In a first for Hawaii theater, The Actors' Group has joined with Mask Arts, a London theater company, to stage the world premiere of “Miso,” a play set in 1930s Japan when patriotism and militarism were riding high and the youth of Japan were entranced by western culture.

Written by London playwright, Susan Shirwen, “Miso” will be directed by Clare Davidson, whose credits include “Miss Julie” in London's West End and “Waiting for Godot” Off-Broadway in New York. As an acting coach, she has worked with Sting, Pierce Brosnan and Jennifer Beals among others. Davidson has a long-standing relationship with Hawaii, having run voice workshops for the University of Hawaii and Kumu Kahua.

“Miso” will feature Allan Okubo, longtime stage (Kumu Kahua) and film actor who has appeared in “Hawaii 5-0,” “Jake and the Fat Man,” “McCloud,” “Magnum P.I.,” “North Shore” and most recently in “You May Not Kiss The Bride” with Rob Schneider; Elissa Dulce, who has appeared in numerous film productions including “Magnum P.I.,” “Baywatch,” “Hawaii 5-0,” “The Rockford Files” and “Hawaii”; and TAG founder and Po'okela recipient Eric Nemoto. Jessica Kauhane, Charlotte Dias, Rick Murakami, Joshua Lau and Matthew Mun complete the cast.

Brad Powell, TAG artistic director, says, "We're thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Mask Arts. We hope this can be the start of an ongoing collaboration."

“Miso” tells the story of the Nagao family who are struggling to make ends meet in 1930s rural Japan where many families are surviving on roots and bark and others are emigrating to Brazil and America. The father, wishing to fulfill his own thwarted military ambitions, volunteers his son for the army, saying it is the honorable way to provide for the family. But the family is outraged, and a series of tumbling events precipitate a sudden and unexpected conclusion.

"The play has many parallels to events of today,” Davidson says. “The fascination Iranian youth have for western culture is similar to that of Japan's young people in the 1930s. There was also a strong Women's Liberation Movement there back then. In Japan, they were known as 'bluestockings,' and families were divided over who should go into the military. Of course as with any place and time, much can be learned about people when their livelihoods are threatened."

The play will run from July 24 to Aug. 16. Performance times are Thursday to Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices are general admission $20, seniors $15, students and military $12. All seats are $10 on Thursdays. Groups of 10 or more are $12 per person.