It’s a bold and daring challenge: Japanese performers take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, one of the world’s most famous plays, in the UK, Shakespeare’s home country. Can a Japanese salaryman bring a fresh twist to this timeless classic? Sakai International Community Arts in partnership with Theatre Group GUMBO bring an exciting twist to the macabre story of revenge we know and love. Dr.Pants sat down with Rinya Kiji to find out how he plots to take over his family’s business (by any means necessary). You can catch Salaryman Macbeth on Thu 29 October 7:00 pm, Fri 30 October 8:30 pm, Sat 31 October 8:30 pm, and Sun 1 November 4:30 pm during Colchester Fringe.
NAP: Hello Rinya! I’m so excited for you to come to Colchester for the first time to perform. I starred with you in a very different version of Salaryman Macbeth as “Amerika no daitouryou desu” back in December 2025. In helping Sakai International Community Arts localize this version of the show, I saw we have quite the treat ahead of us. Tell us: what is Salaryman Macbeth?
RK: We reimagine Shakespeare’s famous story in the world of modern Japanese salarymen. An underachieving salaryman encounters three witches who turn his life upside down. Our eight performers form a chorus that adds depth and a three-dimensional quality to the stage. Their collective presence brings a unique dimension to our interpretation of Macbeth.
NAP: Why did you choose a Japanese salaryman as your Macbeth?
RK: Because even an ordinary salaryman can dream of power and success! We wanted to explore Shakespeare’s timeless story through the everyday world of Japanese office workers.
Japan is the land of anime and manga! You might think Japanese people are hardworking and stingy. So come and see how we Japanese interpret Shakespeare!
NAP: And why Colchester Fringe? Why did you choose our small British town for this work?
RK: Salaryman Macbeth has previously been performed in Japan, Pakistan, and the Philippines. When we decided to bring our show to Europe, we felt that the UK, Shakespeare’s home country, was the perfect place to perform it.
NAP: You’re bringing eight people to Colchester, many of them visiting the UK for the first time. What’s been the biggest challenge in coming to Colchester?
RK: Three of our eight cast members went on tour a month and a half before the show, leaving only five of us to continue rehearsing. On top of that, performing Shakespeare in English in his home country is nerve-racking for us Japanese, especially with our limited English skills!
NAP: So what are you hopeful UK audiences take away from the show?
RK: We hope our audience will leave wondering: Where are the witches?
They are out there in the world. They are inside our minds. They may even be in AI. They may appear as opportunities that come our way.
Perhaps the witches are everywhere.
We want them to remember that Shakespeare’s stories can come alive anywhere, even in a Japanese office. And perhaps, after the show, they will start looking for witches in their own lives!
You can catch Salaryman Macbeth on Thu 29 October 7:00 pm, Fri 30 October 8:30 pm, Sat 31 October 8:30 pm, and Sun 1 November 4:30 pm during Colchester Fringe. While you’re at Colchester Fringe, check out the rest of the international shows on offer including GUMBO’S The Return of Madama Butterfly, Aniya He’s story of China’s first emperor, and that annoying American Dr.Pants and his play in a DARK ROOM.
