🚩 Joining forces with theatre elites from Taiwan and Malaysia, we proudly present 'THE BROTHERHOOD' a multinational production that promises to captivate you and immerse you in its profound emotions!
🚩 Special guests from the Taiwanese theatre scene: Lin Menghuan (playwright) and Wang Chaoyang (actor) will be joining us in Malaysia for a cultural exchange.
🚩 Malaysia's outstanding production team: Renowned director Kok Man, talented actor Lawrence Ong, Noah Yap, award-winning musician Kent Lee, set designer Zen Tan, lighting designer Sing Lim, costume designer Jacklyn etc.
"He and the suffering of love reside in his blood. Can a sky without one color of the rainbow truly be complete?"
A story about survival, boundaries, and choices. A dance that blends gender, love, and pain through Salsa. They long for the ordinary but find themselves exposed. They strive to survive, yet they must confront the world.
THE BROTHERHOOD' a collaboration between a Taiwanese playwright and a Malaysian director with actors from both regions, lays bare the harsh realities faced by marginalized individuals in society—just for wanting to love, have we gone astray?
* Each performance will be followed by a Q&A session with Taiwanese playwright, Lin Meng-Huan, director & actors.
翁書強 Lawrence Ong、王肇陽 Wang Chao-Yang (台灣)、葉國文 Noah Yap
製作人 Producer:葉偉良 William Yap
導演 Director:羅國文 Loh Kok Man 原著 Written by:林孟寰 Lin Meng-Huan (台灣)
改編 Adapted by:梁家恩 Giant Liang,Mark Beau de Silva
製作經理 Production Manager:蘇中宏 Soh Chong Hong
舞台設計 Stage Designer:陳芊玲 Zen Tan 燈光設計 Lighting Designer:林偉星 Sing Lim 音樂音效設計 Sound and Music Designer:李河健 Kent Lee 多媒體設計 Multimedia Designer:Fairuz Sulaiman 服裝設計 Costume Designer:陳凌嫣 Jacklyn Tan 舞台監督與道具執行 Stage Manager and Props Exec.:蔡紫瀅 Ziying Chua
平面設計 Graphic Designer: 李立祥 Lee Lik Hsiang 藍氏君 Tsuji Lam 中文文案 Chinese Copywriter:黃子揚 Goaty Wong
劇場導演、編劇、製作人、演員,現任馬來西亞電台总监。2010年發起與製作「愛的系列」舞台劇,作品如《等愛》、《戀愛》、《錯愛》等廣受好評,並榮獲戲炬獎最佳原創劇本。長期深耕同志題材劇作,包括《PEOPLE LIKE US》、《LTR》、《BFF》等,皆創下場場爆滿的佳績。2020年於新冠疫情期間創辦網絡劇場【雲劇場】(現稱CloudJoi),除了讓馬來西亞及海外表演藝術能在線上演出,也積極拓展在地表演藝術。
造型设计指导 Costume & Makeup Design Tutor : 甯振洋 Quito Neng
布景与道具设计指导 Props & Sets Design Tutor : 王泰伟 David Wong
灯光设计指导 Lighting Design Tutor : 罗国文 Loh Kok Man
演员 Cast/ 洪玮瀚 Ang Wei Han | 梁凯棱 Leong Kai Ryn | 萧茗玉 Siau May Lee | 周羑琦 Yuky Choo
陈凯雄 Tan Kai Xiong | 陈奕枫 Chin Yi Fung | 吴剑虹 Ng Jian Hong | 萧敬恒 Siau Jing Heng
徐毓萍 Sew Yee Ping | 陈立璇 Ereka Tan | 黄浩恩 Ooi Haur En | 李谦缋 Bernice Lee Jing Tian
潘海婷 Pan Hai Ting
制作团队 Production Team/
邓卉婵 Tean Hui Chan | 陈沭菁 Tan Shu Jing | 李嘉雯 Lee Kar Man | 林俊棋 Lim Jun Qi
罗紫予 Loh Zi Yu | 谢兢升 Chia Jing Sheng | 庄媛淇 Cheng Yuan Chyi | 李润源 Kelvyn Lee Run Yuan 林奕充 Lim Yi Chong | 罗家俊 Loh Kar Zun | 侯棗怡 Carmen Hau | 谭晓彤 Mavis Tan Hiu Tung
Adapted from 'King Lear', a tragedy written by the world-renowned playwright - William Shakespeare. Director Loh Kok Man leads a batch of New Era theatre freshmen in performing their first post-pandemic stage play. Taking a new spin on the original work, Loh intertwines unconventional and modern techniques into the classic piece. Breaking barriers of tradition, presenting a new mode of performance, gifting the audiences a familiar tale with a brand new experience through a grand banquet of visuals and sounds.
