Kōken

Stage attendant or stage assistant. Kōken are responsible for dressing the shite and preparing and handling the props.

Post author By Monica Bethe
Post date October 2, 2021

The stage attendant, or stage assistant, is one of the jobs of the shite-kata. The kōken dress the shite, tsure, and kokata and also prepare and carry on the props. During a performance one to three kōken sit at upstage right. On stage, they adjust the shite’s costume and set out or remove props. The head kōken is usually a senior actor and must be able to take over the role in case the shite is incapacitated.