West End star comes to Newbury in 5-star musical Tokyo Rose
The Edinburgh Fringe hit Tokyo Rose with its all-female cast is heading to Newbury, led by West End musical star Kanako Nakano who appeared in Miss Saigon and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. It also features Maya Britto (Tokyo Rose, New Diorama Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe; Arabian Nights, Hoxton Hall) in the titular role.
The award-winning show tours to the Corn Exchange on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 26 - 27.
This 'electrifying' new musical tells the story of one of America’s most controversial trials for treason, from the point of view of defendant Iva Toguri, accused of being the notorious wartime broadcaster ‘Tokyo Rose’.
A nickname given to the female broadcasters spreading Japanese propaganda to the Allied Forces during the Second World War, Tokyo Rose became a symbol of the enemy. So when Iva Ikuko Toguri D'Aquino was accused of being the original notorious Tokyo Rose, she became the seventh person in US history to stand trial for treason.
Completing the cast is Lucy Park (Tokyo Rose, New Diorama Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe; Game Face, Q Theatre/Tristan Bates Theatre), Yuki Sutton (Tokyo Rose, New Diorama Theatre/Edinburgh Fringe; Satanic Panic '87, Channel 4), Amy Parker (Ride, Vault Festival; Dancing By Myself, King’s Head Theatre), and Cara Baldwin (The Marathon Project, online; The Half Moon Shania, Zoo Venues/Vault Festival).
New Diorama Theatre and Underbelly first commissioned this exciting project as part of the Untapped Award, and its potential was realised following a sold out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019. This is a co-production by Burnt Lemon Theatre in association with MAST Mayflower Southampton and Birmingham Hippodrome.
Co-writer Maryhee Yoon says: "The most important part of Tokyo Rose is that Iva Toguri D’Aquino lived. She was here. I hope to tell Iva’s story in a way that she would have wanted, honouring her heartbreaks, her fight, her family, and her joys to honour our collective fight and radical joy. Just like Iva, our community is here and it is thriving. I hope that Tokyo Rose can serve as a love letter to this vibrant community."
Co-writer Cara Baldwin adds: "The cast and creative team have gone on such an incredible journey together, shining a light on a side of history some would rather forget. While Iva Toguri survived a tidal wave of turmoil, the greatest thing we’ve learnt is that Iva’s life is not one to lament, but celebrate."