Old King Lear decides to divide his kingdom, land and fortune to his three beloved daughters. Blinded by flattery from his two elder daughters, was angered when the youngest daughter chose not to abide him. He promptly marries her off to a foreign kingdom. The Old King Lear, thinking he could enjoy his golden years, but was instead mistreated and humiliated by his two elder daughters to his breaking point. Meanwhile, the Earl of Gloucester who fell for the lies of his youngest son, causing the two royal brothers to turn against each other. Begins a war of power, desire, and betrayal......
Artists from Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia gather to dream together
In this difficult time for travelling, have you ever longed to travel in the infinitely vast world of dreams?
And when a group of people are forced to be stranded at the border of dreamland, unable to pass through the gateway into reality,
This new theatre piece The Tale of Dreams is produced internationally by Pentas Project Theatre Production from Malaysia and asian rib from Japan. Bringing together performing arts practitioners from Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia, with “dreams” at its core, the work combines multiple performing art forms, to liberate the untamed self buried deep in the subconscious. It explores the image of the human soul in the ambiguous intersection of fiction and reality, history and contemporary.
Weaving “dreams” together, gathering artists from different countries to co- create dreams and fantasy
This play was conceived by Taiwanese young playwright Lin Meng-huan. His creations span across theatre, film and television. Highly regarded as a creator in Taiwan, he was also a resident artist at the National Taichung Opera House.
The Tale of Dreams begins with a group of people stranded by the border control of dreamland. Feeling bored, they start to share dream stories with each other. In one story after another, the anxiety and repressed desires of modern people’s lives morph into fantasy scenes that are sometimes silly and absurd, and other times beautiful and poetic. Furthermore, the enigmatic connection between dream and death in eastern culture adds a touch of the legendary, both real or fictitious.
In order to create the most bizarre dream world, the team includes artists from different fields: Artistic Director of Pentas Project Loh Kok Man as director and lighting designer, and head of asian rib Yamazaki Rieko as dramaturg and translator. Other participating artists are Japanese Kagura dancer Kishimoto Masaya, physical theater performer Matsushima Makoto, and costume designer Takeuchi Yoko; Malaysian contemporary musician Kent Lee, multimedia video artist Fairuz Sulaiman, contemporary dance artist Lee Choy Wan, and Taiwanese contemporary puppet theatre artist Chou Chun Peng.
In times of pandemic, The Tale of Dreams hopes to rebuild friendship bonds between artists from Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia, ignite new creative sparks, and deepen the emotional exchange between the different peoples, toward co-creating a peaceful future. At the same time, we wish to lead the audience to explore dreams, and reflect upon one’s own subtle emotional needs, while allowing the power of art to heal the soul, and stir up the courage to realise dreams in this imperfect reality.
