Theater director Shuntaro Fujita will make his London debut in January next year with the musical "Violet," first performed in the 1990s in the United States.
Fujita, 38, is considered a rising star in Japan's theater world and is expected to be a successor to late theater director Yukio Ninagawa, under whom he studied theater production.
"Violet" will be performed at the Charing Cross Theatre in the West End of London for about three months. Fujita will fly to London alone to start necessary preparations.
Known for bringing great creativity and enthusiasm to his theater direction, Fujita won the Best Theatrical Production Award at the Yomiuri Theater Awards in 2016 for the musical "Jersey Boys."
Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka, which has a close connection with Charing Cross Theatre Artistic Director Thom Southerland, reportedly helped realize the staging plan at the 265-seat London theater.
Sources said Southerland praised Fujita for his world-class direction abilities, and that he expects "Violet" to greatly inspire British audiences.
"Without thinking about whether the musical is performed in Japan or Britain, I'd like to create something universal to make my mark," Fujita said.
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