Where we stand
A three-act telling of the Gotō martyrs and Kakure Kirishitan, staged in the Sacred Heart Campus Chapel, offered to us without a rental fee. The budget is one ¥5,000,000 production, the plan presented to the Finance Committee on 29 September 2026, released in phases so we commit what is urgent now and raise the rest over the months to opening night.
What ¥5 million stages
The story itself is austere. What the budget buys is period accuracy: the moment officials, shoguns and samurai enter, the production needs tailored costumes and Edo-period wigs, and a bare chapel needs its staging, lighting and sound brought in.
The numbers
Phase 1 is committed now. Phases 2 and 3 are released at two checkpoints in 2027: when the school confirms the date and room (March), and when the cast is set (mid-year).
The composer, director, cast and choir are volunteers; the only paid role is the librettist. The spend goes into what the audience sees and hears, and into filling the chapel.
Period costumes for the villagers and for the officials and samurai who interrogate them, with Edo-period chonmage and nihongami wigs.
The chapel has no stage, rig or house sound, so all of it is hired in, with a built set and the full props: the Maria Kannon, the fumie test plates, lanterns and nets.
A full campaign to fill the chapel's 500 seats, and printed playbill booklets for the audience.
The venue and its conditions
Moving to the chapel removed a ¥900,000 rental. A chapel has no stage, no rig and no house sound, so the budget hires them in; and because no admission fee may be charged, income comes from voluntary donations on registration cards.
- No admission fee may be charged. Tickets are sold in advance at FCC as a donation, on a registration card printed without a price. This is the school’s condition, not a preference.
- The content must be religious in nature. The Gotō martyrs and the Kakure Kirishitan meet this plainly, but the marketing should not drift toward billing it as general theatre.
- University events take priority and the 2027 calendar is not settled until March 2027. The school has its own concert on 26 November or 3 December, which is why 13 November was chosen.
- No rental fee, and the chapel cannot be rented. A thank-you donation is customary. The school suggested ¥10,000; this budget carries ¥50,000, since a three-act staging needs far more of the room than a concert does.
Open decisions
Carried from the 5 July working-group minutes. Set a due date and change the status live; done items strike through. Your changes are saved in this browser.
The runway
- Jul 2026Budget approved in principle; commit Phase 1 (writer and venue).
- Sep 2026Venue moves to the Sacred Heart Campus Chapel, offered without rental; budget reworked.
- 29 Sep 2026¥5,000,000 production budget to the Finance Committee.
- 2026 H2Libretto and script written with Gareth; music themes composed.
- Early 2027Casting from the parish; secure sponsorship for Phases 2 and 3.
- 2027 H1 to H2Rehearsals at FCC (free); source costumes, props, hair and makeup.
- Mar 2027School publishes its 2027 calendar; the 13 November date is confirmed or moved.
- Nov 2027Tech and dress in the chapel; registration cards and marketing push.
- Sat 13 Nov 2027Performance at the Sacred Heart Campus Chapel (provisional).
The working group
Against the ¥5,000,000 production budget. Static snapshot; update as pledges arrive.