The Samurai’s Wife
- Agata Drogowska
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Krystle N. Adams and directed by Grace Kiley, The Samurai's Wife is a powerful solo performance set in Kyoto during Japan’s Heian period. With minimal set design and dressed in an elegant kimono, Sui Nakashima invites the audience into an intimate and restrained world marked by silence, duty, and unspoken pain.
The show begins with a traditional tea ceremony performed onstage with grace and authenticity, setting the tone for a story deeply rooted in Japanese cultural rituals.
The character Nakashima portrays a woman raised to believe that a woman’s value lies in her obedience and social status. Trained by her mother, a servant in a samurai household, she follows the path laid out for her: to become the perfect wife of a samurai. At first, she believes she has succeeded. But her dream quickly unravels as her husband’s true nature is revealed, and the emotional weight of silence and submission becomes unbearable.
The story’s turning point—a brutal act of violence and a false accusation—shifts the performance from a portrait of quiet endurance to one of transformation. The protagonist, stripped of everything, slowly begins to reclaim her voice. Her journey becomes a powerful reflection of resistance and self-discovery in a world that never expected her to speak.
This narrative deeply resonated with me, especially as I recalled my experiences in Japan. I remember how the wife of our host never joined us at the table in her own home. She remained on the side, silent, serving her husband and guests with grace. It was as if her role in that space had been decided long ago. The Samurai Wife captures this quiet, invisible labor and shows what happens when a woman dares to step outside it.
Sui Nakashima delivers a heartfelt, emotionally rich performance, supported by Krystle N. Adams’ poetic script and Grace Kiley’s nuanced direction. Lighting and sound by Giovanni Villari gently frame the performance, never distracting from the raw honesty of the story.
The Samurai Wife is not just a historical drama—it is a timeless reflection on womanhood, tradition, and the strength it takes to rewrite a life shaped by others. Beautifully performed and deeply moving, it’s a piece that lingers long after the final bow.
Created and Performed by Sui Nakashima
Written by Krystle N. Adams
Directed by Grace Kiley
March 18 through April 20, 2025
Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, NYC)
Born in Poland and based in New York, Agata Drogowska is a filmmaker, artist, journalist, writer, and curator specializing in the visual and performing arts. With a career spanning over two decades, Drogowska has become a significant figure in the cultural dialogue between Poland and the United States. She holds a degree in Painting and Arts Education from the University of the Arts in Poznań (formerly the Academy of Fine Arts) and a diploma in Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy, which she completed in 2010. Her multidisciplinary background is reflected in her diverse accomplishments as a painter, set designer, and artistic director during her early career in Poland. Drogowska’s notable achievements include serving as Vice President of the Artistic Association “InterCity” (1999–2010), curating a critically acclaimed exhibition of works by renowned Polish-American photographer Ryszard Horowitz (2010), and leading the public art project “The Art Benches” (2003–2007), which transformed urban spaces in Poznań into interactive art installations. Since 2012, Drogowska has been based in New York, where she currently serves as the President of New York Artists and Filmmakers. Under her leadership, the organization is dedicated to showcasing contemporary Polish cinema and fostering artistic collaborations between Poland and the United States. Her work has been presented at renowned venues, including MoMA, the Tribeca Screening Room, and the Polish Consulate General in New York. Drogowska is also an accomplished filmmaker, having debuted with the short experimental film Sick Home, Home Sick in 2004. Beyond her artistic endeavors, she is an active journalist and writer, contributing insightful articles on art, film, and culture to international publications. Her projects often focus on preserving and celebrating the legacy of Polish cinema and art, emphasizing their relevance in contemporary global discourse. For more information, visit agatadrogowska.com.
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