The performance Jonah is an intense and captivating encounter between classical and contemporary stage arts from Romania and Japan. It delves into the chaotic world of the modern individual through the symbolic story of the biblical character Jonah. At its core is the eponymous play by one of Romania’s most acclaimed and beloved playwrights, Marin Sorescu, regarded as his greatest masterpiece. The direction is by another iconic figure in Romanian and European theatre, Silviu Purcărete, with the role of Jonah portrayed by one of Japan’s most renowned actors, Kuranosuke Sasaki.
Jonah is a monodrama that recounts the suffering of a saintly fisherman who is swallowed by a great fish. While sitting in its belly imagining his escape, he is swallowed once again – by an even larger fish. In the play’s foreword, Sorescu remarks that the most terrifying moment is when Jonah stops hearing his own echo. At first, he calls out “Jonah,” and the echo responds “Jonah.” Eventually, the echo fades to just “Jo” – an ancient word for “I.”
This situation mirrors the condition of contemporary humanity in a complex world. Jonah’s words sound like revelation, enlightenment, or utter despair. Drawing on their shared poetic sensibility, the Romanian-Japanese creative team crafts a real gem of theatrical experience.
The production of Jonah also marks the culmination of a long-standing collaboration and mutual trust between director Silviu Purcărete and actor Kuranosuke Sasaki, known for his numerous roles in theatre, film, and television. Their partnership began with the successful cooperation between the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and Metropolitan Theatre Tokyo, which started with touring performances. It led to two productions directed by Purcărete with Japanese actors in Tokyo, both starring Sasaki: Richard III by Shakespeare in 2017 and The Miser by Molière in 2022. During his stay in Japan, Purcărete immersed himself in traditional Japanese culture, including Kabuki theatre.
Silviu Purcărete (b. 1950, Bucharest, Romania) is one of Romania’s most prominent theatre directors, with an impressive career both nationally and internationally. After graduating from the National Academy of Theatre and Film in Bucharest in 1974, he worked at theatres in Piatra Neamț, Constanța, Bucharest, Craiova, and Sibiu. He also taught at the Academy and served as director of the Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest. In 1996, he became director of the National Centre for Dramatic Art in Limousin, France, where he founded a school for young actors.
He has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Burgtheater in Austria, the Norwegian Theatre in Oslo, the National Theatre of Portugal in Porto (São João), the Katona József Theatre and National Theatre in Budapest, the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, Comédie de Saint-Étienne in France, and opera houses in Bonn, Glasgow, Cardiff, Vienna, Nancy, Essen, and others. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Critics’ Award and the Hamada Foundation Award for Artistic Excellence at the Edinburgh Festival in 1991, the Peter Brook Golden Globe for Best Director in 1995, a Special Jury Prize at the Gdańsk International Shakespeare Festival, and a Special Prize at the European Theatre Awards.
Marin Sorescu (1936-1996) was a Romanian poet, playwright, and novelist. After the 1989 revolution, he served as Minister of Culture (1993-1995) without political affiliation. He authored 23 poetry collections and was a member of the Académie Mallarmé (1983) and the Romanian Academy (1992). His work is known for its accessible yet resilient language and a strong sense of irony, which allowed him to maintain a balanced stance and avoid conflict, publishing his poetry and novels freely throughout his life. His dramatic work, however, met a different fate. Jonah was published in 1968 and premiered in Bucharest in 1969 to a packed house. However, the text was deemed controversial, and the production was soon shut down. Despite its short stage life, the play received international acclaim and has been translated into several languages. Sorescu was influenced by Eugène Ionesco and the Theatre of the Absurd.
Kuranosuke Sasaki (b. 1968, Kyoto, Japan) is the son of a traditional sake brewer. He began his acting career with the physical theatre troupe “Planet Pistachio”, which he co-founded. After moving to Tokyo, he appeared in numerous theatre productions, films, and television series in both leading and supporting roles. His most notable stage performances include the lead roles in Richard III by Shakespeare and The Miser by Molière, both directed by Silviu Purcărete; The Lion in Winter by James Goldman (2022); Macbeth – a solo show directed by Andrew Goldberg (2015); Bent by Martin Sherman (2016); and The Shawshank Redemption based on the novel by Stephen King. He has also performed in Kabuki theatre. In 2023, he was awarded the Kyoto Prize for Culture.
The performance is part of the International Programme of Ivan Vazov National Theatre and is presented together with platform World Theatre in Sofia Platform 2025 as part of the joint initiative #StageWithoutBorders.
The production is supported by: Sibiu City Hall, The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
Presented by: JTI
Sponsors for international tour: JTI, Lexus, Nepi Rockcastle
Sponsor for International Transfer: All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
