Narrow Road to the Deep North facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narrow Road to the Deep North |
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| Written by | Edward Bond |
| Date of premiere | 24 June 1968 |
| Place of premiere | Belgrade Theatre, Coventry |
| Original language | English |
| Setting | Japan about the seventeenth, eighteenth or nineteenth centuries |
Narrow Road to the Deep North is a famous play written by the English playwright Edward Bond. It was first performed in 1968. This play is a satire, which means it uses humor and exaggeration to criticize something. In this case, it criticizes the British Empire.
The story is a political parable. This means it uses a simple story to teach a lesson about politics and society. It is set in Japan during the Edo period. The play follows a poet named Basho and shows how the political world changes over about 35 years.
Edward Bond won the John Whiting Award in 1968 for writing this play.
Contents
About the Play
What's it About?
The play tells a story that helps us understand how power and control can change a country. It looks at how people react to these big changes. The main character, Basho, is a poet who sees his world transform around him.
The story is set in Japan a long time ago. It explores ideas about leadership, fairness, and what happens when different cultures meet. It makes you think about how societies are built and how they can change over time.
Why is it a Satire?
A satire uses clever humor to point out problems in society or politics. Narrow Road to the Deep North uses this style to comment on the actions of the British Empire. It questions how powerful countries treat other nations.
The play makes you think about history and how different groups of people interact. It shows how power can affect everyone, from leaders to everyday citizens.
First Performances
Original Production in Coventry
The play was first shown to the public on June 24, 1968. This happened at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, England. It was part of a special event called the "Peoples and Cities conference."
The director of this first show was Jane Howell. She helped bring Edward Bond's words to life on stage. Some of the main actors included:
- Basho, an old priest - Peter Needham
- Kiro, a young man - Paul Howes
- Shogo, another young man - Edward Peel
- The Commodore - Nigel Hawthorne
Royal Court Theatre Staging
After its first run, the play was performed again in 1969 at the Royal Court Theatre in London. This was a special event to celebrate a new law. The new law was the Theatres Act 1968. This act ended stage censorship in the United Kingdom.
Before this law, plays had to be approved by a government official. This official could demand changes or even ban a play. The Royal Court Theatre staged Bond's play to mark this important moment for freedom in theatre.
