Kei Ando
Photo: Mayuko Yamaguchi
Kei Ando
Playwright, director, actor, and head of Gekidan Ampersand, Kei Ando was born on December 13, 1992, and comes from Oita Prefecture. She founded Gekidan Ampersand in 2016, and has written and directed all of the theater company’s productions. She has come to be known for a characteristic style whereby familiar everyday settings such as offices or living rooms gradually shift and develop in wildly unexpected ways. Earthly Bones (2023) was a finalist for the 68th Kishida Kunio Drama Award, with Arukanakutemo bō ni ataru [Even if you don’t walk, you’ll hit a stick] (2024) winning the 69th edition of that award. Ando is also prolific in a wide range of fields outside of the theater, including scriptwriting for television dramas, writing and directing comedy sketch shows, and penning essays.
