Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Brings Two Innovative Productions to Audiences in Asia Pacific

Goldfish (Photo credit: Naoshi Hatori)

Gold Fish: A Powerful Narrative of Resilience 

The international co-production between Tasmania’s Terrapin puppet theatre and Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater recently completed its acclaimed Asian tour, captivating audiences across multiple venues. The story of Gold Fish takes place in a local public theatre. While the audience is watching the shadow puppets, a flood occurs outside the theatre and a team of disaster recovery workers enters the theatre. The theatre suddenly becomes an evacuation center; while the shadow puppet actors are confused, they attempt to continue the story for the children in the audience. With the recent spate of natural disasters around the world, this performance invited audiences to witness how people face difficulties and feel the power of imagination. 

After its premiere in Japan in Feb 2025, Gold Fish was welcomed by audiences in Australia at AsiaTOPA (Melbourne) and Ten Days on the Island (Tasmania), as well as in Singapore at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s annual Children’s Festival March On.  

The production is co-commissioned by Terrapin, Ten Days on the Island, Arts House, AsiaTOPA, Darwin Festival, and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. 

Website: https://terrapin.org.au/work/goldfish 

Arika in Paris (Photo credit: Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris – Japan Foundation)

Arika in Aichi Prefectural Art Theater (Photo credit: Naoshi Hatori)

Arika: A Fusion of Dance and Rap 

The theatre successfully presented Arika in Tai Kwun (Hong Kong) in Apr. The groundbreaking collaborative work created in 2016 pushes the boundaries of performing arts. After more than 30 performances in Paris and across Japan, it has been translated into English, French, Russian, Chinese and Spanish, and has been distributed online. The performers are Yasutake Shimaji, a dancer and choreographer who has been working creatively both in and outside of Japan, including The Forsythe Company led by William Forsythe, and Tamaki ROY, a rapper who works across various disciplines, including sound-based performances and installations, as well as music. Together, these two individuals from different backgrounds presented a live performance of improvised dance, voice, and music based on the concept of exploring the origins of dance and music. 

Website: https://www.taikwun.hk/en/programme/detail/arika/1576