Notice of cancelation of the World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2020, and the Mt Fuji World Theatre Festival “Antigone,” and postponement of the STRANGE SEED SHIZUOKA street-theatre festival.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, SPAC has decided to cancel this year’s World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2020, and “Antigone,” which were both scheduled for the Golden Week holiday period in May. In addition, the STRANGE SEED SHIZUOKA street-theatre festival is being postponed.

These moves follow its decision in mid March to withdraw foreign programs from the World Theatre Festival 2020 to restrict the spread of COVID-19 between countries in line with the World Health Organization’s March 11 declaration of a worldwide pandemic.

As a result of the latest decision, the General Artistic Director MIYAGI Satoshi’s productions of “Mary Poppins with her Upside-down Umbrella,” and “Antigone,” will no longer be staged as part of the World Theatre Festival or the Mt.Fuji World Theatre Festival, respectively.

We are very sorry to have to make these announcements, which have been made unavoidable by the spread of COVID-19 in Japan and a request by the national government to avoid all travel that is not urgent or necessary.

SPAC staff will be contacting everyone who booked tickets with a view to refunding monies between April 4 and May 10.

But all is not completely lost because — having thought about what we could do under these circumstances — SPAC has decided to present a World Theatre Festival on the Cloud 2020 during the period when the World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2020 would have run.

With this event, we will aim to connect directly, through theatre, with the rest of the world in the most effective way available in the circumstances. Please check SPAC’s website for further details soon.

Above all, however, we look forward to the pandemic ending as soon as possible. And, though we can’t gather together at a theatre just now, let’s avoid mental isolation by sharing our love of performing arts in different ways.

▷ Message from MIYAGI Satoshi
 

◇ If you booked through SPAC’s website at https://festival-shizuoka.jp/2020/en/ticket/
Those who paid for tickets by credit card, intending to collect them at the venue(s):
You don’t need to take any further action.
Monies will be refunded into your card account automatically, so please check your statement carefully.
(The timing depends on each card company.)

◇ If you booked tickets in other ways:
Please inquiry about refund via the Contact page of our website.
We will contact you individually as necessary.

In view of restrictions on movement within Japan and internationally due to COVID-19, SPAC is continuing to assess with all those involved the viability of staging its World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2020 in May.

However, in line with efforts to contain the spread of the virus, SPAC has now decided to suspend all ongoing ticket sales for the festival productions of “Mary Poppins with her Upside-down Umbrella” and “Antigone.”

A decision on the future of this year’s festival will be announced shortly.
Please check our website at https://festival-shizuoka.jp/2020/en/ticket/ and our Facebook or Twitter pages for the latest information.

We are very sorry to announce these ticket sales curtailments, which follow those for our other invited foreign programs, but hope you will understand in view of the global situation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the environment of the performing arts world. However, SPAC is in close contact with overseas artists invited to its World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2020, and is doing everything possible to ensure the festival goes ahead.

Meanwhile, we are deeply grateful for all the encouragement and support we are receiving from so many people both in Japan and beyond.

Despite this, in view of the government’s March 18 announcement imposing immigration restrictions on visitors from Europe, we need to carefully consider artists’ programs and make any necessary adjustments.

As such, we are temporarily suspending ticket sales for the following productions: “Birds of a Kind”; “Ma Colombine”; “The Lingering Now – O agora que demora – Our Odyssey II”; “Love Triumphant”; and “OUTSIDE.”

Please check our website at https://festival-shizuoka.jp/2020/en/ticket/ and/or our Facebook or Twitter pages for the latest information.

At present, we plan to present “Mary Poppins with her Upside-down Umbrella” and “Antigone” as scheduled, with precautionary measures in place to avoid contagion. Consequently, tickets for both these remain on sale.

SPAC is keeping a careful watch on this disease in Japan and elsewhere, and is in close contact with overseas artists invited to its World Theatre Festival Shizuoka 2020. At present there is no alteration to the festival schedule, and tickets will be on sale from 8 March as planned.

However, we hope all concerned will understand that this could change in the future. In the event of the festival or any productions being canceled, SPAC will refund all tickets already paid for.

Please check our website and/or our Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest information.

SPAC will do its utmost to present this year’s wonderful lineup of exciting programs in the festival’s usual happy atmosphere, and we all look forward to meeting you at our venues in and around Shizuoka City this coming Golden Week.

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[ World Theatre Festival Shizuoka ] in April & May features 6programs!