Roots growing out of navels, fat cats, magical bird hearts, cannibal demons... The black humour of these wondrous tales will be brought to life by the British theatre company 1927, which has presented a unique theatrical production combining animation, drama and live music. And this winder, it is finally coming to Kochi for the first time.

ROOTS is a medley of now rarely told simple stories from all over Europe. The short stories about strange, funny, unreliable but lovable people, animals and magic from the red book ‘The Aarne Index’, which sits quietly on the shelves of the British Library, will be brought to life for the audience by 1927.

The world of 1927, which has fascinated 2 million audiences in 50 countries, is full of gimmicks that tickle the ‘playful’ side of every generation! You won't be able to take your eyes off the action for a second, and you won't want to miss the nostalgic talkie-style animated films that intersect on the 6m-wide screen, the disturbing, eerie live music and the actors' interactions. Don't miss the Japan premiere of ROOTS, a play for adults and children only in Kochi!

Artist Profile

'1927' is a theatre company formed in 2005 by co-artistic director, playwright and director Suzanne Andrade and illustrator and animator Paul Barritt, based in the southeastern English seaside town of Margate. Together with actor Esme Appleton, with whom they have collaborated since their early days, composer and pianist Lillian Henley and producer Jo Crowley, they have created one-of-a-kind, award-winning theatre productions that transcend the boundaries of theatre. In addition to original theatre productions, the company is currently active in opera, film, TV drama and working with the radio field. The company name ‘1927’ pays homage to the year 1927, when the world's first talkie feature film, The Jazz Singer, was released. Past performances in Japan include the Berlin Komische Oper commissioned opera The Magic Flute (Japan tour 2018), TACT FESTIVAL 2019: The Animals and Children Took to the Streets (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space). 1927 & "ROOTS"

Related events

Museum café ‘Marc’ Afternoon Tea Fair!
13 Dec (Fri) 2024 - 19 Jan (Sun) 2025 9:00-17:00 *Closed 27 Dec - 2 Jan.

Afternoon tea originating in the UK is available in limited quantities! Offered 13:30-16:30; open until 19:00 on Sat 18 Jan. Operated by Gendai Kigyo Sha.

Kochi Prefectural Museum of Literature
‘In memory of Ichihara Rinichiro - Tosa folktales forever’ special exhibition.
5 Oct (Sat) 2024 - 5 Jan (Sun) 2025 9:00-17:00 *Closed 27 Dec - 1 Jan.

A retrospective exhibition tracing the life of Ichihara Rinichiro, who worked as a teacher after the war while collecting folk tales from Kochi Prefecture, and continued to promote the many unique local folktales to children through his own folktale amisai.
For more information, click here.(only in Japanese)

CAST＆STAFF

Japan Premiere［1927］
Cast Philippa Hambly, Francesca Simmons, David Insua-Cao, Hannna Miller

Directed & Written by Suzanne Andrade
Co-Direction by Esme Appleton
Film, Animation & Design by Paul Barritt
Production Manager by Nathan Johnson
Stage Manager Alyssa Herzinger
Executive Producer by Jo Crowley

Wold Premiere
Created by 1927, premiered in 24 May 2019 (Spoleto Festival USA) / Directed & Written by Suzanne Andrade / Film, Animation & Design by Paul Barritt / Co-Direction by Esme Appleton / Music by Lillian Henley / Production Manager Nathan Johnson / Producer Jo Crowley / Costume Design Sarah Munro / Assistant Directors Genevieve Dunne & Dominic Biddle / Animation Assistant Anne Rotzek / Composer's Assistant Max Gallagher / Original Cast David Insua-Cao, Francesca Simmons, Philippa Hambly, Suzanne Andrade & Esme Appleton / Storytellers Carmel McNeil- O'Connor, Dashka Scaramagli, David Appleton, Joan Brooks, Karl Mengs, Kazuko Hohki, Lesley Ewen, MJ James, Nigel Hunt, Pete Brooks, Phil Shaw, Rocky Shahan & Wendy Barritt

Coproduced by 1927, Edinburgh International Festival, HOME Manchester, Spoleto Festival USA, Théâtre de la Ville Paris / Development supported by The Tolmen Centre Cornwall & Roundhouse

Roots has been supported by funding from Arts Council England through National Lottery & Kent County Council