Miyabi, a contract worker, is offered homemade tsukudani by a senior colleague at the office one evening. She reflexively makes an excuse and refuses. Subsequently, strange things start happening to employees who ate the tsukudani, including the senior colleague himself.

Ampersand’s style is characterized by burst of sudden distortions in everyday home or office life, which then transform into a world of the absurd. The upending of casual conversations through outrageous developments has been described as B-grade horror or black comedy, but this contrast highlights the troublesome existence of the many small irritations common to modern society.

This work was selected for the 24th Mitaka “Next” Selection as a promising theater company and had its premiere at Mitaka City Arts Center. It was a finalist for the 68th Kishida Kunio Drama Award. While you’ll laugh at the wild story developments and confident direction, the film also offers a deep look at the difficulties and contradictions in human relationships, such as the sudden lies and intended goodwill that we all tend to practice on a daily basis.

2023
Mitaka City Arts Center: Star Hall

Presented by: The Japan Foundation (JF) (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/)
In cooperation with EPAD (https://epad.jp)

＜Performance Credits＞
Yasukouchi: KURODA Daisuke
Dobashi: SHIMADA Momoi (Seinendan)
Tetsuo Tomoda: SHINOZAKI Daigo (LOLO)
Miyabi: ANDO Wako
Kaoru: NISHIDA Maya
Akemi: ANDO Kei (Ampersand Company)

Written and Directed by: ANDO Kei (Ampersand Company)
Lighting Design by: YAMAGUCHI Hisastaka
Sound Design by: NOZAKI Saya
Sound Programmer: SUGAWARA Yuki (Ampersand Company)
Props: FUKAMI Yuma (Ampersand Company)
Production Support: USHIO Mayu (En theater Collective)
Setting up seats: HAKAMADA Osamu

＜Subtitling Credits＞
Multilingual subtitling: Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan through the Japan Arts Council

Chinese Translation (Simplified): Shu LIN
Chinese Translation (Traditional): SWSG
English Translation: Brendan CRAINE
French Translation: Eleonore MAHMOUDIAN
Spanish Translation: José Antonio AMBRIZ
Thai Translation: Piyawan Ning SAPSAMROUM

＜Promotional Text＞
KAWANO Momoko

＜Company Website＞
https://gekidanampersand.wixsite.com/mysite