A century ago, benshi brought silent films to life with live narration and music. These specialist performers would narrate the story and voice the characters, sometimes staying faithful to the original plot, and adopting a wildly creative or comedic approach at others.
You can witness the traditional art of katsuben, or silent film narration, live at the upcoming ‘Mic! Projector! Action!’ event. This premiere, which is a preview show of an upcoming event with the same name in London later this year, takes place on September 15 at 5.30pm at Harajuku’s GE Theater. The screenings will feature excerpts from iconic Japanese silent films of the 1920s and 30s. The narrators, Koyata Aso and Guy Perryman, will voice-act on stage in English, recreating this unique art form for a 21st-century audience.
Tickets are sold on-site (cash only) or can be purchased in advance through Peatix.