Shakespeare Meets Noh: DESDEMONA

Shakespeare Meets Noh: DESDEMONA

DESDEMONA returns to Malaysia after its premiere in Tokyo in July 2025. This cross-cultural production reimagines Shakespeare’s Othello through the aesthetics and discipline of Japanese Noh theatre, blending haunting movement, vocalisation, music, and classical text into a powerful performance experience. 

Led by renowned Noh actor Jinya Imai, six Japanese artists will collaborate with five Malaysian performers through an intensive rehearsal process in Kuala Lumpur. Together, they will explore the integration of Noh movement, chant, rhythm and stagecraft with Shakespearean storytelling.

Prior to its Tokyo premiere, the work was presented in a private showcase at Masakini Theatre attended by invited guests including representatives from the Japanese Embassy and The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur. The production then travelled to Tessenkai Nohgaku Institute for four performances, receiving strong responses from audiences there. Following requests from Malaysian audiences for the work to return, DESDEMONA will now be restaged and expanded for a wider public audience in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Synopsis

A solitary monk, spending a summer on the island of Cyprus, discovers a white feathered robe—belonging to none other than Aphrodite, the goddess of love. She appears and recounts the tragic tale of Desdemona.

Following the familiar arc of Shakespeare’s play, Desdemona is married to the general Othello, whose mind is poisoned by the deceitful Iago. Believing Desdemona unfaithful, Othello is driven to murder. Too late, he learns the truth.

But in a mystical twist true to the spirit of Noh, Aphrodite brings Desdemona back to life. Yet Desdemona, disillusioned by mortal love, pleads to die once more—seeking not revenge, but release.

Organization Background

The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur (JFKL) is Japan’s official cultural institution in Malaysia, dedicated to fostering mutual understanding through arts, language, education, and intellectual exchange, while supporting cross-cultural collaborations and strengthening cultural ties between Japan and Malaysia.

KL Shakespeare Players, Malaysia’s only full-time Shakespeare company, stages 160+ shows yearly, tours all states, engages 15k+ youths, adapts global/local works, pioneers Exchange Theatre, trains students, and collaborates internationally.

Life Art Union is a Japanese theatre and cultural collective that reimagines traditional Noh through contemporary performance, international collaboration, education, and community engagement, creating innovative stage works that bridge heritage, modernity, and cross-cultural artistic exchange.

Production Team List
Co-organised by: 
The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur
KL Shakespeare Players 
Life Art Union

Supported by: 
Embassy of Japan in Malaysia
The Japan-Malaysia Cultural Exchange Project
Santosh Logandran

Producers: 
Lim Soon Heng
Lim Kien Lee 
Jinya Imai

Director: 
Jinya Imai

Cast List
(Malaysia)
Lim Soon Heng
Lee Swee Keong
Lim Kien Lee
Santosh Logandran
Zaifri Husin

(Japan)
Jinya Imai
Takakiyo Katsura
Seichi Kawano
Sarai
Akira Yoshimatsu
Asako Hazuki

Actors
TAKAKIYO KATSURA - Desdemona
LIM KIEN LEE - Othello
AKIRA YOSHIMATSU - Iago
LIM SOON HENG - Emilia
ZAIFRI HUSIN - Cassio
LEE SWEE KEONG - Fool
SEICHI KAWANO - Monk
SARAI - Aphrodite

Musicians
SANTOSH LOGANDRAN
JINYA IMAI
ASAKO HAZUKI

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/QVdDU-V3W6o
Facebook link: klshakespeare
Instagram link: klshakespeare

GROUP BOOKING: RM75 for group of 20 pax and above, kindly please contact +601126123465 (Shareeza)