Noda Map -320°F

About Noda Map -320°F

One of Japan's most visionary theatrical forces arrives in London for a strictly limited season at Sadler's Wells. Noda Map -320°F is written and directed by Hideki Noda, the celebrated playwright and director whose company NODA MAP has long been synonymous with ambitious, large-scale storytelling in Japan. This is a rare and unmissable opportunity to witness that creative world unfold on a major London stage.

The production is performed in Japanese with English surtitles, and runs for approximately two hours and twenty minutes with no interval.

The Story

At the heart of the piece is a scientist consumed by a singular obsession: to locate the so-called angel bone, a mythical relic rumoured to contain the very secret of life itself. When a bone in his own body begins to stir with an inexplicable tremor, he is drawn into a journey that moves far beyond the rational world he inhabits.

What follows is a sweeping voyage through time. The narrative pulls the protagonist backwards from a contemporary fossil dig, through the strange alchemy of a medieval laboratory, and further still into the ancient world. As each layer of history is stripped away, the story edges closer to something resembling a Faustian bargain, and a single, haunting question rises to the surface: what does it truly mean to be alive?

The production explores ideas of genetic memory, the inheritance of the past carried within the body, and the point at which science and myth become indistinguishable from each other. It is grand in its ambitions and intimate in its philosophical concerns.

Hideki Noda and NODA MAP

Hideki Noda is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Japanese theatre. As both playwright and director, he has built a body of work defined by its physical energy, imaginative staging and willingness to blend comedy, tragedy and spectacle within a single frame. NODA MAP, the company he founded, produces work at scale, drawing on large ensembles and a visual language that is immediately recognisable.

His productions are relatively rare outside Japan, making this London visit a genuinely significant cultural event. The cast rotates regularly in line with production schedules, ensuring the ensemble reflects the creative demands of each run.

What to Expect

Audiences coming to -320°F should expect theatre that works on every sense simultaneously. The movement vocabulary across the ensemble is expansive, the staging shifts fluidly between worlds and eras, and the visual imagination on display is unlike anything produced within the conventional British theatrical tradition. English surtitles are projected clearly, making the production fully accessible to audiences who do not speak Japanese.

The title itself, referencing a temperature associated with the preservation of biological matter, frames the whole piece as a meditation on what survives, what is stored, and what is eventually recovered from the deep past.

Visiting Sadler's Wells

Sadler's Wells is located in Islington, north London, and is easily reached by tube via Angel station on the Northern line. The theatre is fully accessible, with step-free routes available throughout the building. There are bars and a cafe on site, and staff are on hand to assist with any access requirements ahead of your visit.

The venue is one of London's foremost stages for international performance and dance, making it the ideal home for a production of this scale and ambition.

Book Tickets for Noda Map -320°F

Tickets for Noda Map -320°F at Sadler's Wells start from £37.50. Given the strictly limited nature of this London run, availability is expected to move quickly. Check this page for current dates and availability.