Ae! Group's Masakado Ryoki stars in a stage play for the first time in two years! Teaming up with an overseas director for the first time in the play "Touching the Void"

■ “In addition to the acting, there is also hard physical work, so it seems like it will be a production that will be both physically and mentally demanding, but I’m just excited about it.” (Ae! group, Masakado Yoshiki)

Ae! Group’s Masakado Yoshinori will star in the play “Touching the Void”. This will be his first lead role in a stage production since his debut, his first in two years, and his first collaboration with an overseas director.

It has been decided that PARCO Produce 2024 “Touching the Void” will be performed at PARCO Theater in Tokyo from October 8th to November 4th, and at Kyoto Theater in Kyoto from November 10th to 17th.

The protagonist of this film, mountaineer Joe Simpson, wrote a novel called “Touching the Void” in 1988.

This is a memoir of a horrific accident that actually occurred while the author and Simon Yates were climbing Mount Siula Grande, which is about 6,400 meters above sea level in the Peruvian Andes.

The book, which describes how Joe overcame the hardships to survive, resonated not only among mountaineers but also with many others, becoming a best-seller. Fifteen years later, in 2003, it was made into a film (Japanese title: The Rope that Divided His Fate), which won Best British Film at the BAFTA that same year.

Based on this bestselling book, Scottish playwright and director David Gregg adapted the masterpiece into a stage play in 2018, and this time the play will premiere in Japanese with a Japanese cast. The director is Tom Morris, who is known for co-directing “War Horse”.

The main character, Joe Simpson, is played by Masakado Yoshinori of Ae! group, who made his long-awaited CD debut this year.

Although he has already worked on an overseas play in 2022’s “Vincent in Brixton,” this will be his first time teaming up with an overseas director.

In addition to appearing in many video productions, he has also worked alongside other members on “THE GREATEST SHOW-NEN” (ABC, 20-23) for about three and a half years, and expectations are high to see how he will demonstrate the experience he has gained from creating stage productions with directors from a variety of genres.

In addition, Joe’s older sister Sarah is played by Kotone Furukawa, one of the most sought-after young actresses today, who is constantly appearing in films thanks to her unique presence and well-known acting skills.

The role of Simon, who took on the challenge of Sierra Grande with Joe, is played by Toru Tanaka, who has been in the limelight for his role in the TV drama series “Scarlet” and has recently been active in many productions by some of Japan’s leading directors.

And the role of Richard, who works as tent keeper for Joe and Simon and waits for them to return, is played by Asari Yosuke, a unique actor who has appeared in numerous productions since childhood.

This will be Tom’s first time directing a production in Japan, and he and his four highly acclaimed cast members will come together to transport the audience to the snowy Andes Mountains.

A thrilling psychological drama unfolding in a brutal, extreme situation where death is close at hand, in a simple set. Don’t miss the Japan premiere of this much-talked-about work!

[Synopsis]
What I want to know is why you went.
The reason why I started climbing mountain cliffs in the first place.
I don’t understand that. Why?

When his sister Sarah (Furukawa Kotone) hears that Joe (Masame Ryoki) has died, she mourns his death and gathers at the pub with Simon (Tanaka Toru), Richard (Asari Yosuke), and his climbing friends.

In 1985, a pair of young British climbers, Joe and Simon, successfully reached the summit of the nearly vertical west face of Siula Grande, a difficult mountain in the Andes Mountains of Peru, on an unclimbed route. However, on the way down, Joe broke a bone, fell off an ice cliff, and was left hanging in mid-air.

Joe can’t climb the rope, and Simon can’t pull him back. If things continue like this, they will both die. What awaited them after achieving this great feat was a confrontation with nature, and terrible conflict and hardship…

■Ae! group・Ryosuke Masakado Comment
I love theater and I was itching to see when I could perform on stage again! And the offer I received was to perform at the PARCO Theater, which I had always wanted to perform at. I was really surprised. I’m really proud to be performing as the lead, and I’m very happy to have another dream come true!
It was my first time working with a director from overseas, so I was nervous, but after talking to Tom online, I found him to be a very calm person, which put me at ease. Now I’m doing all I can to prepare, including training every day, in anticipation of rehearsals starting!
For the visual shoot, I was dressed in clothes and gear for climbing a real snowy mountain, and even took a position where I was supporting myself with only an ice axe. The studio was also chilled with air conditioning, and they thoroughly recreated a fake snowy mountain (laughs). I think that’s why the visuals are so impressive!
It’s really shocking that it’s based on a true story. In addition to the acting, there is also hard physical work, so it will be a production that will be physically and mentally demanding, but I’m just excited about it. Together with the wonderful cast, we will sincerely deliver a thrilling yet heartwarming story that will have the audience absorbed in it with all their might. Please look forward to it!
■ Comment from Kotone Furukawa
I never dreamed I would be directed by Tom Morris, someone I had always admired since seeing War Horse at the National Theatre Live.
Right now, my heart is filled with tension and excitement.
The character I play, Sarah, is Joe’s older sister who is lost on a snowy mountain, and is the only character not featured in the original novel.
She is like a ray of light that guides the two of them, providing emotional support for Joe during the disaster and asking Simon what is on his mind after he descends the mountain alone. I would like to fully express Sarah’s strength and the grandeur of nature.
■ Comment from Toru Tanaka
The audition was a fun and exciting time, and I felt like I was taking part in a workshop with Tom. Now that I’ve been selected, I can’t wait to see what kind of rehearsals I’ll go through before the performance.
In the visual shoot, we actually lowered the temperature in the studio to get a feel for it. Having my eyes dry out from the cold and breathing in the cold air was a very refreshing and educational experience.
I think this is a work with many touching points, such as the excitement of a reckless challenge and the relationship in which the characters entrust their lives to each other. The season is from summer to autumn, but I believe there is a snowy mountain on the stage! I hope we can work hard and practice hard. Please come and see it! Thank you!
■ Comment from Yosuke Asari
Right now, I’m still playing the guitar, imagining the winter mountain climbing and the harsh conditions of the snowy mountains that appear in the play, and gradually inputting them into my body as I prepare. I saw a video of the British version of the play, and I was impressed by how effectively they expressed the scene of the characters descending a crevasse and then falling in the limited space of the stage. I would like to go to the Andes to convey the thin air at an altitude of about 6,000m, the sound of the ice axes and crampons piercing the ice, and the tension of each character… but first I think I’ll sprint up a hill in my neighborhood (laughs).
When I put on the costume for the visual shoot, it just felt right, and I vaguely felt a sense of anxiety and anticipation as the series finally began. The character I play, Richard, is a very hardworking guy, and there are some funny scenes in the film, so I hope you’ll look forward to it.
We will practice hard so that Tom will fall in love with Japan and everyone who watches the show will fall in love with Tom’s direction! Look forward to it!