Good news for anyone curious about Japanese theatre: Noh: Japanese Classical Dance-drama will soon be available in paperback.

Nō is often described as austere or difficult, but at its heart it is a deeply human form of theatre. This book invites readers to step inside the nō world and discover its history, its plays, and how performances are shaped through dance, music, poetry, masks, and costumes.

Rather than treating nō as a museum piece, the book approaches it as a living practice, still performed today and still capable of speaking to contemporary audiences. It is written with students, theatre-makers, and general readers in mind, offering clear explanations without simplifying what makes nō unique.

Kaoru Nakao, Diego Pellecchia. Noh: Japanese Classical Dance-drama

Published Feb 20 2025. 208 pages 10 bw illustrations. Bloomsbury Methuen Drama

ISBN 9781350371446