The Bungakuza, one of Japan’s most venerable and traditional theatre companies, is undertaking a production directed by the American playwright and director, Elise Thoron.
Elise Thoron
The groundbreaking move follows a meeting between Thoron and Bungakuza member Sonoko Soeda — herself an actress, director, translator and dramaturg — during her 2008 research and investigation into contemporary theatre in New York, supported by an ACC (Asian Cultural Council) grant.
Since then Soeda and Thoron have collaborated on various creative projects.
Among those, Thoron was invited to direct the upcoming March 2026 Bungakuza Atelier production of the 1977 play “Fefu and Her Friends” by a key figure in American avant-garde theatre, Cuban-born María Irene Fornés.
Thoron visited Japan in 2025 for the auditions held by Bungakuza. Then, through group work involving improvisational theatre creation, a cast of eight women was selected in this way that differed somewhat from Bungakuza’s usual approach.
“Fefu and Her Friends” depicts these seven women gathering at the home of their old friend Fefu to rehearse a presentation aimed at raising funds to incorporate the arts into education. As they interact, they share their thoughts on life, personal struggles, and social concerns.
“It’s truly beautiful and powerful”, Thoron said. “It’s an important work in America too, so I’ve always wanted to stage it — but I never imagined I’d be directing it in Japan”, she added with a laugh.
Soeda, who handled the translation, spoke of the significance of staging it now at the Atelier, saying, “The structures and issues — where authority is primarily held by men, lead to disparities between rich and poor and conflicts born of misunderstanding and intolerance. I feel we still grapple with these in much the same way today.”
As this marks the Bungakuza Theatre Company’s first international exchange project in some time, a special symposium titled Fornes and the International Theatre Project; will be held after the stage performance on Friday, March 20 (around 4:00 pm). In addition to
Thoron and Soeda, it will feature the Japanese and American Fornés scholars Yoko Toya and Gwendolyn Alker.
In addition, Bungakuza’s veteran director Hitoshi Uyama, and interpreter Keita Hara, are also scheduled to participate.
We recommend attending this symposium, which offers a multifaceted exploration of Fornés’s significant contributions to theatre culture and her influence as an educator — aspects that have been relatively underrepresented in Japan until now.
“Fefu and Her Friends”
Performance Period: Tuesday, March 17–Sunday, March 29
Venue: Bungakuza Atelier (5-minute walk from JR Shinanomachi Station)
Details: https://www.bungakuza.com
or tel: 03-3351-7265 (11:00–18:00, excluding weekends and public holidays)
Symposium: Fornés and the International Theatre Project;
Friday, March 20, around 16:00
Venue: Bungakuza Atelier (10 Shinano-chō, Shinjuku-ku)
Fee: General admission ¥1,000; Under 30s ¥500 (reservations required)
Bookings: Bungakuza 03-3351-7265 (11:00-18:00, excluding weekends and public
holidays)
