How can we make Shakespeare more accessible in Japan?

Abstract

Although there used to be many opportunities to see Shakespeare's plays regularly in Japan, many of the theatre companies that performed Shakespeare have been dissolved in recent years. This article focuses on the Shakespeare for Children Company, a group that was founded in 1995 and is still performing Shakespeare under the company's new name, Yellow Helmets. Their success comes from the fact that they work to make Shakespeare enjoyable, understandable, and accessible. These features are analysed in this article with a close look at their scripts and questionnaire for a production of The Winter's Tale in 2018.