Kabuki: ロンドン歌舞伎舞踊公演

Kabuki makes a long-awaited return to London after 17 years, with a triple bill of classic works performed on two days, 30 & 31 January 2027.

Askonas Holt is delighted to be co-presenting Shochiku’s KABUKI at Sadler’s Wells this January, marking the long-awaited return of this extraordinary Japanese art form to London after 17 years. A centuries-old tradition of music, dance and theatre, Kabuki is renowned for its striking visual artistry, powerful physicality and extraordinary craftsmanship.

These performances mark the international stage debuts of two of Japan’s most closely watched young performers: Ichikawa Somegorō VIII and Onoe Tatsunosuke III. Both come from lineages at the very heart of Kabuki tradition – Somegorō made his first stage performance at the age of two, Tatsunosuke at three.

Together, the pair perform three defining works from the Kabuki repertoire:

Fuji Musume (The Wisteria Maiden): a solo dance embodying a woman in love through the enchanting spirit of wisteria, performed by Onoe Tatsunosuke

Yuki no Shakkyō (The Snowbound Stone Bridge – A Lion Dance): a powerful dance rooted in Noh tradition, where Ichikawa Somegorō channels the sacred power of a mythical lion in a snow-covered realm

Meoto Dōjōji (A Man and Woman at Dōjōji Temple): a dramatic duet based on a tragic serpent legend, featuring hypnotic costume changes, performed by both artists together

KABUKI is presented by Shochiku Co., Ltd and Askonas Holt, and produced by Shochiku Co., Ltd. It is supported by the Japan Creator Support Fund and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd is the official airline.