Elderly Japanese theatre troupe continues the legacy

A Japanese theatre troupe of elderly actors set up by renowned stage director Yukio Ninagawa has decided to continue its activities following the founder's death last month, according to the operator of the group.

Many of the 39 Saitama Gold Theater troupe members, whose average age is 77, have expressed their wish to continue the legacy of Ninagawa, who died at age 80 on May 12.

The troupe consisting of members aged 65 to 90 based at the Sainokuni Saitama Arts Theater will perform on Dec. 7 on the theme of old people's dreams. Playwright Seiji Nozoe will direct the play that would have been directed by Ninagawa.

The group, founded in 2006 by the late director, aims to make stage performance a part of cultural programs for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Since 2013, the troupe has performed overseas in such countries as France and Romania.

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Lower image: In this file photo, stage director Yukio Ninagawa, second from left in the front row, is seen together with people who passed the audition for the Saitama Gold Theater acting troupe, at the Sainokuni Saitama Arts Theater in Saitama, on April 21, 2006. (Mainichi)