Introducing Yasuke: a new opera in development
Introducing Yasuke: a new opera in development We’re excited to share that we’re developing a new opera with composer and writer Renell Shaw, based on the story of Yasuke.
Yasuke’s story begins in the 16th century, when he was taken from Africa and transported across continents before arriving in Japan. There, he entered the orbit of the powerful daimyō Oda Nobunaga, rising to become a trusted warrior and one of the most singular figures in Japanese history.
It is a story that feels almost impossible, and yet it is real. It sits at the intersection of global histories shaped by displacement, faith, power and cultural encounter, and continues to resonate today.
At its heart, this opera is not simply a retelling of history, but a psychological and spiritual portrait. It explores identity, perception and the cost of being seen but not fully understood. As a Black man moving through worlds that define him before he can define himself, Yasuke’s journey becomes a meditation on visibility, isolation and the search for true freedom after a life shaped by violence.
Set against the volatile political landscape of feudal Japan, the story is driven by the charged relationships between Yasuke, Nobunaga and Mitsuhide, each navigating power, belief and destiny from fundamentally different perspectives. Alongside this, the work draws on African spiritual memory, grounding Yasuke in an inner world that exists beyond the forces attempting to shape him.
Renell Shaw is an Ivor Novello Award-winning composer, songwriter and producer working across theatre, contemporary composition and artist-led music. His work brings together sound, story and cultural memory, often exploring identity, perception and lived experience. His theatre work includes productions at Shakespeare’s Globe, the Royal Court and Brixton House, alongside collaborations with artists such as Rudimental, Anne-Marie and Nitin Sawhney. He is also one half of the duo 2fox. During 2026, he is Artist in Residence at King’s Place as part of Memory Unwrapped. Yasuke marks his first opera, extending his practice into long-form music drama.
Why Yasuke, why now?
Yasuke’s story is re-emerging in global culture.
He has recently appeared as a central figure in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, while works such as Afro Samurai have reimagined his legacy in very different ways. At the same time, there has been a wider resurgence of interest in this period of Japanese history, with series like Shōgun bringing the world of the samurai to global audiences.
This opera sits within that landscape, but offers a perspective that is rarely centred. Rather than focusing on myth or spectacle, it draws the story inward, into the emotional, psychological and spiritual reality of the individual at its centre.
In opera, Yasuke’s story becomes immediate and embodied: not just something to observe, but something to feel.
Exploring the history
As part of developing the piece, we were recently invited to visit the British Museum for an event linked to the Samurai exhibition and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a game that has sold millions of copies worldwide.
While there, Renell spoke with exhibition co-curator Joe Nickols about Yasuke and the world he lived in, from the Sengoku period in Japan to the wider movement of people, ideas and power across continents at the time.
This offered a way into the history that goes beyond recorded fact, opening up questions around perspective, narrative and how stories like Yasuke’s are told and remembered.
Building the opera
Alongside this research, the piece is beginning to take shape musically.
In December, Renell worked with musicians from Sinfonia Cymru alongside African and Asian percussion, traditional Japanese flutes and electric guitar in Aberystwyth, in an orchestral workshop and public sharing exploring material for the opera.
Rather than simply combining musical traditions, the work is focused on building a sound world that reflects the tension and duality within Yasuke’s experience, between cultures, identities and internal states. The music moves between the external world of power and conflict and a more intimate, interior space shaped by memory and spirit.
The work is still in development, and this process of exploration will continue over the coming months.
What’s next
Yasuke is a work in development and will be produced in the not too distant future. For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content, make sure you’re following us on social media and subscribed to our newsletter.
We are grateful to the following funders for their Development Support for Yasuke:
