Who we are

The Black Stripe Theater is a group of international directors, actors and teachers bringing English-language theater opportunities to Tokyo and other cities in Japan.

Our Mission

Black Stripe Theater aims to engage, inspire, challenge and entertain young people and audiences by creating exciting drama opportunities through our workshops, talks, school visits and performances. We believe drama can be used as a powerful tool to change young people’s lives for the better.

The company name Black Stripe comes from a line in Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter, the company’s inaugural production, spoken by the character Gus ruminating about the crockery

The group have collaborated on many productions of classic, modern and contemporary English-speaking plays. In 2017 the group started taking their performances into schools and universities with the aim of bringing accessible, educational and fun performances to young people. This year BST will be reprising their well-received 2019 production of Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

For videos of our recent work check here:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/blackstripetheater/videos/?ref=page_internal

Chris Parham

Chris Parham

Chris is from London. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and Rose Bruford College. He has taught Drama and acted on stages throughout the UK and Japan.

Walter Roberts

Walter Roberts

Walter is from Nebraska. He trained at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago and worked extensively in rep. theatre after graduation. He came to Japan as a cellist with the Classical Symphony Orchestra of Chicago in 1992. Walter has worked as a musician, actor, director, singer and narrator.

Tim Harris

Tim Harris

Tim Harris is from London. Since moving to Tokyo in 1973, he has written for numerous publications, here and abroad, and has worked as an actor, narrator, director, and diction coach for professional singers at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, and elsewhere.

Justin Davis

Brandon Francis

Brandon is from Norwich. He started his acting career with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. He has worked as a professional actor on stage, screen and radio in England, America and Japan. He also has extensive experience running drama workshops with various Theatre companies.

Blog

BULL by Mike Bartlett

BULL by Mike Bartlett Presented by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.Two jobs. Three candidates. This would be a really bad time to have a stain on your shirt…A razor-sharp play about the fine line between Read more…

The Gentlest Giant

This production of The Gentlest Giant premieres in 2019. The cast includes: Julianne Sunrise Julia Yermakov Walter Roberts Antun Percic

Macbeth

This production of Macbeth by William Shakespeare premiered in 2019. It is being reprised in 2023 The original production included the 4 actors below. Slight changes have been made to the 2023 cast. Christiane Brew Read more…

Get in Touch

Find us at the office

2-21-4 Miyake Homes (Annex 3F)
Shoto
Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo
150-0046

Give us a ring

080 8177 3591

Contact Us