ICHIDŌ Rei: Metatheatre in the 1980s

Abstract

The theatrical company Bluebird is an all-female troupe that was the first in the history of the alternative theatre in Japan. “Ichidō Rei,” which literally means “Everyone, bow!” is not a personal name but the collective name for all the women in the troupe, who share the functions of playwright, director, and actress in their productions. Their creation method is very unusual. They start their works by brainstorming. “What interests you most now?” “How happy do you want to make the play?” “What do you want to do on the stage?” “What scenes do you have in mind?” Once these general matters are decided, discussion moves to the theme and plot of the play. Dialogue-making comes last and is the product of improvisation. I verified this in Itsuka mita Natsu no Omoide (Memories of a Summer Long Past, 1986), which was actually composed with this “Bluebird Method.” I conclude that this play is one of the best expressions of the main theatrical characteristic of the 1980s, when “(child's) play” was the centerpiece of plays.