Mawaributai (revolving stage)
Effective stage direction using the Mawaributai in “Hakata Kojoro Nami Makura” Nakamura Kichiemon 2nd as Kyuemon. November, 1994 at the National Theatre.
The stage for Kabuki is cut out in a circular shape and can be revolved, which is called the Mawaributai. When a performance is given on the front half of the stage, stage sets for the scene may be prepared on the other half back to back to the front side. If the stage is rotated 180 degrees, the next scene will appear, which makes the change of scenes very quick and is also useful when trying to show two scenes alternately. In the Edo period, the stage used to be rotated by manpower in the Naraku, but today it is automated.
The video shows a scene of “Hakata Kojoro Nami Makura”. This is a large-scale scene in which a ship of stage sets is revolved on the Mawaributai.
