Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech

Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech
Premiere: 2009
Time: 1hr 10min.
Stages : 3
Casts：6 (M2/F4)
Written and Directed by Toshiki Okada

［History of Tour］
2009 Vie Scena Contemporanea Festival ／PonteAlto（Modena）※プレビュー
　　　Asia-Pacific Weeks Berlin 2009／Hebbel Am Ufer（Berlin）




2010 LAFORET MUSEUM HARAJUKU（Tokyo）
　　　KUNSTENFESTIVALDESARTS ／BRONKS (Brussels)
　　　Artístico Alkantara／TEATRO NACIONAL D. MARIA II (Lisbon)
　　　FESTIVAL THEATERFORMEN BRAUNSCHWEIG／LOT Theater (Hannover)
　　　Wiener Festwochen／Halle G im MuseumsQuartier (Vienna)
　　　Festival de Barcelona Grec／Mercat de les Flors (Barcelona）

“Air Conditioner” (30-minute version) stylishly and idiosyncratically represents a seemingly mundane conversation between two co-workers. Earlier critics compared the performance to dance because of the actors’ peculiar movement. As if to corroborate their interpretation, Okada participated in "Toyota Choreography Award 2005: Discover the Choreographer for Next Generation" with this piece, making it to the finals. Thus taking the contemporary dance scene by storm, Okada and his drama company eloquently articulated　a unique concept of the body that defied the conventional idea of "choreography." 

In 2009, “Air Conditioner” was reproduced as a 70-minute piece titled “Hot Pepper, Air Conditioner, and the Farewell Speech,” and was premiered at Hebbel Am Ufer, Berlin. This updated and expanded version was highly acclaimed as one of Toshiki Okada’s masterpieces, drawing attention from numerous drama/performance art festival directors throughout Europe. Newspapers and magazines in Berlin praised the piece, saying that it “showed the possibility of performing arts that approaches the morbid core of the society,” and that it is “an exceptional dance piece.” Check out this outstanding new piece by chelfitsch, a globally acclaimed theatre company.