為了打造最奇異的夢境世界,團隊囊括了不同領域的藝術家們共同參與:平台計畫藝術總監羅國文擔綱導演與燈光設計,亜細亜の骨團長山崎理惠子擔任戲劇顧問與翻譯。其他參與的藝術家有:日本神樂舞表演家岸本昌也、肢體劇場表演家松島誠,以及服裝設計師竹內陽子;馬來西亞現代音樂家Kent Lee 阿部健(李河健)、多媒體影像藝術家Fairuz Sulaiman、現代舞表演家李彩雲,以及台灣現代偶戲藝術家周浚鵬等。
Asian rib is a theatre company founded in Tokyo in 2017. Its core member Rieko Yamazaki had studied abroad in China and has had experience setting up a theatre company in Hong Kong. The company’s objective is to “connect Asia through theatre”, encouraging Asian theatre practitioners to use their native languages in international exchanges and collaborations.
Pentas Project Theatre Production (Malaysia)
Pentas Project established in 2005. “Pentas” (Platform), the plane converted into a stage, is a space for exchange without walls and borders. As Malaysia is a multi-racial and multicultural country with differences in language, religion and ethnicity, these differences have combined and influenced each other, eventually influencing the emergence of diverse art forms that are unique. The establishment of Pentas Project hopes to get its nutrients from multicultural society, and looking into ourselves while gazing at the world.
Story Nerd Works (Taiwan)
Story Nerd Works established in 2019, the brand is a fusion of "scriptwriting professionalism" and "contemporary trend elements", focusing on script development and related promotional applications. It is a new creative brand that focuses on script development and related marketing applications. Its creative works span across film and television, theatre and anime, and actively explores new crossover possibilities.
Grab the tickets! Due to the tight SOP, audience capacity is limited with numbered seats. Please take advantage to get your tickets with a desired view!
The Lion City is attacked by swordfish. Warriors are getting killed one after another. A little boy comes up with a plan that ends the disaster. Yet, he is rewarded with death. A new king rules the Lion City. In order to marry the beautiful daughter of a minister, he promises reform and to pardon the innocent. However, the queen becomes jealous. And the concubine is framed and then sentenced to a torturous death. Human disasters befall the Lion City. An ancient covenant has been broken. As the kingdom plummets to its destruction, do the paths chosen by the king and by the people still align?
The story of The Swordfish, Then the Concubine is based on that of the classical Malay literature work Sejarah Melayu. Attacks by swordfish, feudal obeisance, punishment by impalement and war … the play is full of historical and mythological elements. Playwright Kee Thuan Chye also alludes to contemporary social predicaments, political games and “secret codes”. This story transcends time and space, merges reality and parable, and chronicles the inseparable fate that binds rulers and subjects.
In 2016, ten years since its founding, Pentas Project undertook and translated the text of The Swordfish, Then the Concubine into Mandarin, and premiered the show in Malaysia. For its exploration of local cultural diversity and its showcasing of innovative performance aesthetics, the show garnered positive response.
Over time, however, even a myth of long ago can undergo evolution. Now, five years since its Chinese premiere in Malaysia, the play has been revised by Kee Thuan Chye and director Loh Kok Man has painted his production with fresh colours. Using puppets, masks and animation as part of the language of his theatre, and incorporating traditional elements like the Malay folk song ‘Ulek Mayang’, Pentas Project recreates this renowned play and presents a work of art that is full of imagination and is relevant to all Malaysians.
Supported by:
Program Penjana Malaysia, MyCreative Ventures and Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA), Purple Cane 紫藤, 大阳光圆梦基金 Shiny Universe, 元生集团 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Staged reading - a traditional preparation for the stage. Staged reading - also a show where incompleteness meets imagination. Challenging incomplete stage/costumes/set, imaginatively, 7 actors perform 20 roles - barefaced for the audience.
“The Other Story of Ah-Q” is inspired by Lu Xun’s classical short story collection, “Call to Arms” and is based on “The Story of Ah-Q”.
It all starts with Ah Q, and it all ends with Ah Q. A failed hero - a revolutionary thief; life-saving medicine - a killing knife.Triggering Ah Q’s self-mockery and inferiority, dissecting a feudal decay fighting its dying moments.Bursting the self-proclaimed revolutionary’s passion or apathy, mincing the commoner’s good and evil.Life’s loathings, ridicules, pities, laments, which have always come from a never despairing expectation.
