hi-bye:

The theatrical company hi-bye was formed in 2003, in Koganei-shi, Tokyo. Among its founding members is the playwright/producer Hideto Iwai. His 5 years as a withdrawal has been filtered through theatrical performance and transformed into raw but humorous comedy.

Discovering that his extreme sensitivity to the inter-personal distance creates its own desperation and humor when treated with [modern vernacular theatrical method], Iwai’s perspectives have been expanding from himself, to family, to the others.

His main works include “Hikky Cancun Tornado” ,“Shigachan’s nineteen bluth” and “The Hand”

Hideto Iwai Interview

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The merits of hi-bye works are their scenic art and reproducibility. These repertoires require relatively short preparation period, and have received favorable comments.
Both English scripts and subtitles are available. We would be delighted to hear from you in regards to running the repertoires abroad as well as in regions outside Tokyo.

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Synopsis:
The story evolves around a wife and children, now grown up and independent, who have suffered irrational violence from the father. One day, the eldest daughter suggests a family get-together while their aging grandmother is still with them. However, they soon discover that the deep chasm still remains. The grandmother passes away during their bickering, and the eldest son blames the daughter for suggesting the reunion. The family is fractured and uncooperative even at the funeral…

This Iwai’s autobiographical work depicts the divergence of communication among family members, encircling it with hi-bye’s unique humor.

The first half of the play is written from the younger brother’s perspective, and the second half is the mother’s narratives on the same time period and events.

“I had always intended to write about the helpless, almost joke-like days of seeking consolation but not finding any. Upon taking on the project, I interviewed my mother about those days and discovered that she had a completely different interpretation of my elder brother’s approach toward my grandmother. So I decided to describe my take in the first half and how she saw the same events in the second half.” (Iwai, on explaining the work)

Link : Performing Arts Network Japan “Play of the Month”

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Synopsis:
Tomio, an aspiring wrestler, is a withdrawal and cannot leave his house. His younger sister Aya is the only person who understands and supports him. One day, their mother, worried about her son’s situation, brings a phony “Delivery Counselor Keiichi” to persuade him to come outside. To the mother’s dismay, the counselor decides to lock himself up with Tomio. The next counselor deliberates as to how to get the two withdrawals out of the house. Can Tomio ever come out of the house? And why is it so good to go “out?”
Performing Arts Network Japan “Play of the Month”

An actor/playwright/stage director, Iwai experienced withdrawal roughly from age 15 to 20. He formed the theatrical company hi-bye in 2003, and in 2007 joined the producing department of Seinen-Dan. Iwai’s works depict social phenomenon such as family, withdrawal, group-individual relation, and swirl of self-consciousness, with the viewpoints unique to those from his hometown located at the outskirts of Tokyo, who are envious and yet objective towards mass culture. His main works include “Hikky Cancun Tornado”,“Shigachan’s nineteen bluth” and “The Hand”