Billy and his play are big hits in Japan

July 1995

Wexford author Billy Roche wrote a piece in the programme for a Japanese production of his play ‘Cavalcaders’, fantasising about arriving in Tokyo and seeing a huge banner proclaiming ‘Mr Roche arrives in Town’.

And obliging hosts that they were, the Subaru Theatre Company which staged the play had a surprise waiting for him a few weeks ago when he attended rehearsals on the first day.

Stretched across the room was a big banner with Japanese writing fulfilling the Wexford man’s fantasy.

Billy’s wife Patti followed him out a week later and thanks to the theatre company’s brave decision to put on a play of cultural contrast, the couple had the opportunity to enjoy a memorable holiday in Japan.

They went sightseeing on their own and spent a few days in the ancient and beautiful former capital, Kyoto.

Attending the first night of a Japanese version of ‘Cavalcaders’ was a strange and interesting experience, but proving that Roche’s themes of love, loss and human frailty in a small town setting are universally transferrable, the audience took no longer than Western audiences to tune in.

Names like ‘ little Dinkie Doyle’ and ‘ The Faythe’ remained the same and sounded oddly familiar, cropping up in the middle of the Japanese dialect.

Billy did a round of press, radio and television interviews before the play opened and was pleasantly surprised to discover that all the reviewers had read ‘Cavalcaders’ in full.

He also gave a lecture at a Japanese university and was impressed by the extent of the students’ knowledge of Irish culture. Some of them had even read ‘ The Wexford Trilogy’.

‘ They are fascinated by Ireland,’ says Billy, who was equally impressed by the legendary hospitality and courtesy of the Japanese.