Stars of the Tokyo stage is a window into the glamorous world of Japan’s kabuki theatre during the 1920s and 30s. The exhibition focuses on the arresting actor prints created by Tokyo artist Natori Shunsen (1886–1960) during a modern revival in Japanese theatre and printmaking.

Shunsen’s portraits reveal a deep engagement with kabuki. Made for fans, they depict leading actors as characters from kabuki’s repertoire of historical dramas, domestic plays, comedies, tragedies, crime thrillers and supernatural epics. The images capture the exaggerated expressions, flamboyant costumes, makeup and dramatic poses of the theatrical form.

Event	Stars of the Tokyo stage: Natori Shunsen’s kabuki actor prints
Date	19 July – 12 October 2014
Where	National Gallery of Australia
Web	http://bit.ly/1qKSxE4
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