Synopsis : Ken Miyamoto - born during World War II and having spent his youth in Beijing - deconstructed and reconstructed Lu Xun’s beliefs to write “The Other Story of Ah Q” in the late sixties using his expert style of depicting revolutions and social relationships. He gathered many of Lu Xun’s classic characters to dialogue on stage, sharing the space with Lu Xun and the tumultuous times they belonged to. Through these characters of different statuses, the story examined what a social revolution could bring: the dilemmas, the rage, the grief. “To the people, what exactly is a revolution? To the revolution, what exactly are the people?” Must one fail to become a hero? Can medicine save, and yet borrow a knife to kill?
5 & 6 December 2020 Online streaming on Cloud Theatre
英文文案翻譯 English Copywriting : 黃建勝 Jason Ng 平面設計 Graphic Design : 藍氏君 Tsuji Lam 宣傳 Publicity : 譚小虹 Tammi Tam, 文競傑 Mun Jing Kit
In collaboration with :
Supported by:
Playwright 劇作家:宮本研 Ken Miyamoto
宮本研 Ken Miyamoto,1926年出生於日本熊本縣。由於父親早年外派中國北京,他在那裡完成中學學業。大學畢業,曾從事高中教師和其它工作,後就職於日本法務省。從擔任勞動者戲劇俱樂部的顧問開始,進入導演生涯,並且開始舞台劇劇本創作,在日本戲劇界嶄露頭角。獲得第8屆<岸田國士戲劇獎>後,成為全職編劇,也開始執筆電視劇和電影劇本。早期作品多半描述圍繞革命領導和民眾之間的矛盾。70年代後,以領導和民眾的關係來敘述男女關係。同時也寫過商業舞台劇劇本,以及回溯童年在中國生活經驗的作品。
Born in 1926, owing to his father’s work, Ken Miyamoto spent 6 years in a Beijing secondary school. Graduating from university, he worked as a high school teacher and various jobs before joining the Ministry of Justice. Originating from his work as a consultant for the Worker’s Drama Club , he became a director and started writing scripts, establishing his presence in the Japanese theatre scene. After winning the 8th Kunio Kishida Drama Award, he became a full-time playwright for the stage, as well as for television and film. His early works often present the dilemma between the revolutionary leaders and masses. In the 70s, he built on the relationship between the leaders and masses to narrate inter-gender relationships. He also wrote corporate scripts as well as works relating his experiences growing up in China. ________________________________________________________________________
Casts 演員:
何文翰 Ho Mun Hann 余秋坪 Tammy Yee 李奕翰 Lee Yee Han 吳欣諭 Koh Xin Yu
黃永益 John Wong 洪梓宗 Ang Chee Chong 李偉仲 Lee Woei Zhong
何文翰 Ho Mun Hann 畢業於新紀元大學學院戲劇與影像系,雙修戲劇影像,主修劇場戲劇。畢業作品改編自新加坡劇作家郭寶昆-《靈戲》。現為劇場編導,劇場技術及影視美術人員,演員。演出作品:《殺人者》、《紅氣球上的音樂男孩》、《丈夫》等等。
Kiro Ho Mun Hann, a native of Kuala Lumpur, graduated from the Department of Drama and visual at New Era University College. His graduation work was adapted from Singaporean dramatist Guo Baokun's "The Spirit Play" and he had also involved in several other theater performances: "The Killer", "Music Boy on Red Balloon", "Husband" and so on. He currently works as a theater choreographer, theater technical staff, actor, and involves in film and television art field.
