Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2013

With a dash of acrobatic derring-do, a dusting of avant-garde theater, and a drop of Arab street life, this is nothing you’ve ever seen before. Chouf Ouchouf, which translates roughly to “Look—no look harder!” is a piece that brings Morocco’s Groupe acrobatique de Tanger together with Swiss directing team Zimmermann and de Perrot for a theater spectacle that crosses cultural and performing arts barriers with almost unseemly glee. They first joined together a decade ago; this is their second work, and their Japan debut forms part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre’s ongoing Theater Arts for Children and Teens festival.

Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Jun 6-9, 7pm, ¥1,000-4,000. Nearest stn: Ikebukuro. Tel: 0570-010-296. www.geigeki.jp/performance/theater027