Doubtful Sound
A bi-lingual Japanese Folktale theatre company based in London
Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound: Bringing Japanese Folktales to Life
Doubtful Sound is a theatre company that specialises in translating and performing traditional Japanese folktales. Based in London, the company stages shows in both Europe and Japan.
Japan is a complex archipelago that celebrates and cherishes its diversity and local specialties from one area to another. Our shows celebrate one area's culture; its history, language, music, dance, clothes, food, festivals, attitudes; through presenting folktales from that region.
We incorporate traditional folksong with Japanese instruments into the performances.
Captivating Performances at Doubtful Sound
Reviews and news articles
4 star review of Hinohara Village in London Pub Theatres Magazine
https://www.londonpubtheatres.com/review-hinohara-village-at-barons-court-theatre-27-feb-2-mar-2024
"Hinohara Village, its residents and the storytellers themselves were delightfully captivating as if they had just stepped out from the newly translated Japanese folktales book in the basement of Barons Court Theatre."
4 star review of Hinohara Village in London Theatre 1
"Doubtful Sound’s Hinohara Village is a compact and mesmerising gem."
Article in The Japan Times
Everything Theatre review of The Woman who Eats Babies
"Shinako Wakatsuki (who is both translator and lead actor) finds a way to wonderfully meld English humour and authentic storytelling that gives us a taste of Yamanashi as well as common ground to access the tales. It is simply genius!"
Review of Yama
https://thesoundofheavyrain.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/passport-was-out-at-the-kings-head-in-islington-last-night/
"We were responding to a talented company really enjoying what they were doing, passionate about sharing their knowledge and love of Japan’s lesser-known sides."
Local news article from Yamagata
Doubtful Sound's Past Performances
27 February to 3 March 2024
Barons Court Theatre
Hinohara Village
Collaboration with musician Sherry Sugita
5 to 9 July 2022
Barons Court Theatre
The Woman Who Eats Babies (and other tales from Yamanashi)
Collaboration with Shamisen players Yui Shikakura and Hibiki Ichikawa
22, 25 and 26 May 2019
'Tsukuru no ie', Notoshima, Noto Peninsula;
'Hachi-ken michi Nōgakudō', Noh theatre, Kaga;
Halahelu, Tokyo
Collaboration with the Shamisen master, Akihiro Ichikawa
Performances of The Woman of Ishikawa
26 July 2018
Special Event hosted by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
Collaboration with the SOAS Minyo Group
May 5th and 6th, 2018
The Cat’s Back in association with Fragility Takeover for Wandsworth Fringe Festival. Collaboration with the SOAS Minyo Group
23 September 2017
Event produced by the Japan Society – double bill with a staged reading
The Horse hospital, Russell Square, London
Collaboration with the SOAS Minyo Group
27 April 2017
Nomin Cafe, Shimokitazawa, Tokyo
11 and 31 July 2016
Gatton Park Hall, Surrey, UK
Bilingual performance of Yama – Tales of Shonai and lecture/workshop for The UK Japanese Garden Society
Drayton Arms Theatre, South Kensington, London, UK
Part of the Bastille Festival hosted by Exchange Theatre
12 July to 2 August 2015
The Kings Head Theatre, Angel, London, UK
Bilingual performance of Yama – Tales of Shonai
Funding support by The Sasakawa Foundation
8 to 12 October, 2014
Tiny Alice, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Part of the Alice Festival
July 2014
Gyokusenji Temple, Tsuruoka, Yamagata prefecture (http://www.gyokusenji.or.jp/); and Honma Musuem (http://www.homma-museum.or.jp/)