In the realm of theatre, what is real and what is not? That’s a line further blurred in Japanese theatre production NEW-ILLUSION. Utilising chelfitsch’s innovative EIZO-Theater style, watch as life-size projections create dynamic illusions that live actors play with.

In NEW-ILLUSION, projected images of a man and a woman begin talking about a play that was performed in the theatre, a play set in the room where they had lived together. But is what the two are talking about fiction or reality? As the fictional, projected space on screen and the real space of the theatre encroach on each other, the audience senses the presence of actors that are not supposed to be there.

Prior to the show coming to Singapore for the 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), we spoke to playwright/director Toshiki Okada on the use of new media and technology in theatre, and what does it mean for the future of theatre. Read the interview with Toshiki Okada in full below:

Bakchormeeboy: Could you explain the meaning behind the title NEW-ILLUSION?

Toshiki: I can define theater as an art that generates illusion. And in this new way of realizing theater we took in NEW-ILLUSION where the way of generating illusion could also be seen as new. I hope the audience can experience that.

Bakchormeeboy: How did you begin conceptualising the script and story for NEW-ILLUSION? What were you inspired by?

Toshiki: Whenever I do this EIZO-Theater production, I collaborate with a video designer Shimpei Yamada. We discuss many things. In NEW-ILLUSION as well, we started to think about what kind of experience we want to give the audience and how we put screens on the stage to realize the concept. The script was also conceived to fit that experience.

Bakchormeeboy: It’s amazing how with technology, the age-old medium of theatre can still find new ways of telling stories. Are there any other forms of technology you would be interested in incorporating into future productions and experiment with?

Toshiki: I am interested in AR. Because theater itself is already a form of AR. So I am curious what happens if these two are put together.

Bakchormeeboy: How difficult was it learning how to work with this idea of projections alongside real life actors?

Toshiki: It is not different in terms of acting. If you are a good actor in theater, you can also be good in this form. You might even be better at it. Because you can see yourself acting together with the director in this form and you better understand the director’s feedback. It should be an interesting experience.

Bakchormeeboy: How would you describe the theatre scene in Japan? Is there still interest in the younger generation in coming onto the scene, and is there enough support for artists?

Toshiki: Young emerging theater artists are always coming onto the scene. I think there is a big division. Some are very political but many are not at all. And most of the interesting artists in aesthetics are not on the political side. Artists who are conscious about being political are likely to be boring in aesthetics. I find it a pity. In terms of support, I hope it becomes stronger especially for young artists.

Bakchormeeboy: How does this work tie back to SIFA’s theme of Some People?

Toshiki: I am very happy that SIFA picked NEW-ILLUSION up for the festival under the festival title. It might have come from the idea that people who don’t exist in reality can still be recognized as people.

Featured Image Credit: Ryohei Tomita

NEW-ILLUSION plays on 3rd and 4th June 2023 at the SOTA Studio Theatre. Tickets available here

The 2023 Singapore International Festival of Arts runs from 19th May to 4th June 2023. Tickets and full details of programme available here