100 Performers in Japan's Most Inclusive Theater Troupe

When Ryohei Kondo announced auditions at Saitama Arts Theater in spring 2024, he expected maybe a few dozen responses. Instead, 850 people from across Japan applied, prompting him to think bigger than he'd ever imagined.

The result was Company Grande, a remarkably diverse performance troupe of over 100 members. The group included professional dancers alongside police officers, university professors, students, and homemakers, ranging from teenagers to retirees in their 80s.

Members came from as far as Hokkaido and Shizuoka to join the experiment. Roughly 60% were women, and the group welcomed both able-bodied performers and those with disabilities.

For nearly two years, the troupe trained together under 10 professional artists who led workshops in shadow puppetry, juggling, acting, dance, and music. Then in February 2025, they premiered "The Rite of Spring" before a packed audience.

The show wove together shadow puppetry, comedy sketches, juggling, dance, and musical performances. A sign language interpreter translated dialogue and songs onstage, while colorful garments hung overhead, symbolizing the tapestry of human life.

Shinichi Suzuki, 74, had participated in community theater programs before but found something different here. "This experiment reminded me of dreams we had almost lost sight of, of the rich possibilities within our communities," he says.

The Ripple Effect

For many members, Company Grande became more than a performance project. It became a home.

Aya Imai, 50, who is visually impaired and uses a wheelchair, struggled during the first few sessions. But with support from fellow cast members, she gained confidence. "I finally found a place where I belong," she says.

Marika Murase, 21, an opera student, discovered that approaching workshops with childlike curiosity unlocked new forms of expression. Riko Yanagisawa, who moved from Inner Mongolia, says the experience taught her not just stage techniques but "how to live, how to interact with others, and how to look at life itself as a work of art."

Kondo, who became artistic director in 2022, has spent 30 years breaking down barriers in performance art. His vision for "Crossing" at Saitama Arts Theater focuses on traversing boundaries, from dance performances at the local zoo to festivals welcoming residents for artistic exchanges.

Choreographer Mami Shimazaki, one of the workshop leaders, reflected on the project's deeper significance. "I feel lucky to be involved in this two-year process, in a world that increasingly looks for instant results," she says.

Company Grande proved that when you open the door wide enough, hundreds will walk through it, ready to create something beautiful together.