New National Theatre Tokyo facts for kids
New National Theatre, Tokyo
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| Address | 1-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku Tokyo Japan |
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| Coordinates | 35°40′57″N 139°41′8″E / 35.68250°N 139.68556°E |
| Capacity | 1,814 (Opera House), 1,038 (Playhouse), 340-468 (The Pit) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Architect | Takahiko Yanagisawa |
| Website | |
| http://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/ | |
The New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) (新国立劇場, Shin Kokuritsu Gekijō) is Japan's main center for performing arts. It's a special place where you can see amazing shows like opera, ballet, contemporary dance, and drama. The theatre is located in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo.
Since it opened in 1997, the NNTT has put on more than 650 different shows. Each year, there are about 300 performances. Around 200,000 people come to enjoy the theatre every season. The NNTT is known for its beautiful design and modern facilities. Many people think it has some of the best theatre spaces in the world. In 2007, it even got a cool nickname: Opera Palace, Tokyo.
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Building the Theatre
The New National Theatre, Tokyo was finished in February 1997. The very first shows for the public happened in October of that same year. The theatre is connected to a tall building called the Tokyo Opera City Tower.
This tower has concert halls, an art gallery, and a media-art museum. It also has offices, many restaurants, and shops. The theatre and the skyscraper together are known as "Tokyo Opera City."
Besides putting on shows, the NNTT does many other things. They have training programs for young artists in ballet, opera, and theatre. Other performance groups can rent the theatre spaces. They also hold exhibitions about performing arts. You can even use their video and book libraries. The NNTT offers special shows for children and students. They also give backstage tours and arrange international exchanges for artists. There's even a special center in Choshi city where old stage sets and costumes are stored and shown.
What Makes the NNTT Special?
The NNTT is supported by the Japanese government and other groups. It gets money from different funds, government grants, ticket sales, and donations. This helps it keep putting on great shows and running its programs.
Sometimes, artists and directors have said that their creative ideas were limited. This was due to the way the theatre's management worked. In 2010, the government decided to reduce the money it gave to the NNTT. They also cut grants for trainees who wanted to study abroad.
Theatre Spaces and Facilities
The NNTT building is made of steel and concrete. It has 5 floors above ground and 4 floors below. The total area of the building is about 68,879 m2 (741,410 sq ft). The building was designed by Takahiko Yanagisawa and TAK Architectural Institute. The NNTT has three main theatre spaces.
Opera House (Opera Palace)
- This theatre has 1,814 seats.
- Seats are on the 1st to 4th floors.
- It is mainly used for opera and ballet performances. Sometimes, concerts are held here too.
- There's a special area for the orchestra that can hold up to 120 musicians. Its depth can be changed for different shows.
- The stage is a "proscenium" style, which means it has a frame like a picture. It has four different stage areas. These can be moved up and down to quickly change scenes.
- Screens on the sides of the stage show subtitles for operas.
- In 2007, this theatre was given the nickname "Opera Palace, Tokyo."
Playhouse
- This theatre can have 1,038 seats in a proscenium style.
- It can also have 1,010 seats in an open style.
- Seats are on the first and second floors.
- It's mostly used for plays and modern dance. Opera and ballet can also be performed here.
- Like the Opera House, it has a four-stage system and can have a temporary orchestra pit.
The Pit
- This space has between 340 and 468 seats.
- It is located on the first basement floor (B1F).
- The stage and seats can be moved around.
- It's used for modern and experimental performances where the stage can be set up in different ways.
Other Areas
- The NNTT also has an information center on the 5th floor.
- There are rehearsal rooms on the B2F.
- It has training rooms and a roof garden on the 5th floor.
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Approach (2019)
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Promenade (2019)
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Promenade (2019)
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Main entrance (2019)
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Foyer (2019)
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Middle Theater Foyer (2019)
New National Theatre Opera (NNTO)
In 2005, conductor Hiroshi Wakasugi became an artistic advisor for the opera part of the NNTT. This part is also known as the New National Theatre Opera, or NNTO. He later became the artistic director in September 2007. Sadly, Wakasugi passed away in July 2009. After that, Tadaaki Otaka was the acting artistic director for the 2009/2010 season.
The opera company usually puts on traditional shows. The main singers often come from top opera companies in Europe and other places. Famous Japanese singers who are known around the world are also invited to sing lead roles. The NNTO also performs Japanese-themed operas. Examples include Shuzenji Monogatari (June 2009) and Ikebe Shinichiro's Rokumeikan (June 2010).
New National Theatre Ballet (NNTB)
The current Artistic Director of the New National Theatre Ballet (NNTB) is Miyako Yoshida. She was the first Japanese principal dancer at the famous Royal Ballet. Many guest artists from other countries perform with the NNTB. These include Svetlana Zakharova and Denis Matvienko.
The NNTB's style is based on Russian, British, and French classical ballet. The company has performed in other countries. They performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in February 2008. They also performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in September 2009.
