscow Production Performed in Russian Language / Japanese (Text by Matsuoka Kazuko) PLAYHOUSE <STAFF>   Written by : William Shakespeare Directed and adapted by : Peter Stein Artistic Director : Kuriyama Tamiya Presented by : New National Theatre, Tokyo Co-sponsored by : The Asahi Shimbun <CAST>   Evgeny Mironov   Vladimir Etush   Alexsander Feklistov Irina Kupchenko   Oleg Vavilov   Valentin Smirnitski Elena Zakharova   Dimitry Shcherbina     <PERFORMANCES>   September 2002 Sat. 7 Sun. 8 Mon. 9 Tue. 10 Wed. 11 Thu. 12 matinée   1:00pm No Performance   2:00pm   evening 6:30pm   6:30pm   6:30pm September 2002 Fri. 13 Sat. 14 Sun. 15 Mon. 16 Tue. 17 Wed. 18 matinée   1:00pm 1:00pm 1:00pm   2:00pm evening 6:30pm       6:30pm   Doors will open 60 minutes before the start of each performance. <ADVANCE TICKETS>   Available from Saturday 13 July, 2002 at 10:00am. To order tickets, please call +81-3-5352-9999 (10:00am-6:00pm). Internet ticket reservation available through the following Websites.(Japanese only) http://t.pia.co.jp/ http://eee.eplus.co.jp/ <TICKET PRICES>   All Reserved ¥7,350(tax included) Seat Z(¥1,500) is sold only on the performance day at the Box Office and exclusive Ticket Pia Offices. Please understand that those who arrive at the theatre late may have to look at the performance on the 2nd floor until the intermission. Japanese guide through earphones available on request at the venue (charged). The journey of Stein, who challenges the artistic mystery of Hamlet, and the Russian actors and actresses, who are fascinated by Stein's insatiable inquiry, will finally reach Tokyo this autumn. In September 2001, the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) realized the invitation of the long-awaited Theatre du Soleil as the first production to be invited from overseas and introduced its magnificent world to the Japanese audience. The second of the productions to be invited from overseas is Hamlet, directed by Peter Stein, one of the two masters of European drama. This masterpiece will adorn the opening of the NNTT's 2002/2003 season. A native of Germany, Peter Stein is now one of the five leading stage directors in the world. A number of works, including the legendary The Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, as well as The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill, which he directed at the Berliner Schaubuhne, have earned him such a high reputation that it is said that his works themselves represent European drama today. His ability for in-depth interpretation of the text of works is exhibited in the field of opera as well, and he is rather well known in Japan for the accomplishments he has made as a stage director for opera. The only performance he directed in Japan is the opera Falstaff by the Welsh National Opera in 1990. The performance made a vivid impression on operatic circles in Japan, decisively leading them to be awakened to the world trend described as the "age of stage directors". In the forthcoming production of Hamlet, he will bring his first dramatic work to Japan, and it will be extremely interesting to see how much impact it will have on the audience in Japan. Stein has served as director for many theaters and festivals, including the Berliner Schaubuhne and the Salzburg Festival, and has adopted a method of taking considerable time to develop his works together with actors and actresses as well as staff members in whom he places his confidence. This version of Hamlet is an international production that Stein, who has been continuing deep exchanges with theatrical circles in Moscow, created by bringing together Russia's top-class actors and actresses as well as the production staff. Hamlet plays the saxophone on the stage shaped like the boxing ring, and a discotheque scene is inserted in the plot. Even if his method was new and original, his solid interpretation of the Shakespearean play, which underlies his stage direction, won the highest praises as exemplified by the comments "This Hamlet is truly genuine" and "A spectacle that reflects his pure love for the original work and truly captures the heart of the audience". Evgeny Mironov, who will play the title role, is an actor of exceptional talent whom Stein, who had sought for the "Hamlet of modern times," finally encountered in Russia. Talking about his passion for the forthcoming production of Hamlet, he says, "Hamlet is part of my life. I would cease to be an actor if I lost Hamlet now". Indeed, this is the stage perfected by mutually stimulating talents of a rare kind. The journey of Stein, constantly inquiring into the artistic mystery of Hamlet, and the Russian actors/actresses and staff members, who are fascinated by Stein's insatiable inquiry, will finally reach Tokyo this autumn. Profile of Peter Stein A stage director who has driven contemporary European dramatic circles, he participated in the foundation of the Berliner Schaubuhne. His radical activities there in the 1970s and 1980s brought to theatrical circles in Germany innovations referred to as the "(greatest innovations) since Brecht," and he was highly evaluated for his skills in seeking a high level of artistic expression. From 1991 to 1997, he served as director for the drama division of the Salzburg Festival and during this period, he himself continued to present his newly directed work to the world every year. The high-profile works he directed in recent years include this Hamlet in 1998 and the 21-hour-long complete production at the 2000 Hanover Exposition of Faust, which created a sensation worldwide. Both works continue to tour various cities throughout Europe. In the field of opera as well, he has displayed his outstanding abilities at the Paris Opera, as well as for the Welsh National Opera and the Salzburg Festival. His recent energetic activities in this genre include the new direction of Richard Wagner's Parsifal in which he worked with Claudio Abbado conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the Salzburg Easter Music Festival in the spring of this year.