Photo : Marge design
The End of Time
Haruki Murakami’s labyrinthine storytelling meets Philippe Decouflé’s visionary choreography in this spectacular stage adaptation. It is a stunning blend of dance and theater that masterfully captures the parallel realities of a journey through love and dreams.
Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris 1st)
About
From October 16 to 21, 2026, the Théâtre du Châtelet presents the stage adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s renowned novel, The End of the World. Directed and choreographed by Philippe Decouflé, this hybrid performance features nine actors and ten dancers, bringing to life the surreal story of a man searching for his lost love in 1985 Tokyo. Suitable for ages 12 and up, this production blends dance, music, and theater. The performance is fully accessible to blind or visually impaired attendees, ensuring an inclusive experience for all members of the audience.
As autumn came, their bodies were covered with long, golden hair. A golden hue in the purest sense, with which no other shade could mingle. The very essence of the color gold, manifested in this world. They wore the purest shade of gold that existed between heaven and earth.
Haruki Murakami, The End of the World; translated from Japanese by Corinne Atlan,, Paris, Seuil, "Points", 2013, p. 22.Revealed to the general public in 1989, on the occasion of the bicentenary of the French Revolution, Philippe Decouflé contributed, alongside Jean-Paul Goude, to the creation of the Parisian parade "Bleu Blanc Goude," along the Champs-Élysées avenue. Three years later, he became the lead director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. It was in the aftermath of this event that he met the Japanese producer Miyako Kanamori: she then entrusted him with the adaptation of the Japanese tale Dora in the form of a musical, created in 1996 in Tokyo. Twenty years later, Philippe Decouflé created, in Kanagawa, My Name is Shingo, another musical, based on the science fiction manga by Kazuo Umezu.
And in 2026, Miyako Kanamori proposed that Philippe Decouflé direct the very first stage adaptation of one of the novels by Haruki Murakami, one of the most widely read contemporary Japanese writers in the world: The End of the World.
Under the benevolent gaze of the author, the French choreographer embarked on a total work of art blending theater, music, and dance, borrowing from the codes of musicals (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, West Side Story...), as well as the tradition of Kabuki (an epic form of Japanese theater). Philippe Decouflé directed a troupe of nine actors and ten dancers in a hybrid performance, lasting two hours and forty-five minutes, which condenses a work of over seven hundred pages. Both director and choreographer, he traced and sought the necessary refinement for the adaptation of Haruki Murakami's novel to the stage. And thus, a form of original dialogue was born, where the main character is divided into three entities: "I," "me," and "my shadow."
Notably embodied by the Japanese star Tatsuya Fujiwara, The End of the World is a story that unfolds in two parallel worlds. In 1985, in Tokyo, a man has lost his great love. Situated between the hero's life and his own dreams, the novel and the show question our humanity as much as the fragility of a being wandering in a dystopic and dreamlike world.
Our take on this event
Blending contemporary dance, theater, and elements of Kabuki, choreographer Philippe Decouflé brings Haruki Murakami’s complex narrative to the stage of the Théâtre du Châtelet. Running from October 16 to 21, 2026, this original production was created with the author's input and explores a dystopian world where the protagonist is split into three facets: "I," "me," and "my shadow." Featuring nineteen performers, including Japanese star Tatsuya Fujiwara, the show oscillates between the reality and dreams of a man mourning his lost love in 1985 Tokyo.
With a running time of two hours and forty-five minutes, the production provides a deep dive into Murakami's dreamlike atmosphere. The organizers have prioritized inclusivity, offering specific accessibility features for blind or visually impaired guests. Tickets for this artistic event are available, with prices ranging from 6 to 59 €.
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