Originally by Makoto Shinkai
Official Stage Production
Based on the Anime from Makoto Shinkai/ CoMix Wave Films 
原作：新海誠監督作品 『言の葉の庭』
Co-adapted by Susan Momoko Hingley & Alexandra Rutter
Directed by Alexandra Rutter

Off West End Award Nominations: 
LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY Hiroki Berrecloth
SOUND DESIGN Nicola T Chang
VIDEO DESIGN Kenny

‘愛"よりも昔、"孤悲"のものがたり’

‘...you’ve been living your whole life alone...’

Takao and Yukari are escaping.

Whilst seeking solace in a Japanese garden, an out-of-step woman and an offbeat teenager meet by chance. Social misfits with a shared sense of loneliness, the unlikely pair bond over classical poetry, shoemaking and bad cooking. But the heartfelt companionship that could save them might also ruin them…      

Based on the stereotype-defying Anime and novel from world-renowned filmmaker, Makoto Shinkai (Your Name., Suzume), Japanese animation continues to make waves on the UK stage with this global premiere. 

A refreshingly candid Tokyo tale reminiscent of the adorable melancholy of Lost in Translation. Delve deeper into Shinkai’s visually emotive story about the lines between platonic and romantic longing and what it is to feel alone in the biggest metropolis in the world. Seven lost souls, drowning in technology yet unable to connect.  

From the UK’s Whole Hog Theatre, creators of the world's first stage adaptation of a Hayao Miyazaki film with the kind permission of Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke), and Tokyo’s Anime stage production specialists Nelke Planning (Attack on Titan, Naruto, Sailor Moon stage productions) comes a unique, new Anglo-Japanese collaboration.

 

★★★★★ ‘It's sublime! Whole Hog Theatre should be commended for another triumph’ Otaku News 

★★★★ ‘A compact production with impressively far-reaching ambitions, which will surely appeal to both anime obsessives and new audiences alike.’ Financial Times

★★★★ ‘Enthralling... It is all strangely beguiling and strangely beautiful’ The Reviews Hub

★★★★ ‘A stylish show that remains true to its animated Japanese roots’ Morning Star

★★★★ ‘Light and refreshing’ Always Time For Theatre

★★★★ ‘The Garden of Words offers a chance to see something special that usually only visitors to the Edinburgh Festival get to see.’ Breaking The Fourth Wall

‘Beautiful... It’s a visually striking evocation of animation’ Time Out 

‘Moments of striking beauty’ The Stage

‘Sends us to another place without losing its connection with the real world.’ Broadway World

‘Profoundly hypnotic... a treat to watch’ The Spy in the Stalls

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Cosplay Friendly Night

We are thrilled to be hosting a special Cosplay friendly night on Thursday 31 August. We have allocated special cosplay community seats in the stalls and cosplayers will have the opportunity to have photos on stage after the show and meet the cast.

Please note:

• Our seats are only 48cm wide and 42cm deep and we don’t have storage inside the venue so any props or headgear would need to be small enough to be stored under the seat in or lap.
• You will be seated around other audiences to please be aware of size of costume so as not to disrupt viewing for other audiences

HOW TO BOOK

• Select Thursday 31 August at 7.30pm performance
• Add the code COSPLAY into the promotion code box under the ticket prices
• Select your preferred seat (identified with a star symbol) and complete your booking

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Trailer and photography by Piers Foley.

Image Ⓒ Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films