Casting has been announced by the Park Theatre in London for their forthcoming global premiere of The Garden of Words.
The show will star Hiroki Berrecloth as Takao Akizuki; James Bradwell as Shota Akizuki; Susan Momoko Hingley as Reimi Akizuki; Shoko Ito as Shōko Aizawa; Iniki Mariano as Rika Teramoto; Aki Nakagawa as Yukari Yukino; and Mark Takeshi Ota as Sōichirō Ito.
The Garden of Words is a unique new Anglo-Japanese collaboration, playing at the Park Theatre from 10 August to 9 September 2023.
This new stage adaptation of the much-loved Anime and novel from Makoto Shinkai and CoMix Wave Films, is co-adapted by Susan Momoko Hingley and Alexandra Rutter, and directed by Alexandra Rutter.
Delving between the lines of platonic love and romantic longing, and what it is to feel alone in Tokyo – the biggest metropolis in the world, seven lost souls are drowning in technology yet unable to connect.
The show is produced by Whole Hog Theatre (Princess Mononoke), and Tokyo’s Anime stage production specialists Nelke Planning (Attack on Titan, Naruto, Sailor Moon).
Book tickets to The Garden of Words at the Park Theatre in London.
More about the cast
Hiroki Berrecloth
Training: National Youth Theatre.
Recent screen credits include Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Lionsgate) & Red Rose (BBC).
As a Japanese-British actor-writer he is particularly passionate about the representation of South East Asians and their stories in media and film.
James Bradwell
Training: Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Theatre: includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stafford Gatehouse); Not Yet Midnight (Royal Court); Corrina, Corrina (Headlong, Liverpool Everyman); My Night with Reg (Turbine); Romeo & Juliet, Richard III (Shakespeare’s Rose) and Read Not Dead (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Television: includes I Hate You (Channel 4); The Split (BBC); Bridgerton, Back to Life (Netflix).
Videogame: includes Live a Live (Nintendo), Horizon: Forbidden West, Baldur’s Gate III.
Susan Momoko Hingley
Training: East 15 Acting School and Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Theatre: includes My Neighbour Totoro (Royal Shakespeare Company); Missing People (Leeds Playhouse, Japan Tour); Wendy and Peter Pan, Orphan of Zhao, Boris Godunov & A Life of Galileo (all Royal Shakespeare Company); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare’s Globe, International Tour); Dorian Gray (New National Theatre Japan); Tamburlaine (Arcola); Around the World in 80 Days (New Vic/Royal Exchange), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet (both Honey Tongued, Croatia); One Million, Home (Tangled Feet) and The Snow Queen (Lawrence Batley Theatre).
Television: includes Years and Years (BBC/HBO) and Doctors (BBC).
Film: Shino’s Show, The Gloaming and Household Gods.
Audio: Doctor Who (Big Finish); Space 1999 (Big Finish); Hitman (IO Interactive); Need for Speed (EA) and various audiobooks.
Shoko Ito
Training: Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
Theatre: Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures – Sleeping Beauty (UK & International Tour); The Car Man (The Royal Albert Hall); Nutcracker! (UK Tour); Swan Lake (UK & International Tour).
Film: Sleeping Beauty (2023); Nutcracker! (2022); Swan Lake (2019).
Other: Tannery Series 002 campaign for Ecco Japan (2022). Short dance film Resilience for Tracing Movement directed and choreographed by Stuart Winter (2021).
Iniki Mariano
Iniki was born and raised in Singapore where she made her Stage and Screen debuts, before training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Theatre: includes The Lodger (Coronet Theatre); Peter Pan (National Theatre/BOV); The Jungle Book (Derby Theatre); Can’t Wait for Christmas! (Orange Tree Theatre).
Television and Film: includes Space Plug (Disney); The Retreat (ALTER/Mubi); Jam (Mubi) and The Seekers (OKTO).
Aki Nakagawa
Training: Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (CDT BA Acting).
Theatre: includes My Neighbour Totoro (Royal Shakespeare Company); Lord of the Flies (Leeds Playhouse).
Mark Takeshi Ota
Theatre: includes My Neighbour Totoro (RSC); How to Hold Your Breath (Royal Court); Amaterasu – Out of the Cave (Arcola); The Art of Gaman (Theatre 503); Into the Numbers (Finborough Theatre).
Film includes: Little English.
Video Games: includes The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Dead Island 2, Live a Live, Company of Heroes 3.
