Profile

Yukio Ninagawa

Born in Saitama in 1935, Yukio Ninagawa joined the theater company Seihai in 1955. In 1967 he formed the company Gendaijin Gekijo. In 1969 he made his directing debut with the play “Shinjo Afururu Keihakusa”. In 1974 he entered the commercial theater world with a production of “Romeo and Juliet”. Since then he has produced a succession of theatrical hits, establishing himself as one of the most renowned Japanese directors. He is currently holds the position as artistic director at the Saitama Arts Foundation. Starting with the “Saitama Shakespeare Series” at the Saitama Arts Theatre, Ninagawa has directed a number of famous plays such as the Greek tragedies, Japanese classical and contemporary theatre, both in Japan and abroad. Among his recent works “King Lear”, “Farewell My Concubine”, “Waga tamashi ha kagayaku mizu nari “, “Glass Mask”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “Omote ura Gennai kaeru gassen“ and “A Winter’s Tale” (January 2009) are worth mentioning. He is also active as a movie director. His latest work, “Snakes and Earrings” was released last autumn.