All the world’s a stage at the 2025 edition of World Theatre Festival Shizuoka, where the city’s streets, parks, and historic sites transform into spaces for storytelling from April 26 to May 6. The festival unfolds across Shizuoka City, bringing performances to iconic venues such as Shizuoka Arts Theatre, Shizuoka Performing Arts Park (Nihondaira), and Sumpu Castle Park.
Organized by the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC), World Theatre Festival Shizuoka continues its mission to connect Shizuoka with the world through theatre. It once again extends its reach beyond the stage, incorporating the Fujinokuni Open-Air Arts Festival and the 10th-anniversary edition of Street Theatre Festival “STRANGE SEED SHIZUOKA,” a renowned street theatre festival. Together, these events form “PLAY! WEEK,” a vibrant, citywide celebration that transforms Shizuoka into a living, breathing stage for grand productions and spontaneous performances in unexpected places.
At the helm of this artistic movement is Satoshi Miyagi, SPAC’s general artistic director, who not only leads the festival but also drives the organization’s broader vision. A pioneering force in the industry, Miyagi founded the KU NA’ UKA Theatre Company in 1990, quickly gaining recognition for staging productions both in Japan and internationally. Renowned for his distinctive approach, he masterfully blends modern textual interpretations combined with the physical expressions and performance traditions of Asian theatre.
Shizuoka and the World on Stage
A key highlight of the festival is the open-air production of Ramayana (April 29 to May 6), directed by Miyagi. This visually stunning adaptation of the ancient Indian epic takes place at Sumpu Castle Park and brings a fresh perspective to the legendary tale of Prince Rama’s journey to rescue Princess Sita from the demon king Ravana.
Other notable local and international productions, staged at multiple venues, include:
- As Far As Impossible (Switzerland) – April 26 to 29: Directed by Tiago Rodrigues, this play delves into the complexities faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones.
- LACRIMA (France) – May 4 to 6: Under the direction of Caroline Guiela Nguyen, this production sheds light on the unseen artisans of the haute couture industry: a Parisian haute couture house, an embroidery workshop in Mumbai, and the lace-makers of Alençon.
- The Scream (Japan) – May 2: A flamenco performance inspired by Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, blending raw emotion with the artistry of Kojima Shoji, a legend in a flamenco world.
- MAMI WATTA (France) – April 26 to 27: A solo performance by Merlin Nyakam, the renowned Paris-based dancer and choreographer, returning to SPAC, open-air Udo Theatre after overwhelming demand from last year’s productions.
While Ramayana unfolds on a grand stage, the city itself transforms into a performance space with STRANGE SEED SHIZUOKA from May 3 to 5, celebrating its 10th anniversary with various theatrical productions, open-call programs, art installations, and workshops. This initiative blurs the lines between performers and audiences, encouraging public participation and transforming everyday spaces into stages. One key program of Strange Seed Shizuoka will be the Cardboard Keep Building Project, a large-scale participatory installation led by French artist Olivier Grossetête.
Beyond Theatre
From May 3 to 6, the remainder of PLAY! WEEK will take place in Sumpu Castle Park as PLAY! PLAY! PLAY! Garden, an interactive theatrical experience held with the Ramayana performance and STRANGE SEED SHIZUOKA. The event will feature theatre, dance, music, and craft workshops, as well as culinary experiences that showcase Shizuoka’s distinct food culture.
The Gastronomy Plaza in the park features a diverse selection of local delicacies, such as wasabi, Sakura Shrimp, local craft beer and more. The food selection is overseen by the Foundation for Shizuoka New Food Culture Innovation, while event coordination is led by snd Café owner Yunoki Yasuhiro. Adding to the immersive atmosphere, a special meet-and-greet experience with SPAC actors will take place in the same place.
The event will also feature the Personal Mobility Test Drive Experience, offering test rides of electric personal mobility vehicles and showcasing emerging mobility where people and technology coexist. The exhibit includes the participation of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Shizuoka SUBARU Automobile Corporation and WHILL Corporation.
Back at Nihondaira, Shizuoka Performing Arts Park, on 27th April, the festival will be hosting a tea-picking experience alongside other guests and SPAC actors, providing insight into one of the region’s most cherished traditions. Niyakamu will join the tea-picking experience as a guest. Following this, a guided walking tour takes participants through the park’s theatres, offering a closer look at the creative spaces that shape SPAC productions. The tea-picking experience is ¥1,000 per person, with a discounted rate of ¥500 for those under 18 and free entry for children under 7. The tour is priced at ¥2,000 per person, with a ¥500 fee for participants under 18.
For a more social and immersive setting, the Festival Café & Bar in Mini Museum THEATRON provides the perfect space. Located at the entrance of Shizuoka Performing Arts Park, it offers a welcoming atmosphere to relax, enjoy food and drinks, and engage in conversations with artists and fellow festivalgoers. The THEATRON also features exhibits on global theater, open daily during the festival with free admission.
With its mix of immersive experiences and artistic expression, World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2025 invites audiences to engage with the city in a way that goes beyond spectatorship. This spirit of art without borders is at the heart of SPAC, which has been shaping the performing arts in Japan since 1995 and the festival itself since its inception in 2000.
