Produced by Ishii Mitsuzo Office
Produced by Ishii Mitsuzo Office
THE POLTERGEIST
The Poltergeist by Philip Ridley
Translated by: Mari Ohara
Performance Script＆Direction by Yu Murai
Solo Performance by Ryota Murai
Ryota Murai Delivers His First Solo Performance: An intense and thrilling dialogue drama featuring 11 characters
In this production, a single actor performs 11 distinct roles, bringing to life the protagonist Sasha and the delicate, emotionally charged relationships with people around him. The nuances of distance, inner turmoil, and conflict are vividly and intricately portrayed through this intense and gripping drama.
An inescapable event from the past repeatedly resurfaces.
In the end, there is a single ray of hope.
Known for his distinctive worlds that blend cruelty and beauty, Philip Ridley presents here a story of hope. Ridley portrays the inner struggles and eventual rebirth of a young man pursuing life as an artist.
Amidst a cynical and humorous tale lie fragments of pain and hope.
Come experience it live at the theater.
STORY
Sasha, a young painter who once captured the spotlight with a massive mural he created in his teens, was hailed as a rising star in the art world.
He was expected to take the art scene by storm.
But now, forgotten by the public, he lives quietly in a rundown apartment with his partner, an aspiring actor.
On the brink of glorious success…yet frustration still lingers deep within him.
At his niece’s fifth birthday party, he engages in casual conversations with family and old acquaintances he hasn’t seen in years. Mismatched memories, past glories, and careless remarks begin to gently stir long-suppressed emotions.
Tossed between art, family, and memories, this is the story of a single day in which he comes to realize who he truly is.
Characters in The Poltergeist
- Sasha – The protagonist. A painter working at an art gallery bookstore.
- Chet – Sasha’s partner. An unknown actor and personal trainer.
- Flynn – Sasha’s half-brother
- Naeve – Flynn’s wife (pregnant with their third child, currently at 28 weeks)
- Robin (7 years old) – Sasha’s niece
- Jamila (5 years old) – Sasha’s niece
- Niall – Naeve’s father
- Vineeta – Naeve’s mother
- Dougie – A plumber who lives nearby
- Mrs. Kulkarni – A longtime neighborhood acquaintance
- Jovita Vance – Owner of the gallery (appears in a flashback)
Performance information
Produced by Ishii Mitsuzo Office
THE POLTERGEIST
The Poltergeist by Philip Ridley
Translated by: Mari Ohara
Performance Script＆Direction by Yu Murai
Solo Performance by Ryota Murai
Venue：Honda Theater
2-10-15 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-3468-0030
Performance dates: September 14th (Sun) – 21st (Sun), 2025
Special Events & Support Services
After-talk sessions are included
Curtain call photo sessions on: Sep 14 (Sun), 15 (Mon), 16 (Tue)
Filming on: Sep 18 (Thu)
Performances with English / Audience assistance: Sep 18 (Thu) 14:00, Sep 19 (Fri) 19:00
Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
**Preschool-aged children not admitted.
CAST & STAFF
Made his debut in 2007 starring in the drama Fuma no Kojiro.
Recent stage credits include musicals such as RENT, Death Note, First Date, Ikiru (To Live), In This Corner of the World, and Letter 2025, as well as theatrical productions like Komatsuza’s Twinkling Constellations, the reading drama Tori to Odoru, and The White Guard.
On screen, he has appeared in dramas including Kyojo and Kyojo II (CX), Jashin no Tenbin: Public Security Analysis Unit (WOWOW), Invisible (TBS), You Want to Bring Me Down (MBS), and Fixing Your Company’s Chaos! (BS-TBS), along with films such as The Pastry Chef and the Heiress and Children of Nakasu.
<Comment from Ryota Murai>
It’s been almost 20 years since I began this career. My first one-man play, The Poltergeist, feels like the culmination of everything I’ve done so far.
I believe the origin of solo performance is in rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling), and I’ve been studying that as well. I’m thrilled to be creating a solid solo production alongside director Yu Murai.
Sasha, the central character among the more than 10, is a kind of genius, which perhaps causes him to be a little twisted… Or maybe not? I’m still working on decoding that.
Director Murai has a lot of experience creating one-man plays, so I feel very supported. His approach, influenced by performing arts techniques, has been incredibly educational.