Tammy Yee, founder of Tammy Yee Production. Graduated from New Era College with diploma in Drama & Visuals. She has been enthusiastically participated, and contributed in theater directing & acting, character building, art performance, art cultural development as well as teaching drama in junior college and high school more than 16 years. Tammy appeared in many stage arts performances and earned for several Best Main Actress nominations in the ADA Drama Award, performance: 2007 ”Long House”, 2010 “Casa” 2017, ”35”. Netflix Chinese original film “The Ghost Bride” and movie “Good Wealth 2020”.
李奕翰 Lee Yee Han 國立台北藝術大學藝術學士(B.F.A),2007年曾台灣果陀劇場擔任職業導演及職業演員。2010年回流大馬,曾任加影新紀元大學戲劇與影像系及韓新傳播學院講師。作品曾在新加坡、台灣、日本、德國和中國各大城市演出。2011年成立好事发生工作室,加入Now 劇場,曾獲得BMW SHORTIES 2012 BEST ACTOR。現任中國演出公司藝術教學總監。
Yee Han graduated from the Theatre Department of National Taipei University of the Arts (Taiwan). He was once a drama class instructor in high schools and universities in Taiwan. In 2007, he was recruited to Godot Theatre Company, one of the most successful theatre companies in Taiwan as actor and director. Yee Han was a former lecturer in Drama and Visuals Department of New Era College and One World Hanxing College of Journalism and Communication. He is currently an academic director in China Ray-I Theatre Company and founder of Good News Art Space. . Yee Han was also a winner of BMW SHORTIES 2012 The Best Actor.
吳欣諭 Koh Xin Yu 就讀馬來西亞雙威大學影像制作系。2013年,憑《聽見溫度》奪下中學生戲聚盛典“甲等女演員”。2015年,受邀前往澳門參加<Theatresports勁爆劇場大比拼亞洲聯賽>,奪下四獎。2017年憑《我從山中來》入圍第15屆戲炬獎“年度最佳新人獎”。2018年憑《嘟嘟婆婆不見了》榮獲第16屆戲炬獎“年度最佳女配角”。2019年前往中國廣州及深圳參與原創合家歡音樂劇《小龍的奇幻夢境》巡演。參與制作: 《四道家謠》,《9零》,《寂然有你》執導作品:《峇峇娘惹過新年》,《愛存在》演出作品: 《聽見溫度》,《Fin A Casa》,《幻絕》,《末日月光》,《雞祥如意賀新年》,《峇峇娘惹過新年》,《我從山中來》 ,《糖衣炮彈》,《南苑僑歌》,《嘟嘟婆婆不見了》,《聚》,《同一片天空》,《鬼同你結婚》,《小龍的奇幻夢境》,《有人偷看花木蘭洗澡》。
Koh Xin Yu have been a freelancing actress since her 19's. She recently graduated from Sunway University Malaysia, majoring in Bachelor (Hons) Digital Film Production. She has served as both producer & actress for mass audience stages, leading to her wealth of experience in performing. In 2013, she received the title of TEA THEATRE Best Actress Award for her performance in <37.5°C>. In 2015, she was invited as the Malaysian representative for <Theatresports 2015>, and received 4 awards. In 2017, she received "Best New Actor" during the ADA Drama Awards through her performance in <The Natives>. While in 2018, she received "Best Supporting Actress Award" during the 16th ADA Drama Awards event for her role in <Doo Doo is Missing>. In 2019, she participated in a Family Musical titled <Dragonland>which toured in China.
黃永益 John Wong Weng Yik 畢業於台灣高雄樹德科技大學「藝術管理與藝術經紀」藝術學士學位。在學期間,曾在吉隆坡表演藝術中心KLpac及台灣高雄市春天藝術節實習,2015年前往倫敦藝術大學切爾西藝術與設計學院進行國際交流與見習。旅居台灣期間,加入明華園戲劇團(總團)擔任全職劇團行政,主要負責劇團的演出製作與執行。2017年加入The Play Haus Theatre擔任全職劇場經理、2017至2019年參與『缺/失的對話』交流與創作計劃、2018年紅姐姐工作室《蝴蝶寶寶的旅程》擔任舞者、遊吟者劇團《開心死了》擔任執行製作。2020年開始自由接案,從事劇場演出製作、企劃與行銷工作,參與計劃:馬來西亞巴赫節、紅姐姐工作室兒童劇團、平台計劃劇團及新山暗房劇團等。
Graduated from Shu-Te University (Taiwan) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Management and Agent. Intern with klpac, Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival and a summer exchange program with University of Arts London (Chelsea College of Art and Design).
