Seymour Centre and Omusubi Productions present
In commemoration of 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The story takes place in Hiroshima some three years after the dropping of the atomic bomb on that city on 6 August 1945. Mitsue, a young librarian, arrives home to find her father Takezo there. She has not seen him for three years.
The Face of Jizo centres on a father and daughter in the aftermath of war. Tender, beautiful and seasoned with moments of familial humour, this acclaimed Japanese play made a sold-out season of its Australian premiere at the Old Fitz Theatre in Nov 2023.
“With its laughter and tears,” wrote leading cultural figure Saiichi Maruya, “The Face of Jizo is the greatest play of Japan’s postwar era.”
This is a tale of courage, first love, spirited fathers, and learning to embrace the ghosts of the past.
Japanese Performances
The following performances will be in Japanese with English surtitles. Please ensure you have selected the correct dates when booking in for this experience.
- Sat 23 Aug 2pm
- Sat 30 Aug 2pm
- Sat 6 Sep 2pm
Image credit: Philip Erbacher
Time Out Sydney
Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Morning Herald
Talkfest Tuesdays
Get more from your Seymour Season experience! Book a Tuesday night early show and enjoy a free and exclusive post-show Q and A with members of the creative team joined by expert commentators including Sydney University academics.
For The Face of Jizo, Talkfest is on Tuesday 26 August.
Show: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Q and A: 8.00pm – 8.45pm
Panel includes Dr Yasuko Claremont teacher of Japanese language and modern Japanese literature since 1984, specialist in modern poetry, translation and research on Japanese journals of the 1920s, Nô drama and postwar reconciliation.
Check out the Talkfest Tuesdays sessions for other Seymour Season performances by visiting their respective event pages on our website.
Writer Hisashi Inoue
Translator Roger Pulvers
Directors Shingo Usami and David Lynch
Producer Omusubi Productions
Lighting Designer Matt Cox
Sound Designer Zachary Saric
Set Designer Tobhiyah Stone Feller
Composer Me-Lee Hay
Cast Shingo Usami and Mayu Iwasaki
Reginald Theatre
| Thu 21 Aug | 7:30pm |
|---|
Reginald Theatre
| Fri 22 Aug | 7:30pm |
|---|---|
| Sat 23 Aug | 2pm*, 7:30pm |
| Tue 26 Aug | 6:30pm^ |
| Wed 27 Aug | 7:30pm |
| Thu 28 Aug | 7:30pm |
| Fri 29 Aug | 7:30pm |
| Sat 30 Aug | 2pm*, 7:30pm |
| Tue 2 Sep | 6:30pm |
| Wed 3 Sep | 7:30pm |
| Thu 4 Sep | 7:30pm |
| Fri 5 Sep | 7:30pm |
| Sat 6 Sep | 2pm*, 7.30pm |
*These shows will be performed in Japanese with English surtitles.
^Talkfest Tuesdays. Get more from your Seymour Season experience! Book a Tuesday night early show and enjoy a free and exclusive post-show Q&A with members of the creative team joined by a specialist Sydney University academic.
Q&A: 8.00pm – 8.45pm.
Panel includes Dr Yasuko Claremont, a teacher of Japanese language and modern Japanese literature since 1984. He is also a specialist in modern poetry, translation and research on Japanese journals of the 1920s, Nō Drama and Postwar Reconciliation.
80 minutes with no interval. A total lockout applies.
| Full | $59 |
|---|---|
| Concession (Pensioner, Veteran, Senior)* | $49 |
| Under 35, FT Student* | $39 |
| Group 8+ | $39 |
| Preview | $39 |
$7 transaction fee applies.
*Please be prepared to present corresponding ID at your event if requested by our staff. Read more.
The Face of Jizo is available to purchase as part of a 2025 Seymour Season multipack, alongside a host of other great shows. Buy a multipack to save up to 20% on tickets and enjoy outstanding independent theatre for less.
Recommended for ages 12+. Contains mentions of death, survivor's guilt, haze smoke and strobe lighting. Filming and photography prohibited.
The only authorised ticket seller for this event is Seymour Centre. If you purchase from an unauthorised seller, you risk that your tickets may be fake or invalid.
Reginald Theatre
| Thu 21 Aug | 7:30pm |
|---|
Reginald Theatre
| Fri 22 Aug | 7:30pm |
|---|---|
| Sat 23 Aug | 2pm*, 7:30pm |
| Tue 26 Aug | 6:30pm^ |
| Wed 27 Aug | 7:30pm |
| Thu 28 Aug | 7:30pm |
| Fri 29 Aug | 7:30pm |
| Sat 30 Aug | 2pm*, 7:30pm |
| Tue 2 Sep | 6:30pm |
| Wed 3 Sep | 7:30pm |
| Thu 4 Sep | 7:30pm |
| Fri 5 Sep | 7:30pm |
| Sat 6 Sep | 2pm*, 7.30pm |
*These shows will be performed in Japanese with English surtitles.
^Talkfest Tuesdays. Get more from your Seymour Season experience! Book a Tuesday night early show and enjoy a free and exclusive post-show Q&A with members of the creative team joined by a specialist Sydney University academic.
Q&A: 8.00pm – 8.45pm.
Panel includes Dr Yasuko Claremont, a teacher of Japanese language and modern Japanese literature since 1984. He is also a specialist in modern poetry, translation and research on Japanese journals of the 1920s, Nō Drama and Postwar Reconciliation.
80 minutes with no interval. A total lockout applies.
| Full | $59 |
|---|---|
| Concession (Pensioner, Veteran, Senior)* | $49 |
| Under 35, FT Student* | $39 |
| Group 8+ | $39 |
| Preview | $39 |
$7 transaction fee applies.
*Please be prepared to present corresponding ID at your event if requested by our staff. Read more.
The Face of Jizo is available to purchase as part of a 2025 Seymour Season multipack, alongside a host of other great shows. Buy a multipack to save up to 20% on tickets and enjoy outstanding independent theatre for less.
Recommended for ages 12+. Contains mentions of death, survivor's guilt, haze smoke and strobe lighting. Filming and photography prohibited.
The only authorised ticket seller for this event is Seymour Centre. If you purchase from an unauthorised seller, you risk that your tickets may be fake or invalid.
Talkfest Tuesdays
Get more from your Seymour Season experience! Book a Tuesday night early show and enjoy a free and exclusive post-show Q and A with members of the creative team joined by expert commentators including Sydney University academics.
For The Face of Jizo, Talkfest is on Tuesday 26 August.
Show: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Q and A: 8.00pm – 8.45pm
Panel includes Dr Yasuko Claremont teacher of Japanese language and modern Japanese literature since 1984, specialist in modern poetry, translation and research on Japanese journals of the 1920s, Nô drama and postwar reconciliation.
Check out the Talkfest Tuesdays sessions for other Seymour Season performances by visiting their respective event pages on our website.
Writer Hisashi Inoue
Translator Roger Pulvers
Directors Shingo Usami and David Lynch
Producer Omusubi Productions
Lighting Designer Matt Cox
Sound Designer Zachary Saric
Set Designer Tobhiyah Stone Feller
Composer Me-Lee Hay
Cast Shingo Usami and Mayu Iwasaki
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