Vanishing Point x KAAT - Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey 品川猿の告白

A Vanishing Point and Kanagawa Arts Theatre co-production, in association with Tramway

Performances 7pm on 22 Feb, 26 Feb, 27 Feb*, 28 Feb and 1 Mar 2025
PLUS matinee performance on Saturday 1 Mar, 2pm 

*Post-show discussion
The performance on Thursday 27 Feb is followed by a discussion from 8.50 to 9.20pm. There will be a 10 minute break after the show and before the discussion begins.

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Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey is a major new international theatre work based on short stories by the acclaimed author Haruki Murakami, featuring performers from Scotland and Japan, human and puppet monkeys, lurking shadows, stunning sound and Vanishing Point’s distinctive visual language. The show will draw audiences into the inimitable, dream-like domain of one of the world’s best-loved authors.

Co-created by Matthew Lenton (Vanishing Point) and Sandy Grierson, and performed in English and Japanese, with full dialogue captioning built into the stage design. 

“We are diving into Haruki Murakami’s beautiful and mysterious world. We chose these stories because, apart from their inimitable brilliance, they are open to interpretation and a springboard for artistic inspiration and expression. They are fantastical stories, yet with deep connections to pressing social issues and fundamental human experiences. On one level, Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey is a detective story, a thrilling ‘whodunnit’ set amongst the mysterious mountains of Japan and subterranean tunnels of Tokyo. On another, it is a sensitive exploration of human compulsion, redemption, and the search for one’s true self.” (Matthew Lenton)

CAST: Rin Nasu, Sandy Grierson, Satoru Date, Elicia Daly, Yuya Tanaka, Sam Stopford, Junko Kano, Aisha Goodman and puppeteer Ailie Cohen. 

Running time - 1hr 40mins, no interval
(Bar will close at 10.30pm each performance evening)

Contains adult themes (Age guidance 12+)

ACCESS 
British Sign Language Interpreted on Friday 28 February (Karen Forbes and Rebecca Goodall)

All performances will have full dialogue captioning in English and Japanese built into the stage design

Watch a BSL introduction to the show on the Vanishing Point website

Childcare
Vanishing Point are delighted to be able to offer childcare to coincide with the matinee performance of Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey on Saturday 1 March. This will be delivered by Tinies (Glasgow) in The Boilerhouse within the Hidden Gardens between 1 to 4pm. The cost will be £10 per child or £15 for two children.  For more information and to reserve a place, please contact Eleanor Scott (Producer - Vanishing Point) on el@vanishing-point.org by Friday 14 February. Places are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 

CREDITS
A Vanishing Point and Kanagawa Arts Theatre co-production, in association with Tramway. Presented in partnership with Dundee Rep and The Japan Foundation and supported by British Council (Connections through Culture), Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. Vanishing Point are funded by Creative Scotland. 

Photos by Shinji Hosono 
Illustration by Chitose Kato