Former art administrator at Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group in Taiwan. Performed in “A Dialogue of Lack/Lost” Project (2017-2019) upon his return to Malaysia in 2017. A dancer for “Journey of A Baby Butterfly” Baby Theatre by Hongjiejie Work Station Company (2018) and an executive producer for “What A Fuxxing Happiest Life” by The Troubadour Theatre Company (2018). Former Theatre Supervisor at The Play Haus Theatre (2018-2019). A marketing manager for Bachfest Malaysia (2020-). Currently freelancer as theatre project manager and performer.
洪梓宗 Ang Chee Chong TEAM聚團導師。畢業於新紀元大學學院戲劇與影像系,主修戲劇。個人擅長舞台表演。曾參加澳門第15屆<theatresports亞洲聯賽>榮獲三獎。參與TEAM聚團新導師培訓計劃《T.G.O》(Team Genaration One)兩年。曾到台灣著名劇團-阮劇團參與實習。2016年憑舞台劇《一磅肉》入圍戲炬獎最佳男新人獎,2019年憑《破!案》入圍最佳舞台設計。演出作品:《Fin A Casa》、《一磅肉》、《Pinocchio》、《金龍》、《歡迎出席她的喪禮》、《關你什麽事》、《破!案》。導演作品:《誰家老婆上錯床》、《我的老師》。
Current TEAM tutor. Graduated from Drama and Visual Department of New Era University College, Major in drama and active with stage performances. During secondary school, he represented Malaysia to Macau to participate in the 15th theatre sports Asian League and won the third prize. He had participated in TEAM’s new mentor training program “T.G.O” for two years during university. In 2016, he was nominated as the best male award with “The Merchant Of Venice” and in 2019 the play “Goodbye! Mr. Detective” was shortlisted for the best stage design. His other performance works were “Fincasa”, “The Merchant Of Venice”, “Pinocchio”, “Der Goldene Drache”, “Welcome to her funeral”, “none of your business”, “Goodbye! Mr. Detective”, and his director works included “Whose Wife On My Bed” and “Her Story, My Life”.
李偉仲 Samuel Lee 影視編導;副導場記以及攝影剪輯,遊走多個崗位及各類型作品。參與作品包括電影《新村》;《一路有你》;選秀節目《SPOP》;音樂錄影帶《不想放開》;中元節申遺紀錄片;Yakult 廣告等等。曾憑舞台劇《物理學家》提名最佳新人與男配角,劇場參與作品有《懷爾德給蒙哥馬利的一封信》《短打貝克特》《藥師如來》等。
Samuel Lee. Video Content Producer & Director cum Scriptwriter in film industry. Involved a lot of Film /TV/Digital media content with different genre in career e.g."The Journey" "Hua Hee Everyday" "New Village" "Namewee MV our talents " "Yakurt Advertising" "S POP Mediacorp Program". Director & Screenwriter of Telemovie "Red Lantern" "Ghost Festival Documentary" etc. Theatre performance in "Physicist" finalist nominated for best supporting actor. Involved drama such as "Beckett shorts" "A letter to Montgomery by Wilder" "Medicine Buddha" etc.
