Actor Hiroshi Abe (44) will have to prove his endurance in a new stage production from Yukio Ninagawa. He has the starring role in Ninagawa's version of Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia," which runs a total of about 9 hours long. This is the first time that the play is being performed in Japan.

"The Coast of Utopia" is actually a trilogy of plays, set in pre-revolution Russia and spanning a period of more than thirty years. Because of its scale, the trilogy is generally performed over three days. However, on weekends, Ninagawa apparently plans to run the plays back to back, with ample time for intermission.

In 2000, Ninagawa directed a version of "The Greeks," another trilogy that ran for close to 9 hours. In that production, the plays focused on different main characters, spreading out the acting load, but "The Coast of Utopia" has a more consistent cast and Abe will star in all three parts.

"The Coast of Utopia" will run at the Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon in Tokyo from September 12 to October 4.