Five-star hits at the Edinburgh Fringe are often weird and wacky. Nonetheless, this Japanese show might be one of the strangest to subsequently travel to London. It’s a musical for children (kind of) that takes the audience to the stars, performed by near-naked men with an emphasis on physicality, informed by kabuki and clowning. If that appeals, then fair enough. And there are plenty of laughs. Thankfully, there is a lot more to the show than just silliness.
The story, based on the work of Kenji Miyazawa, is simple. A fantasy tale, impressive for its emotional sting, it recounts the adventures of two young boys, Giovanni and Campanella. Parents and classmates feature, the boys have difficult lives, and they escape to travel to the Milky Way. Chobi Natsuki, who plays Giovanni, directs the production and takes the lead in singing, accompanied by the show’s playwright, Maruichiro Maruo, who gives a sterling performance. It’s crazy, funny and surprisingly emotional.
Every movement is exaggerated; the cast break out into dance and could win gurning competitions. The energy is astounding and the level of dance and acrobatics accomplished. It takes real skill to be this silly. The mix of references – Japanese traditions, surely commedia dell’arte and a great Pina Bausch gag – is bewildering, but every joke and emotion is clear. If anything, the show might be a little too concerned with making sure its British audience follows what’s going on – such care dampens the wonder a little. Despite protestations that “nobody understands everything”, most of the piece is performed in English and there are a lot of paper signs to ensure we understand the words.
Did I mention that the men wear only shoulder pads? The story is that the company, called 2 Shoulder Pads, was so broke during Covid that it couldn’t afford costumes, so its players use shoulder pads as a kind of codpiece. Who doesn’t love that level of invention? As it happens, the extra props in the show (mostly hats) are handled superbly. You don’t have to be much of a cynic to see this as a gimmick. But hold on. The aim is “free” theatre: the company is crowd-funded (donations welcome), and the idea is that the costumes liberate the imagination. They are certainly a lot of fun – sweet, even – and if the lofty aim doesn’t quite convince, the show is memorable and far more than just a space oddity.
2 September 2026 only