The Bee Returns to Soho on International Tour

Hideki Noda and Colin Teevan's play THE BEE returns for an International Tour in 2012 visiting New York, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo; opening for previews at Soho Theatre on Tuesday 24 January, with a press night on 26 January, 2012. After debuting at Soho Theatre in 2006, THE BEE made a clean sweep at the 15th Yomiuri Theater Awards 2008, winning the Grand Prize, Best Play as well as Best Actor and Best Director for writer, director and performer Hideki Noda.

Based on the short story by Yasutaka Tsutsui, THE BEE tells the story of Mr. Ido, a successful businessman and upstanding member of society, who arrives, home one day to find his wife and son has been taken hostage. Rather than sit tight, Ido decides to take matters into his own hands and kidnap the kidnapper's family in revenge.

The highly successful playwright, director and actor Hideki Noda became the artistic director of Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in July 2009. In 1993 he established a Production Company called NODA?MAP and has presented along with THE BEE a succession of major hits including Kill, Pandora no kane (Pandora's Bell), Oil, Akaoni (RED DEMON), THE DIVER, PIPER, The Character, and South.

The Olivier award-winning actress Kathryn Hunter returns to the role of Mr. Ido, which in 2006 the Guardian described as 'a superb gender-bending performance'. Hunter has a plethora of theatre credits and achievements including being the first British actress to play King Lear (VENUE) and her Olivier award-winning performance of the millionairess in Friedrich Durrenmatt's The Visit (VENUE). Earlier this year Hunter reprised her highly acclaimed performance in the sell-out success Kafka's Monkey (Young Vic).

Following the success of the first run at Soho Theatre in 2006, THE BEE is going international, visiting dynamic venues in four major world cities from the 5 January until 11 March, starting at Under the Radar Festival in New York, before returning to Soho Theatre, and continuing at Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.

Soho Theatre is London's most vibrant theatre for new writing, comedy and cabaret. The international tour of THE BEE sees Soho Theatre expanding out of our Dean Street residence as part of an ongoing aim to take our work to a much wider audience. Other touring productions and co-productions from the last twelve months have included Bagpuss, Kim Noble Must Die, Late Night Gimp Fight, Pajama Men; Whatsonstage Award nominated John Leguizamo, Stewart Lee and Dr Brown.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

THE BEE
Written by Hideki Noda and Colin Teevan
Based on the original story by Yasutaka Tsutsui
Directed by Hideki Noda
Designed by Miriam Buether

New York, Under The Radar Festival
Dates Thursday 05 - Sunday 15 January, 2012
Bookings japansociety.org

London, Soho Theatre
Dates Tuesday 24 January - Saturday 11 February, 2012
Times Evenings 7.30pm/ Thursday and Saturday matinees 3pm
Tickets £10-20
Bookings 020 7478 0100/ www.sohotheatre.com

Hong Kong, Arts Festival
Dates Friday 17- Sunday 19 February 2012
Bookings www.hk.artsfestival.org

Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Dates Friday 24 February- Sunday 11 March 2012
Bookings www.nodamap.com/productions/thebee/

Soho Theatre aims to bring the most entertaining, brave and theatrical new work to audiences across a programme spanning comedy, cabaret and theatre; with three spaces, a late night bar, innovative education projects and world famous writers centre Soho Theatre is one of the most vibrant venues on London's cultural scene.

FORTHCOMING PRODUCTIONS AT SOHO THEATRE

Blind Summit's
THE TABLE
PRESENTED BY 2012 LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOHO THEATRE

Tuesday 10 – Saturday 21 January 2012 7.30pm | Press Night: Wednesday 11 January 2012 7.30pm

The innovators, who created award-winning puppetry for Madam Butterfly, Simon McBurney's A Dog's Heart and their sell-out hits, 1984 and Low life, bring you The Table. Join them on a visual journey that takes in a ballet of disembodied heads, a story told entirely by pictures emerging from a briefcase, and a tiny Moses with a cardboard head full of lonely wisdom.