One of Stephen Sondheim’s most ambitious and rarely seen creations PACIFIC OVERTURES comes to the Menier Chocolate Factory in a co-production with Umeda Arts Theater in Japan, where it has already been a huge success in Tokyo and Osaka.
The story of the arrival of the West in 1853 in isolated Japan is seen from an imagined Japanese perspective. The score is filled with some of Sondheim’s most ravishing music, including ‘Someone in a Tree’, ‘Pretty Lady’ and ‘A Bowler Hat’.
PACIFIC OVERTURES completes the Menier’s trilogy of Sondheim/Weidman musicals following their critically acclaimed productions of Assassins and Road Show.
Sign up to hear more about PACIFIC OVERTURES theatre tickets with LOVEtheatre today!
Manjiro, a Japanese fisherman rescued at sea by Americans and taken to Massachusetts, returns to warn his countrymen that America will soon send an expedition to Japan. He could be condemned to death for leaving—and for returning. Lord Abe, the Shogun’s first councilor, doubts his veracity, but prepares to deal with the possible arrival of Americans.
Tickets not currenly available.
1hr 45mins (no interval)
Matthew White (Director), Paul Farnsworth (Set Design), Ayako Maeda (Costume Design), Paul Pyant (Lighting Design), Gregory Clarke (Sound Design), Ashley Nottingham (Choreography), Catherine Jayes (Musical Supervision), Jonathan Tunick (Orchestrations)
John Chew, Luoran Ding, Masashi Fujimoto, Eu Jin Hwang, Abel Law, Jojo Meredith, Patrick Munday, Kanako Nakano, Saori Oda, Takuro Ohno, Ethan Le Phong, Rachel Jayne Picar, Sario Solomon, Joy Tan, Jaoquin Pedro Valdes, Lee VG, Iverson Yabut
Please note: There is no admittance into the theatre if you are late and no re-admission should you leave the auditorium.
Please note: Pacific Overtures was written in 1976. It explores themes of racism, colonialism, sexual objectification & threat towards women and generational trauma incited by the opening of Japan to the West.
Trigger Warning: Some loud noises and some smoke affects.
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
