Due to the COVID-19 crisis since 2020, performances of Shakespeare in Japan have been partially cancelled or postponed. On the other hand, the Sai no Kuni Shakespeare series Henry VIII, many of whose performances were cancelled in 2020, resumes in September 2022, and King John, all of whose performances have been cancelled, begins in December 2022. Although it is still difficult to watch plays in theatres like before the COVID-19 crisis, the importance of theatrical video distribution is increasing. There are also actors who are taking on the challenge of performing Shakespeare’s plays on YouTube, such as the 7th Generation Laboratory. Now that video distribution is popular, has there been a change in the way we think about ‘theatre’ itself? If so, how will our way of thinking about ‘theatre’ change, and how will it further transform in the future? In the Epilogue of this exhibition, we would like to think about Shakespearean performances and the future of theatre together.
