New National Theatre Tokyo tickets 31 October 2026 - City Lights | GoComGo.com

City Lights

New National Theatre Tokyo, Opera Palace, Tokyo, Japan
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Select date and time
6 PM
From
US$ 84

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Important Info
Type: Ballet
City: Tokyo, Japan
Starts at: 18:00

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Cast
Performers
Conductor: Timothy Brock
Ballet company: National Ballet of Japan
Orchestra: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Creators
Composer: Charlie Chaplin
Choreographer: Alastair Marriott
Overview

This production presents the world premiere of a ballet based on City Lights, the classic comedy film created─directed, written, produced, and performed─by Charles Chaplin, the beloved "King of Comedy" who produced countless masterpieces in the early days of cinema.

Still cherished today as one of Chaplin's most famous works, portraying laughter, sorrow, and selfless love, this film has now been reimagined as a ballet by English choreographer Alastair Marriott. City Lights also marked Chaplin's first-ever original film score, composed for his 1931 silent film accompanied only by music and sound. For this production, the score has been newly adapted for live orchestral performance by Chaplin music expert Timothy Brock.

Come discover how this timeless romantic comedy is brought to the stage through Marriott's choreography, created together with the award-winning Dick Bird and Ellen Ruge. Marriott also previously worked on the revised choreography for Miyako Yoshida's production of Giselle at the National Ballet of Japan.

World Premiere

Synopsis

The ballet City Lights is based on one of Charlie Chaplin’s most tender and enduring masterpieces, a film that speaks directly to the heart without ever needing spoken words. At its core is the Tramp—Chaplin’s iconic, gentle wanderer— who stumbles through life with a mix of awkwardness, dignity, and unshakeable hope. In this story, he encounters a blind flower girl who mistakes him for a wealthy gentleman. Moved by her kindness and fragility, he becomes determined to help her, not out of vanity, but out of a deep and selfless love.

At the same time, the Tramp befriends a millionaire after saving his life, however the millionaire only recognises the tramp when drunk, creating a bittersweet cycle of generosity followed by cold rejection. Through these encounters, the tramp explores the contrasts between wealth and poverty, illusion and reality, and the quiet heroism of those who give more than they have.

The Tramp’s mission becomes raising enough money to stop the eviction of the blind flower girl and her grandmother and to restore the girl’s sight leading to both comedic misadventures and moments of profound sacrifice including taking a job as a road sweeper and an amateur boxer. By the ballet’s end—after hardship, the tramp’s imprisonment, and heartbreak—the girl regains her vision. When she finally sees the Tramp as he truly is, the recognition between them is gentle, uncertain, and achingly human.

Set in a city poised between the last sparkle of the Roaring Twenties and the emerging Great Depression, City Lights is a story of love that transcends appearances, kindness that survives humiliation, and hope that endures even when life is at its hardest. City Lights is not just a comedy; it is a timeless story of compassion.

Venue Info

New National Theatre Tokyo - Tokyo
Location   1 Chome-1-1 Honmachi, Shibuya City

The New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) is Japan's first and foremost national centre for the performing arts, including opera, ballet, contemporary dance and drama. Since 1997 more than 650 productions were staged. There are about 300 performances per season with approximately 200,000 theatergoers. The centre has been praised for its architecture and state-of-the-art modern theatre facilities, which are considered among the best in the world.

The construction of the NNTT was completed in February 1997. Its first public performances took place in October of that year. The Tokyo Opera City Tower is connected to the theatre. It has concert halls, an art gallery, a media-art museum, office space, many restaurants and shops. The combined complex of the skyscraper tower and the theatre is called the "Tokyo Opera City".

Besides the public performances, various enterprises are undertaken, such as the young artist training programs (for ballet, opera, and theatre), theatre rental for other performing arts groups, performing arts-related exhibitions, public usage of its video library and book library, public performances for children and young students, backstage tours, and most importantly, international exchanges for performing arts events, etc. Moreover, The Stage Set & Design Centre (located in Choshi city, Chiba Prefecture), stores and exhibits previously-used stage scenery and costumes.

Important Info
Type: Ballet
City: Tokyo, Japan
Starts at: 18:00
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