Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

2015/2016 Season
New production
performed in Japanese
The Pit

This much talked about work by the American playwright Rajiv JOSEPH was inspired by a real-life incident at the Baghdad Zoo in 2003 when a drunk American soldier shot dead a tiger. First performed in 2009, it was nominated for that year's Pulitzer Prize. Artistic director MIYATA is very aware of the conflicts happening around the world and has already selected and brought to the Japanese stage other outstanding works describing this theme, such as Sixteen Wounded and Time Stands Still.

The shot tiger becomes a ghost that wanders the streets, looking to haunt the soldier who killed it. In borrowing this absurd situation, the play profoundly portrays the madness, hatred and passions engendered by the Iraq war. In making the leap from reality to the world of fiction, it shines a light on reality, and the breadth that it displays in so doing makes for part of its fascination.

The director, NAKATSURU Akihito, is also the creator and director of "Trashmasters", and appears at the NNTT for the first time. NAKATSURU has brought many such works of bold social commentary to the stage, and distinguishes himself by grappling with issues and attempting to express them.

Staff

Book Rajiv JOSEPH 1

Translation in Japanese HIRAKAWA Daisaku 2

Director NAKATSURU Akihito 3

Cast

SUGIMOTO Tetta 4

KAZAMA Shunsuke 5

YASUI Jumpei 6

TANIDA Ayumi 7

AWANO Fumihiro 8

CRYSTAL Maki 9

TAJIMA Mayumi 10

NOSAKA Hiromu 11

Schedule

December 2015

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

SUN

19:00

14:00

13:00

19:00

14:00

19:00

13:00

19:00

13:00

14:00

19:00

13:00

Synopsis

The scene is in front of the Bengal tiger enclosure at Baghdad Zoo, which has been destroyed by bombing raids. Guarding the zoo are American soldiers, one of whom, in playing around, gets his hand mauled by a hungry Bengal tiger. Another soldier promptly shoots the tiger dead. The ghost of the tiger then sets out to haunt the soldier who shot him. Before long, the haunted soldier loses his mind and kills himself. This soldier, in turn, becomes a ghost and haunts his former comrade who wears a prosthetic hand. The ghost of the tiger, of the American soldiers, of Saddam Hussein's two sons, and of a girl who was killed--the play lays open the maelstrom of passion and brutality that Baghdad has become as the ghostly and living realities of human life entwine.

Booking Opens

Saturday, 10th October 2015

Tickets

A	B
¥5,400	¥3,240

Tax included

The New National Theatre,
Tokyo Box Office:

+81-(0)3-5352-9999

10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Ticket are sold via the website of PIA Corporation.

Concession Prices (students, Over 65s, Under15s, groups): Discount tickets are not available online.; (Under 15s discounts are now available online); Please inquire at the Box Office or by telephone. (+81-(0)3-5352-9999　10:00am - 6:00pm)

Booking Z seats (1,620 yen): Z seats are available at the Box Office from 10:00 a.m. on the day of the performance. One ticket is available per person. Telephone bookings are not accepted.

Please Note

No admittance to pre-school children. Each child older than this age requires a ticket for entry, even when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Tickets may not be changed or refunded except in the case of a cancelled performance.
A special discount price is available for disabled guests. Please inquire at the Box Office for details.
Users of wheelchairs are requested to contact the Box Office before coming to the theatre.
Preferred seats may not be available on the first day of ticket sales or times when the operators are busy.