comedic world theatre traditions
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theatre and work as his attendant (help dress, fetch drinks etc). This takes one year or more.
To find out more check out these people and websites:
Stage 2: Zenza (minor performer) – the formal training begins, but still have to do chores. At this
Diane Kichijitsu (Rakugo performer)
stage the student gets to perform first in the lineup in the yose (theatre). They are not paid, and this
Katsura Kaishi & history of Rakugo
stage can take 3-5 years. Some deshi never move beyond Stage 2.
Showko Showfukutei
Stage 3: Futatsume (second level) – no longer need
Kimie Oshima (English Rakugo Performer)
to do chores, and now receive their stage name to now start earning a living from their art. The
Rakugogaku (use of props and your imagination)
Futatsume can have their own tenugui (hand towel) printed with their stage name on, which is handed out to yose officials. For rakugokas, becoming a Futatsume is the happiest day of their lives. They can be at this stage for 10 years or more. Stage 4: Shin’uch (star performer/headliner) – reaching this stage is decided by the Kyokai (rakugo association) and shujin (head of the yose). At this stage, the rakugoka adopts a new stage name (usually named after a previous famous rakugoka) and hands out new tenuguis and fans to prospective employees and audiences. Information above taken from: Rakugo Professional Japanese Storytelling by Amin Sweeney
Rakugoka in the yose (theatre) seated on the koza (cushion on the stage), photo taken from Wordpress.org, 1st March 2022
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Improv and the Happy Life By Sterling Johnson RULE#4: Say “Yes!”
Two passions of mine that have
to learn. Improv lets us simply be
been slowly colliding are drama
authentically in the moment. If
and well-being, and how the two
our lives are more playful they are
Sure, every Drama teacher knows
can co-exist and compliment each
in all likelihood more enjoyable.
there’s a place for “No” in our
other. I’ve always “felt good” when
Let’s take the time to play!
careers. Saying “No” at times can
I was doing Drama, so it’s fair to speculate (and data supports
certainly be a necessary and very RULE#2: Let Yourself Fail
this) that acting is good for our
powerful thing. However, life offers opportunities and certain doors
health. Perhaps, the healthiest
Failure can be painful. Lord knows
open and if we do not say “Yes”
form of Drama is Improv. I have
we’ve all failed in different aspects
to them, they will close. As they
been fortunate to teach a class
of our lives. But as painful as failing
say, “Never refuse an invitation”
specifically dedicated to Comedy
can be, these are also when the
as often when you do another
and Improv for the last six years
most learning and growth can
one is not so easily forthcoming.
at Cairo American College. It has
happen. If we are afraid to fail we
Take the time to receive what is
been, without a doubt, one of my
will never challenge ourselves.
given to you.
most successful and enjoyable
Those who dare greatly often
classes to teach. How can Improv
fail greatly. More and more as
teach us to be better performers
societies we are celebrating failure
and perhaps to even have a better
and mistakes, and how within
The cherry on top. Don’t only
life? I’d like to outline some ways
them lies the recipe for success.
say “Yes”, but build on it. What
whilst looking at some of the
The key with failure in Improv,
are you bringing to the party?
(albeit debatable) rules of Improv.
as in life, is to not let it beat you.
Some good food? Good wine? A
Get up, do it again and do it in
good attitude? All these will help
a different way. Persevere and
contribute to building something
believe in yourself!
great! “And” shows you are
RULE#1: Play Play is fun. Play is enjoyable. When we “do” Drama we perform
RULE#5: Say “And!”
listening “And” shows you care, RULE#3: Listen
a play, so the activity itself should
“And” shows you’re a collaborator, a helper and that you’re ready to
certainly lend itself to having fun.
Many actors love to talk and many
Improv is about being silly, trying
people love to talk. We all know
things out, different characters,
what we think and we love to
RULE#6: Play by the Rules of
situations and activities all
share it. I’m a fan of the “pregnant
the Game
without a pesky script and lines
pause” . Take a moment, let the
‘...acting is good for our health’
build something together!
person finish, your chance will
There are ways to behave in every
come. Let’s use those eyes and
setting. Sometimes rules can be
ears and really hear what each
a real pain, but most often they
other has to say. Could this make
set us up for success and we
for a better scene and dare I say
find freedom within the barriers.
a better world? Perhaps. Take the
“Just play” can be vague, but if
time to listen.
we’re specific and for example say, “You three play and you can
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much the same way as the red nose signifies the
On the opening night and with some trepidation,
western clown.
we were honoured and delighted to welcome the Chou master himself, Yan Qinggu to the audience.
It is important to note that the Chou is not
He was fascinated with what we had achieved
necessarily played as a fool but can be performed as
and our students were delighted to be able to ask
a serious, even evil character but will always provide
questions of their hero. Yan told us:
the humour for the audience. Despite a Chou performer undergoing harsh training for many
“Peking Opera is facing a shortage of experienced
years, often from childhood, the actor is uniquely at
chou performers. It is incredibly demanding work,
liberty to improvise and it is this spontaneity that is
as these roles call for skills in singing, speaking and
considered the Chou’s distinctive technique.
acrobatics which young people are less and less willing to commit to.”
Sometime after my eye-opening introduction to Peking Opera, I had the opportunity to direct the
He said he found an inner pride and satisfaction
Middle School Theatre Production at Shanghai
in what he saw at Shanghai American School and
American School and I knew immediately that I had
hoped that the performance would inspire some of
to do something based on what I had experienced
the students to devote their future to some of these
a few months earlier. I had studied western clown
ancient traditions. I couldn’t agree more.
in depth with the celebrated academic and director, John Wright and had developed a fascination with his ideas around the notion of tragic clown, boss clown and simple clown. I wanted to use this experience in the production and chose a western version of The Journey to the West called The Monkey King written by playwright, Rob Garrett in 2010. In this script the Monkey King character is far more aligned to the Chou role type and I wanted to see how far we could take this. The exceptionally talented student who took on the role performed a hilarious version of this ancient character using techniques from Chou combined with some western conventions of clown.
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‘Sometimes the Chou can be a mischievous scoundrel, often displaying a nasty streak, sometimes a high standing buffoon.’
Yan Qinggu with student Leona Lu as Monkey King, Shanghai American School, Pudong Campus, May 2018.
Performers and Roles in Peking Opera, image taken from China Educational Tours, 14th March 2022
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