He told me, “Even though you’re playing different roles, it’s okay if they’re all Ryota Murai.”
With his words in my heart, I want this production to be a truly fresh experience, almost like a theme park of imagination. Something that feels like a fleeting moment.
A new world—it’s truly a battle with myself.
Playwright and director / Founder of KPR – Kaimaku Pennant Race
His directorial work is highly regarded both in Japan and overseas. In May 2019, Ashita no Ma-Joe: Rocky Macbeth was officially invited by Japan Society in New York and received top 5-star ratings from five of the city’s major review sites.
In January 2024, HAMLET｜TOILET was again invited by Japan Society, participating in the Under The Radar Festival. It was featured in The New York Times as a notable work and had sold-out performances for its entire run, earning high praise from numerous critics. He also served as director for the “AFTER THE GAMES” segment of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
<Comment from Yu Murai (Stage Adaptation & Director)>
This piece was written during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when social distancing and isolation from others led many of us to turn inward and confront ourselves more deeply.
As we watch Sasha’s day unfold from our seats as he is pushed to his limits. Perhaps we too, like Sasha, might find our own answers in the process, with no way to retreat.
Philip Ridley was born and brought up in the East End of London. HIs first stage play, The Pitchfork Disney, changed the course of British Drama and is now published as a Modern Classic. One of his most recent plays, The Poltergeist, won the Off West End OnComm Award for Best Live Streamed Play.
<Production Staff>
Set Design: Natsuko Tkebe Lighting Designer: Kosuke Sugimoto Sound Designer: Mariko Shimizu Costume: Kazunori Kusaka Stage Manager: Norizumi Arima Assistant Director: Momoka Misunaga
<Promotional Design Team>
Graphic Design：Takahashi design room
Photographｙ：Hisayoshi Osawa
Hair&make up：Kaoru Mitsukura
PR Video:FINE Website:tenicom Translation Cooperation: OCiETe Inc.
Cooperation: My Promotion
Planning/Production:Junko Baba
Producer: Kumiko Ishii
Organizer: Ishii Mitsuzo Office
Subsidized Project of the Tokyo Performing Arts Festival 2025 Open Call Program
This project is cooperated in support of the “All Welcome Tokyo” campaign, which aims to create a Tokyo that everyone can enjoy regardless of disability, language, or cultural differences.
Tickets
General Admission (tax included): ¥6,800
U25 (age 25 and under): ¥3,000
(Limited tickets / Same-day seat exchange / ID required. Available only via 141stage.)
Ticketing
(L-code:32116)
**Loppi machines in Lawson and Ministop stores
(P-code:535-231)
**Seven-Eleven storefront
**Family Mart
050-3092-0051(Weekdays 10:00–17:00)
<Performance with Accessibility Support>
The accessibility support for this project is subsidized by Arts Council Tokyo as part of the Tokyo Cultural Strategy 2030’s “Creative Well-being Tokyo” initiative, aiming for the realization of an inclusive society in which everyone has access to arts and culture.
Performances with Multilingual Support
Sep 18 (Thu) 2pm Doors open
Sep 19 (Fri) 7pm Doors open
Support services provided during these performances:
— Multilingual Subtitle Tablet Lending (English) – Limited number available
— Support from English / Korean interpreters
— Programs available in English, Korean, and Chinese
Ticket Price:
Multilingual Support Seat with English Tablet: ¥6,800 (Tax included, seat assigned upon ticket exchange on the day)
How to Reserve Multilingual Support Seats
Purchase from:
You can make a reservation by sending an email to:
Ishii Mitsuzo Office Email:
141stage@gmail.com
Please include the following in your email:
1.Your name
2.Number of tickets
3.Payment: at the venue on the day of the performance
4.If you have any questions, our staff will be happy to assist you at the reception desk on the day.
Please bring your ticket to the reception desk before the performance.
English and Korean interpretation available.
Contact for Multilingual Support Inquiries:
ISHII MITSUZO OFFICE
Email: 141stage@gmail.com
Inquiry
Sunrise Promotion Tokyo 0570-00-3337(Weekdays 12:00-15:00)
ISHII MITSUZO OFFICE 141stage@gmail.com
Official SNS
