Third Stage theater troupe reunites for new play “Palidria” at Tokyo’s Kinokuniya Hall

The legendary Japanese theatre group 第三舞台, founded in 1981 by playwright‑director Naoshi Hongou and a key driver of the 1980s small‑theatre boom, has reassembled as “Third Stage 2026”. After a ten‑year hiatus ending in 2011, the troupe will stage Hongou’s new work Palidria at Shinjuku’s Kinokuniya Hall, opening on 9 August 2024 following a press conference on 7 August.

The production brings together original members such as Yūma Nakayama, Kōji Ōsuda and others, alongside younger actors. In an interview, Nakayama, playing a son caring for his dementia‑stricken father, described the play’s focus on contemporary issues like over‑reaching compliance, and praised Hongou’s fast‑paced style. The reunion is presented as a “homecoming” for the troupe’s veteran and emerging talent alike.