An ensemble gathers beneath hanging lights as performers extend large pale fans across a blue and red stage.

Southwark Playhouse2021

Tokyo Rose

The Production

Burnt Lemon Theatre’s award-winning musical tells the story of Iva Toguri, the Japanese-American broadcaster tried for treason as the mythical “Tokyo Rose”, staged at Southwark Playhouse as part of the production’s 2021 tour.

35 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Hannah Benson
Associate Director: Amelia Kinu Muus
Musical Director: Hannah Benson
Choreographer: Hannah Benson, Amelia Kinu Muus
Lighting Design: Holly Ellis
Set Design: Luke W. Robson
Costume Design: Erin Chouying Guan
Sound Design: Jamie Lu
Photography: Steve Gregson

A single performer stands in a circular spotlight on a dark stage beneath a cluster of small overhead lights.

A performer in a dark blue outfit raises one hand to her forehead beneath a canopy of small warm lights.

A performer stands beside a red suitcase in red haze beneath suspended lights.

Five performers pose with raised arms under a hanging cluster of lit boxes on a purple and amber stage.

Five performers stand at attention and salute in a blue-lit stage space with benches.

One performer stands at a high lectern while two seated performers in blue uniforms salute below.

A performer in a pale blue uniform stands in the foreground as others sit in blue light behind her.

A lone figure stands in deep blue light under a suspended structure, casting patterned shadows across the stage floor.

A performer in a hat leans forward with an outstretched arm while an ensemble gathers around radio desks behind her.

A performer in a hat and trench coat looks sideways in purple-blue light.

A performer in a trench coat holds a hat near another performer wearing a pink beret at a desk.

A performer sits at a typewriter reading papers in a pool of low blue light.

A performer in a trench coat stands before a desk with a seated typist and an American flag in purple light.

Two performers stand at microphones under angled beams of light, one pointing outward.

Two performers are silhouetted against intense red light as one points into the distance.

A group stands on a small platform surrounded by performers holding large red fans in red light.

A performer stands alone at a microphone in front of a wooden geometric set under blue and red light.

A close-up shows a performer looking straight ahead behind a geometric microphone.

Performers in patterned costumes move with large open fans across a red and blue stage.

A performer in a green uniform holds up a small object in warm smoky light.

Three performers raise papers in the air in front of a counter reading “U. Toguri Gift Shop.”

Four performers gather around a counter labelled “U. Toguri Gift Shop” in warm light.

Two performers face each other across the gift shop counter, one holding the other by the shoulders.

A performer in a blue uniform gestures beside a dark radio cabinet in blue light.

Three performers carry crates above their heads in a dim red-lit scene.

A performer speaks into a microphone while holding an open case filled with small objects.

Performers move across the stage carrying crates under shafts of cool white light.

A performer reads a newspaper closely against a warm wooden set.

One performer stands on a platform while another sits below her in warm light.

A performer clutching a microphone stands in the foreground with another performer blurred behind her.

A performer in blue stands close to the camera in the foreground as two others appear on a platform in the background.

A seated performer in a blue uniform smiles in a dark stage space.

A performer stands on a raised platform surrounded by four performers in blue uniforms.

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