🗺️ Gear Theaterギア-GEAR-

"齒輪-GEAR-" is a completely dialogue-free mime performance theater. It is Japan's first entertainment program that combines pantomime, magic, street dance, juggling, and other performances with projection mapping technology, creating a new sensory experience. The story is set in a dilapidated old toy factory in a neglected future. The puppets produced in this factory, known as "Doll," encounter a human-shaped robot worker called "Roboroid." Through their communication, they embark on a touching story that brings them closer to humanity. The performance relies on non-verbal expression and a high-quality narrative, with each character portrayed by multiple performers. This means that the combination of performers for each show is almost always different, which is one of the most appealing aspects of the drama, with reportedly up to 3,600 possible combinations. The GEAR theater has been around for 10 years, accumulating over 3,000 performances and attracting more than 250,000 audience members. This small theater, which has made its mark in Japanese performance history, continues to evolve today, offering a unique entertainment experience that is rooted in culture rather than trends, deeply embedded in the city of Kyoto. Moreover, there is more to see than just the performances. The permanent small theater "ART COMPLEX 1928," located in the 1928 building designed by architect Takeda Goichi, known as the "father of Kansai architecture," is a retro-style building completed in 1928, filled with artistic flair. As Takeda Goichi's representative work, it has now been registered as a tangible cultural asset of Kyoto City. Both theater enthusiasts and architecture lovers can find great satisfaction in appreciating it in detail.

Japan's first non-verbal (without dialogue) theater. The small theater, which has shone brightly in the history of performance in Japan, has entered its 10th year of regular performances. Exquisite performances of mime, street dance, magic, and acrobatics. The sense of distance between the real stage setup and the performers is a characteristic of this permanent small theater. The vintage building housing the theater is a well-known structure designed by Takeda Goichi.