Friends directed by Motoya Miura (Japan) is based on the play of the same name by the Japanese avant-garde author Kobo Abe. This writer is known to Russian readers for his works in prose – the novels Woman in the Dunes and Box Man.
“I chose Kobo Abe’s play “Friends” because under such a gentle title quite an evil story reveals the inadequacy of modern society and the helplessness of a person who faces situations when “friends” enter without knocking and take away his strength, emotions, and, ultimately, life. The age of the Internet opens opportunities to intrude into someone’s life without asking, give unasked advice, dictate way of thinking or just offer obtrusive advertising. Our play tells how quickly modern society can deprive a person of his own identity and self-confidence,” says director Motoi Miura.
In Japan, the name of Motoi Miura became known thanks to his productions of Chekhov’s plays. Russian audience had a chance to see his productions of The Seagull, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters as far back as in 2011, during the Moscow tour of the Chiten Theater headed by Motoi Miura. This time the director decided to turn to a play by a Japanese author, but he emphasizes that the topics of the play are relevant for modern society, regardless of geography.