音樂設計與特別演出嘉賓 Music Design & Special Performing Guest Artist:余家和 Yii Kah Hoe
余家和是馬來西亞活躍作曲家。余氏是2014年第11屆BOH Cameronian藝術獎得主(最佳音樂),以及2007年馬來西亞愛樂交響樂團「馬來西亞作曲家論壇2」得獎人。2006年,他獲新加坡華樂團主辦國際作曲大賽創作獎第三名。2010年,其作品獲選入圍意大利 Città di Udine 國際作曲家賽決賽。在2018年,余氏獲得國家最佳教育家得主(學院)。
Yii Kah Hoe is a Malaysian composer. Yii was the winner of 11th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (Malaysia, 2014), the winner of Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra Forum for Malaysian Composers (Malaysia, 2007), the 3rd Prize in the International Composition for Chinese Orchestra (Singapore 2006), the finalist of International Composers Competition "Città di Udine" (Italy, 2010). Yii won the prestigious National Outstanding Educator Award 2018 presented by the Private Education Cooperative of Malaysia.
Yii’s works has been performed in many international music festivals and he has collaborated with numerous famous musicians and orchestras. In the fall of 2015, Yii was the Scripps College Erma Taylor O’Brien Distinguished Visiting Professor at Scripps College in Claremont. Yii was guest composer and guest speaker at Birmingham Conservatoire UK (2013 & 2014), York St John University (2014), Yale-NUS College (2017), Iowa State University (2015), Tianjin Conservatory of Music (2017) and Mahidol University (2017).
Yii was the president of Society of Malaysian Contemporary Composers (2014 – 2016) and a senior lecturer at SEGi College Subang Jaya, Malaysia since 2000.
Pentas Staged Reading II : The Other Story of Ah-Q
A most absurd collusion and conversation between the people and the revolution
Pentas Project's artistic director Loh Kok Man and new arts practitioner John Wong jointly curated "P Pentas Staged Reading Project". Due to the current pandemic, the second staged reading is rescheduled from May to December 5 & 6 and will be held online streaming on Cloud Theatre. This performance is in collaboration with The ASIA CENTER, Japan Foundation. "The Other Story of Ah-Q” is a work of the notable late Japanese playwright, Ken Miyamoto (a "Kishida Kunio Drama Award" winner) from his Revolution Series.
Lu Xun, a contemporary Chinese literary master who abandoned his medical profession, believed that in order to change one's or societal destiny, a ideological revolution is needed and to be made widely known. He habitually used critical writings to vent his anger and helplessness towards the foolish. “The world is being defined by the foolish. The wise can't support the whole world." Ah-Q is the well-known fool in Lu Xun's work. Ken Miyamoto - born during World War II and having spent his youth in Beijing - deconstructed and reconstructed Lu Xun’s beliefs to write “The Other Story of Ah-Q” in the late sixties using his expert style of depicting revolutions and social relationships.
Ken Miyamoto transported many of Lu Xun’s classic characters onto the stage, such as: Ah-Q (a lowly fool who symbolises self-defeating and self-consoling psychological victory). They shared the space and engaged in dialogue with Lu Xun and the tumultuous times they belonged to. Through these characters of different statuses, the story examined what a social revolution could bring: the dilemmas, the rage, the grief. “To the people, what exactly is a revolution? To the revolution, what exactly are the people?” Must one fail to become a hero? Can medicine save, and yet borrow a knife to kill? Ken Miyamoto dissected the feudal system in its dying days, ruthlessly bursting the revolutionary's passion and apathy, examining the commoner's good and evil. However, life's loathings, ridicules, pities, laments, which have always come from a never despairing expectation.
Placing the script closer to today's setting, director Loh Kok Man deliberately shortened its text to make the performance more concise and relatable, hoping the audience could know this satirical Japanese classical work and be triggered to reflect upon different ideological positions, and social and reform issues inspired by dilemmas. This adapted version of "The Other Story of Ah Q" will be performed by Tammy Yee, Lee Yee Han, Ho Mun Hann, Koh Xin Yu, Ang Chee Chong, Lee Woei Zhong and John Wong. A further highlight of this performance is to see how the director deftly deploys these 7 actors, using their narrating and voice acting skills, to depict 20 roles to enliven a staged reading which will charm you.