In Japanese with English surtitles, Hideki Noda’s latest eccentric “Minus 320 Fahrenheit” at Sadlers Wells Theatre is a sci-fi, time travelling extravaganza loosely based on the Faustian legend. An excavation led by Professor Kyuri (Eri Fukatsu) finds the trail of the mythical “Angel’s Bone” a relic her pharmaceutical sponsor believes could hold the key to youth and longevity. Her assistant, Help (Sadawo Abe), a man who owes his life to science, sets out to repay his debt by finding the angel bone. But why does the bone in his arm keep trembling? It opens a door into genetic memory, hurling his entire world back through time.
A chaotic atmosphere is created with silver and white random patterns on black surfaces. A small, raised platform at the rear with a central sloped ramp allows the actors to move freely, allowing dynamic and choreography. The scene changes are very simplistic. Performers run to move the two thin curtains hung on rails for every scene transformation.
The production starts even as the audience enter with several cast members on their knees at a modern excavation site. Misaki (an 18 year old deaf woman) and Tasukete (Sadao Abe) enter and introduce each other in sign language. The sign language is so strong and dynamic that at first it looked like a dance.
Shigehiro Ide’s choreography transforms the finding of bones into a striking sequence of shifting images, with performers portraying fossils, animals, and human figures. Their fluid movements create a living dance where bodies continuously merge and transform.
In the next scene, the Pied Piper of Hamelin (Koji Ohkura) liberates laboratory mice, all except one, and we are reminded that the only child who didn’t go with the piper was deaf.
The narrative moves across ancient, medieval, and modern excavation sites as characters investigate the angel bones. Combining detective and science fiction elements, it challenges the audience’s understanding of truth and history. It soon becomes apparent that ‘angel bones’ is a euphemism for people with disabilities.
The plot covers in vitro fertilization, power struggles between pharmaceutical companies, infectious diseases, prenatal testing, surrogacy, disability, and animal testing, all accompanied by many other social issues. It all sounds serious except that under Noda’s direction, it is fun, fast, and entertaining.
The climax of this play refers to the ‘Tsukui Yamayuri En’ incident, in which 19 residents were murdered by a former employee in July 2016 at a disability care home in Midori-kuSagamihara City. He believed that there are lives that are better off unborn.
The final scene is incredibly moving. At first, the entire cast repeats the song “Don’t know love, don’t know love, still it must be love, no one knows life” both vocally and in sign language. The movement becomes almost dancelike before falling into silence, as the cast powerfully and wordlessly signs “I love you.”
Exuberant and completely bonkers

Reviewed by Nina Gardner.

Four Stars.
Playing at Sader’s Wells Theatre 3rd – 11th July 2026
For tickets and further information, please use the link below.
https://my.sadlerswells.com

Photo Credits: Alex Brenner
Cast
Sadawo Abe: Help, Halst, Tasukete
Suzu Hirose: Mephisto, Jean, Himoko  
Eri Fukatsu: Professor Kyuri
Isao Hashizume : Faust,
Koji Ohkura: Pied Piper of Hamelin: Narrator and sign language
Shoko Takada: Chairman Oolong Cha
Yuri Kawakami:Assistant Turncoat
Satoshi Hashimoto:  President Oolong Deathmask
Adeki Noda: Assistant Stalwart

Creatives
YUKIO HORIO:                              Set design
MITSUHIRO AKIYAMA:              Assistant set designer
MOTOI HATTORI & MAKOTO KITAZAWA: Lighting design
KODUE HIBINO:                           Costume design
ISAO TSUGE:                                  Beauty direction
MARIHIKO HARA:                        Music
RAKU NAKAHARA:                      Sound design
SHIGEHIRO IDE:                          Choreography
TAIKI UEDA:                                     Projection Design
MASATAKA SESAKI:                    Stage manager
KUMI ODAIRA:                               Production manager
HIROYUKI SUZUKI: Producer