Forthcoming
Noh Reimagined 2026
As part of Scotland to the World, we bring you a unique fusion of Japanese and Scottish culture. Rarely experienced outside its home country, Noh is a 600-year-old form of classical Japanese musical drama, into which the experimental Noh Reimagined theatre company is breathing new life. They bring us today’s two-part performance, introducing Noh Theatre in Part One with a piece based on the oldest novel of all time, followed by a new and contemporary collaboration blending Scottish and Japanese folklore, myth and music in Part Two.
Part One: Nonomiya (Wildwood Shrine) (15th century)
Nonomiya is a masterwork of Noh theatre, written by Konparu Zenchiku in the 15th century, based on the 11th century classic, The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. This performance presents the famous second act, in which the spirit of Lady Rokujō reveals her lingering passion and sorrow.
Part Two: Song of Rona Island (2025)
A once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the groundbreaking union of Scottish culture and the 600-year-old art of Japanese Noh theatre, inspired by former Makar Kathleen Jamie’s essay ‘On Rona’ from her collection, Sightlines. Through dialogue, chant, dance, and music, five Noh performers and Scots musicians Aidan O’Rourke and Brìghde Chaimbeul take us on an ecological journey to an abandoned Hebridean island to discover its haunting past.
Part of Scotland to the World. Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown, The British Council, and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
Noh Reimagined at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, August 2026
Noh Reimagined 2025
Noh Reimagined 2025: Bashō, Matsukaze & Song of Rona Island (world premiere)
Noh Reimagined returns as part of Kings Place’s Earth Unwrapped, celebrating the transcendent artistry of Japanese Noh theatre. This year features two classical masterpieces — Bashō and Matsukaze — alongside the world premiere of Song of Rona Island, a landmark collaboration between Scottish artists and Japanese Noh performers.
Bashō tells of a plant spirit embodying enlightenment, while Matsukaze follows two ghost sisters longing for a lost love. Song of Rona Island unites Scottish musicians and six Noh performers, blending sound and tradition to explore an abandoned island and fragile ecosystems.
Noh Reimagined 2025 is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, with the cooperation of TESSENKAI Public Interest Incorporated Association