The stage production Parade for The End of The World will premiere on May 27th and 28th, 2016 (Paris time) at the Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris (The Japan Cultural Institute in Paris), located in the city of Paris, France.

This performance marks Keiichiro Shibuya’s first completely new stage work since THE END, for which he is in charge of the music. It is being presented as a work-in-progress featuring the star dancer of the Paris Opera Ballet, Jérémie Bélingard, and video artist Justine Emard, meaning that it is a public showcase of the project in its developmental stage.

The project began as an effort to create a contemporary version of Parade, a work originally performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in 1917. Parade was a legendary 15-minute production and a “super collaboration” for its time, with music by Erik Satie, set design by Pablo Picasso, and a script by Jean Cocteau. It is regarded as a historically significant piece not only in the history of dance but also in the history of art.

Anticipating the 100th anniversary of the original Parade next year, this new production is built around the theme of a “Parade toward the End of the World” and is structured to last approximately 50 minutes. The work in progress will be made public.

According to Shibuya, “The rhythmical aspects of Satie’s score, including the beats, meter structure, and tempo changes, are all faithfully followed, while all the sounds are replaced. Occasionally, synthesized motifs are also inserted.” On the performance day, a piano, computer, and typewriter, among other items, will be set up on stage alongside the dancers.

Just as the original Parade astonished audiences by effortlessly crossing the boundaries between genres such as music and dance, Parade for the End of the World has the potential to break new ground in the field of total art. The birth of this new Parade, created by a miraculous meeting of Japanese and French artists, is something not to be missed.

Additionally, as part of the related 100th-anniversary celebrations of Parade, the curtain painted by Picasso for the 1917 performance will be on public display at the Théâtre du Châtelet from May 7th to 15th. Be sure to check it out as well.

Next year, with the 100th anniversary of Parade’s premiere approaching, this historic work is likely to once again attract much attention.

The trailer can be viewed here.

Parade for the End of the World世界初演 / work in progress

PLACE/DATE:
Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris
101Bis Quai Branly, 75015 Paris, France
2016/5/27、28　20:00 START