also: よせせき
vaudeville theater; music hall; entertainment hall
A traditional Japanese theater where live variety entertainment such as rakugo, manzai, magic, and music is performed.
I went to a vaudeville theater with a friend over the weekend.
I listened to rakugo at a yose in Asakusa on the weekend.
The yose retains an old-fashioned atmosphere.
I love listening to rakugo at a vaudeville theater.
He's a rakugo performer who appears at the theater every night.
劇場 is the general word for any theater (plays, movies, concerts), whereas 寄席 refers specifically to a traditional variety hall for rakugo and similar acts.
Used when counting establishments/buildings like theaters or halls.
Standard kanji form; the reading よせ is the most common.
Rare full spelling; the reading よせせき is less common.
The name is generally traced to 寄せ場 or 人寄せ席, terms for a place where audiences gathered for entertainment. The spelling 寄席 retains the sense of gathering and seating.