| Our Cosmic Dust | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Michinari Ozawa |
| Directed by | Michinari Ozawa |
| Date premiered | 2023 |
| Place premiered | Shinjuku Theatre, Tokyo |
Our Cosmic Dust (Japanese: 我ら宇宙の塵) is a play written by Michinari Ozawa and translated into English by Susan Momoko Hingley. The original Japanese version premiered at the Shinjuku Theatre in Tokyo in 2023, followed by the English version at London's Park Theatre in June 2025, with Ozawa directing both.
Production history
[edit]Michinari Ozawa created the play for his theatre company Epoch Man. Ozawa himself starred in the puppeted lead role of Shotaro, a young boy. Nobue Iketani starred as the boy's mother Yoko Usami alongside Igita Natsuha as nurse Saotome, Ryo Watanabe as crematorium worker Washimi, and Kitaro as planetarium operator Orion. Kyosuke Tani also joined the cast as a swing. Our Cosmic Dust premiered at the Shinjuku Theatre in 2023.[1] The original Tokyo cast would reprise their roles for an autumn 2025 tour.[2]
Susan Momoko Hingley translated the play into English. The English-language production, also directed by Ozawa, starred Hiroki Berrecloth purporting Shotaro and Millie Hikasa as Usami. Saotome and Washimi were renamed Tara and Alastair, played by Nina Bowers and Hari Mackinnon respectively. Ian Hallard played Orion. Alexandra Rutter of the Whole Hog Theatre company served as associate director and dramaturg. Our Cosmic Dust ran at the Park Theatre from 2 June to 5 July 2025.[3][4]
Cast and characters
[edit]| Character | Tokyo | London |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2025 | |
| Shotaro (puppeted) | Michinari Ozawa | Hiroki Berrecloth |
| Yoko Usami | Nobue Iketani | Millie Hikasa |
| Orion | Kitaro | Ian Hallard |
| Saotome / Tara | Igita Natsuha | Nina Bowers |
| Washimi / Alastair | Ryo Watanabe | Hari Mackinnon |
Reception
[edit]The original Tokyo production of Our Cosmic Dust won Best Work, Best Actress for Nobue Iketani, and Best Director for Ozawa at the 31st Yomiuri Theatre Awards.[5][6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ "小沢道成「人間が起こす力の凄さを堪能して」 パペット×映像テクノロジーで描く『我ら宇宙の塵』開幕" (in Japanese). ぴあ. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
- ^ "小沢道成作・演出・美術による、EPOCH MAN『我ら宇宙の塵』ツアー情報＆ビジュアルが解禁". Spice (in Japanese). 7 July 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ "Our Cosmic Dust at the Park Theatre casting announced including Hiroki Berrecloth & Ian Hallard". West End Theatre. 8 April 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ Hensey, Jennifer (12 July 2025). "Where Do We Go When We Die? Michinari Ozawa's Starry-Eyed Vision of Life After Loss in 'Our Cosmic Dust'". Strand. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
- ^ "第31回読売演劇大賞ノミネート決定…作品・男優・女優・演出家・スタッフ5部門". ENBUゼミナール (in Japanese). 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ "第31回読売演劇大賞結果発表、最優秀作品賞はイキウメ「人魂を届けに」". ステージナタリー (in Japanese). ナターシャ. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Ryder, Jamie (25 June 2025). "Michinari Ozawa: The New Face of Japanese Theatre". Japan Nakama. Retrieved 17 August 2025.