Shiro Maeda Playwright / director / writer / actor

Leader of GOTANNDADAN. Born in Gotanda, Tokyo 1977. Wako University graduate. In 1997 he founded the theater company, GOTANNDADAN, at the age of 19. The charm of his work lies in its natural, laid-back style. In 2003 GOTANNDADAN merged with theater company Seinendan lead by Oriza Hirata, and began releasing productions at Komaba Agora Theater. Once they were able to get on track, the company again became independent in 2005. After 3 nominations for "Iya, mushiro wasurete-gusa" (More a Forget-me than a Forget me not), "Kyabetsu no tagui" (A Type of Cabbage), and "Sayonora boku no chiisana meisei" (Farewell, My Moment of Fame), the company was awarded the Kishida Drama Award in 2008 for "Isn't anyone alive?" a lyrical, but humorous performance depicting death. The cast of 17 actors selected by auditions and workshops, die of an unknown reason. Corpses pile up on stage as if they were illustrating the end of the world. It left the audience in shock, and the critics calling it "the theater of the absurd."

Many of Maeda's novels have been published in literary magazines and nominated for major literary awards. "Ai demo nai, seishun demo nai, tabidatanai" (Not Really Love, Nor Youth, Nor a Trip) was nominated for the 27th Noma New Literary Writer's Prize. "Renai no kaitai to Kita-ku no metsubou," (Spliting Up, and the Collapse of Kita Ward) was nominated for the 28th Noma New Literary Writer's Prize, and the 19th Yukio Mishima Prize. "Gureto Seikatsu Adobenchaa" (The Great Life Adventure), was nominated for the 137th Akutagawa Prize. In May 2009 "Natsu no mizu no hangyojin" ( Merman of the Summer Water) won the 22nd Yukio Mishima Prize. His scripts for the NHK television drama "Okaimono" (Shopping) was awarded the 46th Galaxy Prize, 35th Hoso Bunka Foundation Prize, and the Seoul International Drama Prize.

GOTANNDADAN

Founded in 1997. Instead of developing a story, the company holds a particular style where they choose to expose the world, unveiling its contradiction and paradoxes. They only work with the minimum set to stimulate the audience's imagination. Being highly recognized for their uniqueness in unfolding stories that capture the subtle humor and helplessness in human relations of everyday life, they have been invited to perform in Kyoto, Iwaki, Okayama, and not to mention a festival in Belgium.