Noh Reimagined 2025: Bashō, Matsukaze & Song of Rona Island (world premiere)

Noh Reimagined returns with a powerful edition as part of Kings Place’s Earth Unwrapped. Experience the transcendent artistry of Japanese noh theatre with two classical masterpieces —Bashō and Matsukaze, alongside the world premiere of Song of Rona Island, a historic first-time collaboration between Scottish artists and Japanese Noh performers.

Bashō (Plantain Tree) by Konparu Zenchiku, a is a mesmerising tale in which the spirit of a banana plant, appearing as a middle-aged  woman, embodies the Lotus Sutra’s teaching that plants too, can attain enlightenment, reflecting a vision of the harmony and equality of humans and the natural world.

Matsukaze (Pining Wind) by Zeami Motokiyo tells the story of a beautiful young woman named Matsukaze( meaning sound of wind blowing through pine trees) and her sister Murasame (meaning cold autumn rain), both of whom are ghosts who have waited in the otherworld for the return of the exiled nobleman Ariwara no Yukihira. In her longing, Matsukaze mistakes a pine tree for her beloved and dons Yukihira’s treasured court costume. She dances in a frenzy of remembrance and longing, before disappearing once more into the wind blowing through the pine tree.

Song of Rona Island draws inspiration from eminent Scottish poet and environmentalist Kathleen Jamie’s essay ‘On Rona’. Acclaimed Scottish musicians Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle) and Brìghde Chaimbeul (Scottish smallpipes) join 6 Noh performers. Through the encounter of Scottish sound , culture and noh theatre, it explores a new realm of sound, conveying the story of abandoned island and the fragile ecosystems and human existence. The quiet yet powerful messages emerge from two remote cultures at opposite ends of the earth.

Noh Reimagined is a London-based festival and year-round project, curated and produced by Akiko Yanagisawa (Mu:Arts), that explores how the ancient Japanese art of Noh continues to inspire new artistic expression today. Since 2016, in partnership with Kings Place, it has showcased classical noh performances by master artists from Japan alongside bold new commissions by leading UK creatives across music, dance, theatre, and visual art. Through performances, workshops, and cross-cultural collaborations at venues including the Aldeburgh Festival, Birmingham, Sheffield, Rome, Madrid, and Tokyo, Noh Reimagined invites audiences to experience noh as a living, evolving tradition addressing timeless themes of memory, nature, and transformation.

‘I cannot praise this two-day festival enough. ★★★★★ Planet Hugill  

‘Sumidagawa at Aldeburgh Festival.’ ★★★★★ The Guardian

‘Noh Reimagined shows how collaboration can transcend conventional boundaries.’ The Journal of Music

‘Noh Reimagined opens new possibilities for music, sound, and historical connections, encouraging creative risks and the integration of Noh aesthetics into Western practice. This project has the potential to inspire younger composers and influence British contemporary artists, much like Noh’s historical impact on figures like Britten and Stockhausen.’ Ben Nobuto, Composer, Noh Reimagined 2024 

What is Noh? Learn the basics here.
Read ‘Noh, an art of contrasts’ feature by Diego Pellecchia
Photo gallery on Noh Reimagined website.