Noh Reimagined

Noh Reimagined 2025 London

Kings Place, 28–29 November 2025.
Photo Credit: Sumire Tamura

The 5th edition of Noh Reimagined took place in London on the 28th and 29th of November, with great success.

Noh Reimagined 2025 received critical acclaim from audiences and the media alike.

“Hopefully, in future we can see more equally riveting and moving new Noh theatre, constantly challenging the art form and how we view the modern world through it, alongside these classics. With Noh Reimagined, surely we will.”

&Asian: Noh Reimagined: Matzukaze and The Shong of Rona Island Review
Photo Credit: Sumire Tamura

Noh Reimagined 2025 is supported by

Noh Reimagined 2025 London
Festival Programme

Pre-Performance Talk – Bashō: The Botanical Mind

Gina Buenfeld-Murley, curator of the exhibition ‘The Botanical Mind’ at Camden Art Centre, joined Dr Christopher Harding, arts historian, to discuss the Noh play ‘Bashō’ (Plantain Tree), ahead of its historic first-ever performance outside Japan.

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Bashō (Plantain Tree)

Bashō’ (Plantain Tree) by Konparu Zenchiku (1405-1470), is a mesmerising tale in which the spirit of a banana plant, appearing as a middle-aged woman, embodies the Lotus Sutra’s teaching that plants too, can attain enlightenment, reflecting a vision of the harmony and equality of humans and the natural world. ‘Bashō, was performed for the first time outside Japan in history as part of Noh Reimagined 2025.

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Workshop: Discover the World of Matsukaze

This was a hands-on workshop exploring the timeless masterpiece ‘Matsukaze’, uncovering the hidden meanings layered poetic language and emotional depth in one of noh’s most beloved works.

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Pre-Performance Talk: ‘Song of Rona Island’

This event was an opportunity to hear from Kathleen Jaimie (poet and former Scottish Makar) about her essay ‘On Rona’, and how this essay inspired the creation of the Scottish-Noh theatre production ‘Song of Rona Island’ from Kanji Shimizu (Noh shite actor), Aidan O’Rourke (fiddler) and Brighde Chaimbeul.

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Matsukaze (Pining Wind)

Matsukaze by Zeami Motokiyo (1363-c. 1443) is one of the most revered masterpieces of classical noh, and a work that Zeami himself held in special regard. ‘Song of Rona Island’, inspired by ‘On Rona’ by Kathleen Jamie, follows a traveller on an ecological survey to an abandoned island in the Outer Hebrides, and their encountering its haunting past.

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Song of Rona Island (World Premiere)

‘Song of Rona Island’, inspired by ‘On Rona’ by Kathleen Jamie, follows a traveller on an ecological survey to an abandoned island in the Outer Hebrides, and their encountering its haunting past. Six noh performers – led by Kanji Shimizu – join forces with fiddler Aidan O’Rourke and Scottish smallpipes player Brighde Chaimbeul in a groundbreaking new work bringing together Scottish music and culture with Japanese noh theatre.

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