Theater Commons '26: Translating the Commons
Theater Commons '26, themed "Translating the Commons," features performances and programs with Art Translators Collective as its creative partner.Summary
The project "Theater Commons '26," which aims to create social "commons" by utilizing theatrical "shared knowledge," will be held at multiple venues in Tokyo from February 22 to March 8, 2026. Marking its 10th anniversary, the theme is "Translating the Commons," and the creative partner is the Art Translators Collective (ATC), a group of translators who have participated since the beginning but were never credited as "participating artists." Director Chiaki Soma states that ATC embodies the Theater Commons philosophy, using the ATC's question, "Will human translation (creative acts) die?" as a starting point to initiate discussions about the theatrical commons (shared knowledge/space) in the near future where confrontation with AI is inevitable. The program includes ATC's "Funeral for Translation" project, featuring performances like a dialogue between Kanoko Tamura and Mayunkiki, and a participatory performance by Tomoko Momyama and Sasa-Marie. Other highlights include a solo performance by Akihito Hirano, a live video essay by Lilian Cahnlight, and the performance "HIKU" by Anne-Sophie Turion and Eric Minh Cuong Castan, where individuals experiencing severe hikikomori remotely control avatars via robots. Artist Hiroki Harada will present "Sleep," a performance exploring VR itself. Additionally, there will be a "Commons Camp 2026" for next-generation curators, screenings of Satoko Ichihara's work, and forums discussing human creativity in the age of AI and the creation of "spaces where we can be together."
(Source：ART iT)