From 'Studying' English to 'Expressing' in English: "Kids English Theatre 2026" Project Kicks Off in Chofu, Co-created by Professionals from 5 Fields and Children
Eigo-A-GoGo and Gekidan Banana are launching "Kids English Theatre 2026" on August 23, 2026, in Chofu. This participatory stage project integrates English, drama, dance, art, and projection mapping, allowing children nationwide to co-create a performance with professionals and develop their English expression skills.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 18:10
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The children's English conversation community Eigo-A-GoGo (EAGG) and the Japanese-English bilingual theater company Gekidan Banana will hold the participatory stage project "Kids English Theatre 2026," where children perform stories in English, on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Chofu City Cultural Center Tazukuri "Large Conference Hall."
This project integrates English, drama, dance, art, and projection mapping. Children will not only challenge themselves with English lines, songs, and physical expression but also participate in creating the world of the story, costumes, and props, working with their peers to create a single stage production.
By combining pre-online lessons with intensive in-person summer workshops, we create an opportunity for children nationwide to challenge themselves with authentic English expression, regardless of where they live.
Image of a projection mapping event held in the past, published as an example of the production for Kids English Theatre 2026.
■ Three Features of This Project
1｜Authentic English Expression Experience, Regardless of Location
Authentic expressive experiences such as English drama, art, stage performance, and projection mapping tend to be concentrated in urban areas, making participation difficult for children living in rural areas.
"Kids English Theatre 2026" aims to make it easier for children living in distant areas, not just near Tokyo, to participate by combining pre-online lessons with intensive in-person summer workshops.
Children will work on English lines, songs, and dramatic expression online, connect with peers through the screen, and then gather in Chofu during the summer vacation.
Don't give up the chance for experience just because of where you live.
This project is a hybrid English stage project that delivers "authentic English expression experiences" to children across regions.
2｜Immersive Stage Co-created with Professionals in English, Drama, Dance, Art, and Video Production
This project involves a team of experts in education, drama, dance, art, and video production.
Children will not only challenge themselves with English lines, songs, and physical expression but also participate in creating costumes, props, and the stage space. Furthermore, with video production using projection mapping, the world of the story performed by the children will expand throughout the entire stage space.
Instead of "children appearing in a stage created by professionals,"
"children themselves co-create the stage with professionals."
Co-creating a single work while learning from English professionals, drama professionals, dance professionals, art professionals, and video production professionals is a major feature of this project.
3｜Fostering "Thinking, Creating, and Communicating Skills" Necessary in the AI Era
In an era where AI can quickly provide knowledge and correct answers, the skills required of children are not just the ability to memorize information.
Thinking for oneself.
Dialoguing with peers.
Facing questions without clear answers.
Expressing oneself through trial and error.
In this project, children will not just memorize English but will think about the meaning of stories, embody roles, and co-create a single stage with their peers.
From English as "something to get right" to "something to deliver to the audience."
From the stage as "something to watch" to "something to create ourselves."
Through the process of challenging themselves, children aim to develop the creativity, expressiveness, and collaborative skills necessary for the coming era.
■ Background｜Lack of "Expressing in English" Experience for Japanese Children
While English is still often perceived as a "subject for tests," there is a renewed demand for real-life experiences where children use English not just to "memorize" but to "communicate with someone," "create with peers," and "express themselves."
"Kids English Theatre 2026" was launched with the following three pillars to provide children with experiences that are difficult to obtain through public education alone:
Learning online, connecting with peers, and expressing in English on a real stage.
Co-creating costumes, props, and stage space with professionals, and delivering stories with their own hands.
Thinking about themes like peace and coexistence in their own way while performing.
It was launched with the aim of fostering children's communication skills, creative skills, and perseverance.
Stage production image where children express themselves in an immersive space.
This project integrates English, drama, dance, art, and projection mapping. Children will not only challenge themselves with English lines, songs, and physical expression but also participate in creating the world of the story, costumes, and props, working with their peers to create a single stage production.
By combining pre-online lessons with intensive in-person summer workshops, we create an opportunity for children nationwide to challenge themselves with authentic English expression, regardless of where they live.
Image of a projection mapping event held in the past, published as an example of the production for Kids English Theatre 2026.
■ Three Features of This Project
1｜Authentic English Expression Experience, Regardless of Location
Authentic expressive experiences such as English drama, art, stage performance, and projection mapping tend to be concentrated in urban areas, making participation difficult for children living in rural areas.
"Kids English Theatre 2026" aims to make it easier for children living in distant areas, not just near Tokyo, to participate by combining pre-online lessons with intensive in-person summer workshops.
Children will work on English lines, songs, and dramatic expression online, connect with peers through the screen, and then gather in Chofu during the summer vacation.
Don't give up the chance for experience just because of where you live.
This project is a hybrid English stage project that delivers "authentic English expression experiences" to children across regions.
2｜Immersive Stage Co-created with Professionals in English, Drama, Dance, Art, and Video Production
This project involves a team of experts in education, drama, dance, art, and video production.
Children will not only challenge themselves with English lines, songs, and physical expression but also participate in creating costumes, props, and the stage space. Furthermore, with video production using projection mapping, the world of the story performed by the children will expand throughout the entire stage space.
Instead of "children appearing in a stage created by professionals,"
"children themselves co-create the stage with professionals."
Co-creating a single work while learning from English professionals, drama professionals, dance professionals, art professionals, and video production professionals is a major feature of this project.
3｜Fostering "Thinking, Creating, and Communicating Skills" Necessary in the AI Era
In an era where AI can quickly provide knowledge and correct answers, the skills required of children are not just the ability to memorize information.
Thinking for oneself.
Dialoguing with peers.
Facing questions without clear answers.
Expressing oneself through trial and error.
In this project, children will not just memorize English but will think about the meaning of stories, embody roles, and co-create a single stage with their peers.
From English as "something to get right" to "something to deliver to the audience."
From the stage as "something to watch" to "something to create ourselves."
Through the process of challenging themselves, children aim to develop the creativity, expressiveness, and collaborative skills necessary for the coming era.
■ Background｜Lack of "Expressing in English" Experience for Japanese Children
While English is still often perceived as a "subject for tests," there is a renewed demand for real-life experiences where children use English not just to "memorize" but to "communicate with someone," "create with peers," and "express themselves."
"Kids English Theatre 2026" was launched with the following three pillars to provide children with experiences that are difficult to obtain through public education alone:
Learning online, connecting with peers, and expressing in English on a real stage.
Co-creating costumes, props, and stage space with professionals, and delivering stories with their own hands.
Thinking about themes like peace and coexistence in their own way while performing.
It was launched with the aim of fostering children's communication skills, creative skills, and perseverance.
Stage production image where children express themselves in an immersive space.