Since 24th Dec, 30 children, mostly aged between 6 and 12, have been learning the rudiments of Noh dance, singing and drumming. The air is filled with enthusiastic chatter.

Iida-san teaching the kotsuzumi drum...
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Noh stars, more familiar as solemn faces on a Noh stage beam down at excited children. A little girl wrestles determinedly with an Otsuzumi drum almost the size she is. It`s a scene of great good humour as each child is given basic tuition in the Noh disciplines. And the kids can DO it, by the end of the session the Otsuzumi is making Otsuzumi noises, the dancers are really dancing.

Jan 12th. We are back at Ohori Theatre, for the little Noh show that finishes

Curtain call.

the workshop. The kids look chocolate box cute in their tiny kimonos, but very serious and determined. And after just 10 mornings of study, for 2 hours these little kids produce something that, remarkably, is recognizably Noh!®