The musical "Robot in the Garden" will open at the Jiyu Theater in Tokyo on Saturday, November 7. At the Shiki Arts Center in Yokohama, intense rehearsals are taking place daily in preparation for the premiere.
Six years after its initial performance in 2020, the production has undergone a brush-up involving changes to songs and dialogue. The goal is to focus more closely on the relationship between the protagonist Ben and Tang, a robot nearing the end of its life, while also reflecting the current era where AI and robots have become more familiar presences.
The creative team challenges the actors with various approaches during rehearsals, constantly trying new methods as they progress.
During "scene-by-scene" rehearsals, the cast focused on the Act 1 finale number, "Aiming for the Horizon." This dance number features a bright, up-tempo melody accompanied by warm, positive lyrics written by Ikue Osada.
Director Yuna Koyama spoke about this number:
"I want to send cheers to Ben and Tang, but also deliver cheers to the audience. I want each character to speak not just as their role, but as an actor, conveying that 'I've had tough times too, but I overcame them. And I can still move forward.' Since this is the fundamental message of the work, I want the strength to convey that clearly."
Music Director Keisuke Shimizu also emphasized, "I want the singing style to convey the meaning of the lyrics 100% as a message to the audience." All performers formed a semicircle, meticulously adjusting pitch nuances, rhythmic details, and note endings, repeating the song until it was perfect. The result is a three-dimensional scene where the lyrics stand out within beautifully constructed harmonies, delivering the message directly.
Next, the rehearsal moved to the opening scene of Act 2 set in Akihabara, Tokyo. For this production, significant changes were made to both the music and the overall scene. The brush-up aims to depict the bustle and entertainment value of the metropolis "Tokyo" through the eyes of Ben and Tang, while making their emotional states more prominent.
Tang learns much from Ben and his surroundings, growing throughout the journey. In this Tokyo scene, he experiences many new "firsts." He finds amusement in Ben's confusion in the unfamiliar city and shows interest in novel things, highlighting the emotionally rich side of Tang developed through their travels.
Toby Orie, responsible for puppet design and direction, carefully reviewed Tang's subtle movements, providing detailed feedback on what worked well and suggestions for improvement.
The actors operating Tang tried various expressions to breathe new life into the robot. When the actors offered ideas, Toby responded with, "Let's work on that together later so we can draw the audience in even more!" A warm energy filled the rehearsal room as creators and actors united to build the show.
The Tokyo run begins on Saturday, November 7, and continues until Saturday, February 13, 2027. Following this, the Kyoto performance will open in April.
Please come to the theater to experience this gentle stage production that offers warm emotion and helps you notice the many important things close to home.
(Photography: Takashi Uehara, Akira Abe, Shiki Theatre Company)
"Robot in the Garden" Tokyo Performance
Schedule:
Saturday, November 7, 2026 – Saturday, February 13, 2027
Venue:
Jiyu Theater (Tsukiji, Tokyo)
