ABOUTCHITEN
Chiten, meaning "locus" or "point", is a theatre company led by director Motoi Miura. It specializes in performances created out of collages using fragments of existing texts. It employs an original linguistic style, deliberately delaying the cadence and rhythm of language to expose the raw sound of the words liberated from their meanings. This technique has frequently been recognized for its musical qualities. Rather than maintaining a single systematic methodology, Chiten explores a wide variety of approaches for the texts it adapts.
Originally based in Tokyo, Chiten moved to Kyoto in 2005. In 2013 it renovated a derelict former music venue to open an atelier space: UNDER-THROW. The name is derived from a Japanese-English word literally meaning "under pitching" and which usually refers to a submarine pitch in baseball. At the space Chiten performs a repertoire of previous productions and new works.
The company currently has four permanent performers. All the members of the company appear in every production, whether that is acting over thirty roles in Shakespeare plays or performing texts that are fundamentally non-dramatic, such as the Constitution of Japan. The company aspires to arrive at new frontiers in technique and directing. Departing fully from realism, Chiten rehearsals are improvisational in nature in order create complex and difficult theatre through its unique critical interpretations.
In 2022, Chiten opened a diner, Tupperway, in the area adjacent to UNDER-THROW. Many theaters abroad have a cafeteria inside the theater for the exclusive use of related parties, and a number of theaters have their own restaurants that have become tourist attractions. Chiten, with its new location, is producing a total theater experience that includes interaction before and after the play.
MEMBER
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MOTOI MIURADirector and representative of Chiten. Born in 1973, Miura graduated from the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music. From 1999 he studied in Paris for two years on a government scholarship, learning directing, arts management and artistic directorship. He returned to Japan in 2001 and started his work with his company CHITEN, directing Japan premières of plays by Jon Fosse and David Harrower. In 2005 he left Seinendan theatre company and moved to Kyoto, and won the Outstanding Performance Award at the Toga Director Contest. He has been re-creating the four masterpieces of Chekhov since 2007 and in the same year he received the Agency of Cultural Affairs New Director Award for his production of "The Cherry Orchard". In 2010 he received the Kyoto Prefecture Culture Award. In 2017, he won the Yomiuri Theatre Grand Prize for "Hedda Gabler" by Ibsen. He has won many other awards. In 2023, he was commissioned by the Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT) in St. Petersburg, Russia, to direct "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky as a repertory piece for the BDT. He recently has been commissioned by Russian theaters to direct two more repertory productions: "Friends" by Kobo Abe for Theater of Nations, and "The Cherry Orchard" by Chekhov for the Chekhov Museum (both in 2024). His publications include: "Omoshirokereba OK ka? Gendai Engekiko" (Is just being interesting OK?: A meditation on contemporary theater, Goryu Books, 2010) , and "Yappari Higeki Datta. "Wakaranai" Engeki e no Omaju" (Oh, it was a tragedy: an homage to confusing theater, Iwanami Shoten, 2019).
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SATOKO ABE
Actor. Born in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. While a student at Waseda University, she was involved in independent film production with the film production group Higurashi, and aspired to become an actor after appearing in the 16mm film "Koi no Tasogare" (directed by Takayoshi Yamaguchi, 1994). She has appeared in many films and TV commercials, including the film "Tokiwa: The Manga Apartment" (directed by Jun Ichikawa, 1996). In 2005, she moved to Kyoto as an actor of Chiten, and has participated in all Chiten performances since then. Her recent film credits include "Randen" (directed by Takuji Suzuki, 2018) and "Drive My Car" (directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, 2021), which won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and the Cannes International Film Festival's Best Screenplay Award.
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DAI ISHIDA
Actor. Born in Chiba Prefecture. Graduated from the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music, and joined the Haiyuza Theater Company in 1995. He made his stage debut in "The Brothers Karamazov" directed by Koreya Senda. In 2004, he appeared for the first time in "Name" by Jon Fosse, directed by Motoi Miura. In 2005, he moved to Kyoto as an actor of Chiten, and since then has appeared in all Chiten productions.
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SHIE KUBOTA
Actor. Born in Osaka. Started theater activities upon entering the Faculty of Education at Kyoto University of Education. She was a 6th year student of "AI・HALL Theatre Factory," a long-running project of the Itami Municipal Theatre Hall. After graduating from the university, she joined the theater company "Lowo-Tar-Voga" and performed in their productions. She participated for the first time in a production directed by Motoi Miura in "The Seagull" (2007), in which she was selected to perform after an audition. After appearing in "Three Sisters" (directed by Motoi Miura, 2008) and "Dictee" (directed by Masataka Matsuda, 2008), she joined Chiten in 2009. Since then, she has appeared in most of Chiten productions.
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YOHEI KOBAYASHI
Actor. Born in Yamanashi Prefecture. After graduating from Performing Art Collage Bugei, he joined the Seinendan Theater Company in 1998 and appeared in "CHITEN - Two Plays from Four Scripts -" directed by Motoi Miura in the same year. In 2005, he moved to Kyoto as an actor of Chiten, and has appeared in all Chiten productions since then. He has also published original cartoons and illustrations, including an illustration of Tupperway's mascot, Tupper Bear.
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YUNA TAJIMA
Producer. Born 1980 in Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from International Christian University (ICU), worked at Seinendan theatre company and Komaba Agora Theater from 2003 to 2004. In 2005, moved to Kyoto as Chiten's producer, and after working at Kyoto Art Center from 2005 to 2007, became Chiten's exclusive producer.
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HARUKA MIURA
Manager of Tupperway. Born in Hiroshima. Graduated from Kyoto University of Arts and Design (now Kyoto University of the Arts), Department of Performing Arts. Graduated from Koryu Gakurin, Department of Religious Studies. Has worked at various types of restaurants in Kyoto since 2009. She learned restaurant management through a wide range of responsibilities from hall operations and customer service to kitchen operations, menu planning, and event planning.From 2015 to 2020, she studied mainly Indian philosophy, studying the cultural traditions, lifestyle, and transformation of food culture from India to China and Japan. Involved with Tupperway from the early stages of planning.
CORPORATE
Establishment
October 2010
Purpose
To foster a richer theater culture, increase the audience for contemporary theater, and develop new methods of acting and directing. To deliver "words" to audiences through the voices and bodies of actors, and to create a performing arts space in which time and society can be perceived on a scale that transcends an individual's lifetime. By allowing people to experience such time and space, we contribute to the creation of a more mature society that is tolerant and intelligent and does not seek poor answers.
Business
Planning and production of stage productions, Management of Chiten Theater Company, Planning and consulting services related to theater operations, Restaurant management and retail business to convey theater culture
Address
13-2 Kitashirakawa Kubota-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8266
TEL
075-366-5589
