Ungeziefer

An independent theatre collective led by playwright Ryu Motohashi, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024. Their works blend everyday realism with quiet fantasy, using conversation-driven drama to reveal the struggles, contradictions, and small hopes of people who feel slightly out of step. “The Movers” won the Grand Prize at the 2017 Hokkaido Playwriting Award and went on to receive the Award of Excellence for two consecutive years. “Damp Interiors” received the Grand Prix at the CoRich Stage Arts Festival 2025.

Ryu Motohashi

Born in 1990. Hails from Saitama City. Began theater in high school club activities. Formed the precursor theater unit during university, later renamed to “Ungeziefer.” Acclaimed for meticulously crafted scripts featuring refined dialogue and direction that seamlessly traverses time and space through expressions unique to theater. Hosts numerous workshops themed around “theater without pressure” to create an environment where anyone can express themselves easily.

Major Works

Damp Interiors

Centered on a couple who has just had a child, the play tells a story of families that gradually comes to light. Its staging choice—portraying the newborn with a Bluetooth speaker—became a notable talking point. The production won the Grand Prix at the “CoRich Stage Arts Festival 2025.”

Preparation for the Journey

Through a single night as a brother and sister prepare for a journey, the play explores their troubled lives and complicated relationships with their parents. It is an intense two-person drama, a form at which Ungeziefer particularly excels.

8h Mobius

Performed at Studio Kudoh in October 2024. The play depicts the solitary everyday lives of people who struggle to keep up with the world, touching on themes of endless labor and the difficulty of simply living. Its universal themes resonated widely, and the production was praised for its skillful dialogue and seamless direction.