Ayano Go, Narimiya Hiroki & Maeda Atsuko work together in the play "Taiyo 2068"

Ayano Go will be taking on his first leading role in a stage role through Ninagawa Yukio's production "Taiyo 2068" which begins its run at Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in July. The play which is a science-fiction story set in the near future and is meant to mark Bunkamura's 25th anniversary, also features Narimiya Hiroki who last appeared in a Ninagawa production 7 years ago and former AKB48 member Maeda Atsuko in her first stage play. The script of the play written by Maekawa Tomohiro and titled "Taiyo" had won the 19th Yomiuri Engeki Taisho in 2012 will be rewritten for this adaptation.

The story talks about about a new species of human beings known as Nocks who possess young and strong bodies with high intelligence after being infected by a bioterror virus co-exist with ordinary people known as Curio in the near future. Ayano's role Tetsuhiko is a Curio who aspires to be a Nocks while Narimiya plays the role of Fujita, a Nocks who becomes good friends with Tetsuhiko despite their differences. As for Maeda, she plays the role of Ikuta Yui who is proud of her identity as a Curio. Ayano commented that he had been deeply affected by Ninagawa's production "Media" when he saw it nine years ago so he hopes to be able to do something of the same level and absorb as much as he can from Ninagawa. Meanwhile, Narimiya who last appeared in 2007's "Oki ni mesumama", said that he regards Ninagawa as the strongest person he has come across so far thus his appearance in this drama feels like a challenge to the latter emotionally. Despite this being her first stage appearance, Maeda commented that she is OK even if she gets treated harshly as a rookie since she's looking forward to working on this play and will leave everything up to Ninagawa.

Source: Sanspo