Ludic Proxy: Fukushima

March 6–11, 2021
Japan
PlayCo commissioned Aya for a new original play after producing her brilliant translation of Toshiki Okada’s play ENJOY in 2010. She has devised a beautiful, haunting and magical piece that pulls you into uncharted territory where memory, fantasy and virtual reality swirl together. Three intertwining stories, from the past, present and future, tap into our deepest impressions of living in tumultuous times as nature and technology evolve out of our control, and explore the eternal drive for human connection.
Meet the Artists

Aya Ogawa (Writer, Performer, Director, Translator) is Tokyo-born, Brooklyn-based. Thier work centers women/non-binary perspectives and utilizes the stage as a space for exploring cultural identity and the immigrant experience. They wrote, directed, and performed in The Nosebleed that was at Japan Society (with The Chocolate Factory Theater) in 2021, Lincoln Center Theater in 2022, and upcoming at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in 2023. Resident playwright, New Dramatists; President’s Award in Performing Arts, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Ludic Proxy was originally commissioned by The Play Company and premiered at Walker Space in April 2015 and was developed as part of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Process Space, Swing Space and Workspace programs. Support for Ludic Proxy: Fukushima was provided by NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program).

This video adaptation of NYC-based writer/director Aya Ogawa’s play Ludic Proxy follows a woman named Maho, visiting her older sister Maki who lives on the outskirts of the Fukushima nuclear evacuation zone in 2015. Maho functions as the audience’s avatar in the story as she gingerly navigates daily life in their hometown, post-3.11; however, time is of the essence when Maki reveals that she is pregnant. Using video games as a dramaturgy, viewers will be able to choose how Maho progresses through this harrowing set of circumstances through a real-time poll. The line between actual and virtual reality begins to fade in this immersive and dark play that explores human survival in the face of disaster. Streamed with English subtitles.

The live-polling “multi-player” version of this performance is only available at the above dates and times. Ticketholders will be able to participate in all three of the above performances and have access to an on-demand “single player” version, available following the Live Artist Q&A on Mar. 11 until Mar. 25.

Written and Directed by

Aya Ogawa

Voiceover

Jackie Katzman

Stage Manager

Mariko Takizawa

Director of Photography & Lighting Designer

Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew

Editor & Technical Designer

Takaaki Ando

Props Master & Asst. Set Designer

Brian Bernhard

Lighting Associate

Christina Tang

Line Producer

John Del Gaudio