"Hotel Grand Asia," the debut production resulting from an ambitious pan-Asian collaboration called Lohan Journey, opened at the Setagaya Public Theatre (SEPT) in Sangenjaya on March 8 is the fruit of over two years of intensive preparation since the project was launched by SEPT's director Kentaro Matsui.
Named after a high rank of Buddhist, Lohan, this theatrical journey began at SEPT's Carrot Tower base in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward in February 2003. At that time, 15 leading Asian dramatists from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand -- plus one American experienced in Asian drama collaborations -- met to initiate a drama network for young Asian artists that they hoped would bear fruit for years to come.
With the luxury of public funding that SEPT provides, this brave initiative has finally been realized after five long workshops in Bali, the Philippines and Japan, followed by intensive rehearsals.