Japanese Theatre Terminology
I thought Iโd make this reference post for myself and for everybody who, reading the translations on this blog, may have run across these technical theatre terms and wish to better understand their full meaning.
From now on, Iโll refer to each of these terms in Japanese for the sake of brevity.
โป Please note this isnโt supposed to be an extensive guide of all the steps leading up to a stage performance, but only a summary of the main stages, as explained by Tamaki Yลซkiย in his posts and on this detailed text.
Needless to say, if you run across any mistakes or misinterpretations, please point those out to me! Thank you very much!!ย
้กๅใใ = kao-awase - All the people involved in the play meet up for the first time. Itโs also the opportunityย for the Cast to get to know each other and to read through the script for the first time.
็จฝๅค = kฤko - It simply meansย โrehearsalโ. Itโs actually an umbrella term, as there are many different types ofย kฤko. These are:
่ชญใฟๅใใ = yomi-awase - Itโs a formal reading of the script. The Cast and the producers sit around a table and the actors simply run their lines. No props nor sets involved at this stage.
็ซใก็จฝๅค = tachi-gฤko - A โstand-up rehearsalโ. Itโs the first rehearsal where the actors run their lines standing up and perform each scene. At this stage, they donโt perform the play from start to finish, but instead they go over each scene/act separately many times. Itโs a very important stage, where the actor will receive all the necessary corrections from the Director.ย
้ใ็จฝๅค = tลshi-gฤko - Once every scene has been properly rehearsed, the Cast performs the entire play without interruptions. This stage is divided into three parts:
็ฒ้ใ็จฝๅค = ara-tลshi-gฤko - At the beginning of a tลshigฤko it is alright if the actor forgets his lines or improvises.
ในใใฟใ่ฆใ้ใ็จฝๅค = staff-mise-tลshi-gฤkoย - ย Similar to an ara-tลshi-gฤko. It takes place in front of the entire Production and the whole Crew in order for them to understand the full structure of the play.
่กฃ่ฃ
ไปใ้ใ = ishล-tsuki-tลshi - After the fitting, the actors finally perform wearing their costumes.ย
ๅฐๅฑๅ
ฅใ = koya-iri - All rehearsals on set are over and itโs time to step into the actual theatre for the first time.
ไป่พผใฟ = shi-komi - On the appointed day of koyairi, the staff prepares the dressing rooms and theย technical staff sets up the stage and all the props to allow the Cast to perform.
ๅ ดๅฝใใ = ba-atari - It is the first rehearsal where the actors, in full makeup & costume, get to familiarise with all the props and the stage. It is time for them to finalise positioning with the Director, as they go over their scenes. Itโs not a full rehearsal, instead it focuses on a few specific scenes/acts of the play. It is also the chance for the technical staff to run sound & lighting checks while the Cast is on stage.
ใใฏใใซใซใชใใผใตใซ = technical rehearsal - The technical staff is involved in this. The Cast doesnโt take part in this type of rehearsal.
ใฒใใใญย = genepro - Itโs short for the German โGeneralprobeโ, i.e. โGeneral Rehearsalโ. Itโs the very last full rehearsal and it looks exactly the way the audience will experience it. It is generally at this stage that the Media and the Press are invited in to interview the Cast and to take pictures (ๅฒใฟๅๆ - kakomi-shลซzai), and sometimes to film part of the performance in order to promote the show. For the record, a genepro can be omitted; if so, that is if the Production decides to go from baatari straight to the performance,ย the process is called ไนใๆใก (noriuchi).ย
็จฝๅคๆใก = kฤko-uchi - Itโs a nomikai a.k.a. a drinking party where the entire Cast meet up to pump each other up for the show - generally, they all drink much less than after the end of the run (lol)!
ๆฌ็ช = honban - The play is finally performed in front of an audience.ย
ๆใกไธใ = uchi-age -ย When the last show is over (ๅ็ฉๆฅฝ - senshลซraku), itโs time to celebrate! Truth be told, itโs just another nomikai.
gummygunk
tangentwithtanner
romaincrisis
vaporwave
