Barbican to Host European Premiere of Murakami Stage Adaptation with Author's Rare Appearance
From 8th to 11th October 2026, London’s Barbican will host the European debut of the stage adaptation of Haruki Murakami's 1985 novel 'Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.' Directed by Philippe Decouflé and adapted by Ako Takahashi, the production features Tatsuya Fujiwara and delves into themes of identity, technology, and the subconscious through dual narratives. The performance will be in Japanese, accompanied by English surtitles, and will include Japanese actors, dancers, and musicians. On 10th October, Fujiwara will present a screening of 'Battle Royale,' while on 11th October, Murakami will read from 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' and engage in a discussion with Simon McBurney. The acclaimed author, born in 1949, received the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature in 2023.
Key facts
- European premiere of 'End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland' at Barbican Theatre, London, 8th–11th October 2026.
- Adapted by Ako Takahashi, directed and choreographed by Philippe Decouflé, starring Tatsuya Fujiwara.
- Based on Haruki Murakami's 1985 novel 'Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World'.
- Performed in Japanese with English surtitles.
- Tatsuya Fujiwara made his stage debut at the Barbican in 1997 in 'Shintokumaru'.
- Haruki Murakami will make a rare appearance on 11th October, reading from 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' and in conversation with Simon McBurney.
- Production travels to Paris and South Korea after London.
- Co-presented with HoriPro, a Japanese entertainment company founded in 1960.
- Murakami has won the Franz Kafka Prize, Jerusalem Prize, and Princess of Asturias Award for Literature (2023).
Entities
Artists
- Haruki Murakami
- Ako Takahashi
- Philippe Decouflé
- Tatsuya Fujiwara
- Yukio Ninagawa
- Simon McBurney
- Jun Ichikawa
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Raymond Carver
- J.D. Salinger
- Yoshitaka Hori
- Thelma Holt
- Akira Kurosawa
Institutions
- Barbican Theatre
- Barbican
- HoriPro
- Trafalgar Entertainment
- Waseda University
- TOKYO FM
- Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Singapore
- Paris
- France
- South Korea
- Kyoto