œWhat is Mizuto Abura?

After studying mime with Hiroyasu Sasaki at the Institute of Japan Mime,
JunjuniJun TakahashijMomokoniMomoko Fujitajand OnoderaniShuji Onorderaj founded Mizuto Abura in December 1995.
Unsatisfied with works considered to be traditional, the group soon departed from classical mime in search of a more experimental style.
SugaponiReina Sugajjoined in 1998, completing Mizuto Aburafs current quartet.
Mizuto Aburafs performances are an amalgamation of elements derived from mime, theatre and dance, in which the artists relentlessly challenge their physical possibilities.
Often without music, the tapestry interweaves illusion, comedy and satire, transporting the audience to the other side of our world.
eWhat is the basis of our understanding towards life?f
eWhat lies at the core of our visual awareness?f
These are Mizuto Aburafs themes.
In pursuit of ethe ambiguity of manf, Mizuto Abura creates a highly original world of their own.
The troupe toured not only Japan but also Europe, USA, Asia and Oceania with great acclaim.
In August 2000, Mizuto Abura was nominated for the Total Theatre Award among the 8 nominees chosen from the 400 groups and artists who participated in Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The following December, the group won Best Prize at the Tokyo Millennium Arts Festival with CELLOPHANE SINGULAR, which also received The Herald Angel Award at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2001 the following year.
In January 2003, awarded The Asahi Performing Arts Award hSHUJI TERAYAMA Awardh@which is awarded to up-and-coming artists.

Japanese dance critic Mr. Tatsuro Ishii says;
Mizuto Abura has innovative ideas and very original performance style, seen in that light, they has an own artistic nature such as compagnie PHILIPPE GENTY, Philippe Decoufle.


The Japanese word eso-zof means both Creation and Imagination.
Mizuto Aburafs goal is to meet people all over the world through its performances and to share the joy of these two eso-zofs.

*Mizuto Abura means gWater and Oilh in English.

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œPerformance History

As of May 1st 2005, Mizuto Abura has performed in 10 countries and visited more than 30 cities: UK, USA, France, Italy, Egypt, Belgium, Australia, Korea, Thai land and Japan.

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œPreviews say;

This is oil and water that makes for a surprisingly fine mix. Itfs not to be missed by any fan of theater, dance, or performance art.
[The Japan Times (June 2004)]

This troupe moved with such energy and precision that its presentation had the fizz of sparking wine.
[The New York Times (October 2002)]

What words can I use to describe this remarkable group from Japan?
Here are a few that come to mind: Fantastic, Amazing, Incredible, Unique, Remarkable, Exhilarating, Starting and Astounding.
[The Edinburgh Festival 2001 Reviews]

The whole of performance is full of invention, humor, and fresh surprises.
[The Herald (August 2000)]

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œAWARDS

- August 2000/Edinburgh Festival Fringe "Total Theatre Award 2000" (Dance & Physical Theatre) nominee for uCELLOPHANE SINGULARv
(First Japanese theatre group to be nominated)

- December 2000/"The Best Prize" of Tokyo Millennium Arts Festival for uCELLOPHANE SINGULARv

- August 2000/Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2001, "The Herald Angel Award" for Cellophane Singular (first Japanese theatre group to be awarded)

-January 2003/The Asahi Performing Arts Award (sponsored by The Asahi Shinbun) gSHUJI TERAYAMA Awardh and "Kirin Dance Support".

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œWorks
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
wCELLOPHANE SINGULARx
Performance Time: 60min

E-----------------E
| SYNOPSIS |@@@
E-----------------E
< As an initial image or a point of departurec >
It is midnight. A man is reading a book. The overwhelming silence drowns the darkness with its tension.
But suddenly, the man hears a sound very much like that of a screw being turned.
The next moment, he finds himself inside the book he was reading.
Baffled, he closes the book and realizes that hefs sitting inside an unfamiliar room.
The strange sound grows louder, as the room gets darker and darkerc

-WHAT WE INTEND TO CONVEY THROUGH THIS PRODUCTION
The story is made up of a series of dreams and illusions created by one man. Through these images, we are able to contemplate eexistencef, which at times could be a rather funny and at times a horrific experience.
Our protagonist believes his world to be defined by the decisions hefs ma