GEAR Non-Verbal Theatre Kyoto Tickets

GEAR is a Kyoto institution of a very modern kind: a long running theatre show performed entirely without words, staged in an intimate converted 1920s building near Sanjo. Mime, breakdance, magic and juggling combine with projection mapping and lighting in a story about worn out robots rediscovering their spark, and because nothing is spoken, every visitor follows it equally, whatever language they arrived with.

Why it has run for so long

The show has played for well over a decade with a rotating cast of specialist performers, each bringing a different discipline to the four robot roles, so repeat viewers genuinely see a different show. The venue seats only around a hundred people, close enough that the magic tricks happen almost in your lap, and the finale involves the whole room in a way best left unspoiled. It is sentimental, skilful and completely charming.

Planning your evening

Performances run most days with evening curtain times that pair well with dinner in the Kawaramachi and Pontocho districts nearby. The compact theatre means booking ahead is wise, particularly on weekends. The show runs around 90 minutes without interval and suits all ages; children follow it as easily as adults.

Getting there

The theatre occupies the historic 1928 Building near the Sanjo and Gokomachi corner in central Kyoto. It is about five minutes on foot from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai subway line, and ten from Sanjo Station on the Keihan Line or Kyoto Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really understandable without Japanese? Completely; there is no dialogue at all.

Is it suitable for kids? Yes, the physical comedy lands especially well with children.

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