AYTF Team JAPAN comprises: Fream! Theatre, Theatre Group GUMBO and Sakai International Community Arts

PANDEMIC OF WORDS

Abuse on social media, has led to a rapid rise in young Japanese people contemplating suicide, with an unfortunate few selecting to take their own lives. This tool for expanding the world economically and socially – that connects humans across the globe, has created a narrow and abnormal world in which there is only “You” and “Not you (= enemy)”.

It has created an alternative disease, that when combined with COVID can cause the “unhappiness infection”, a new & large lesion on modern Japanese society. Like the black Tsunami, it consumes and swallows healthy people, taking away their lives, not with blades or with guns, but with “Words” – hurtful and dangerous.

ALIEN NATION

Two security officers arrive at a high-level quarantine facility for duty, only to be met by a surveillance camera installed, pointing at them and unaccounted for.  Amidst their many differences, they pull together to find out the truth of this situation.

THE BLUE MAN

A young Bengali boy learns quickly that he is colour blind, but it is only on moving to the USA, that he discovers his skin is also blue. He quickly becomes a person of interest, increasing his popularity. However, as he is initially unaware of the reason for this popularity, he attempts to integrate into society. It is a difficult time in the USA, with the black lives matter movement becoming increasingly more visual. The man chooses to join the supporters of the movement as he abhors violence, but when he sees black people looting and destroying public property, he selects to join the opposition. Unfortunately, regardless of his own choices, neither party wishes to accept him, as he is too different.  He is confused by the situation, and writes a letter to his parents to seek help about his identity. To which party does he belong? He tries to find a human connection that transcends race or colour – to find acceptance without agenda.

A MISTAKE ON FACEBOOK

Once upon a time there were two villages called Sin Su village and Kyone Daw. Both villages were carefree and happy-go-lucky. They loved to dance and make music. When they had harvest time or rice planting time they danced together and played music.

Then mobile phones were introduced in Myanmar and people started to use Facebook. One of the villagers of Sin Su village lost his cow. His friend who thought he was funny and was not thoughtful posted on Facebook about the stolen cow. He made up a fake account and used Photoshop to take a photo of the Kyone Daw people killing and eating the lost cow.

The cow’s owner saw the fake picture. He lost his temper and went to the Kyone Daw village alone. He started a fight with a villager and he lost. Then he went back to his village and brought the whole village to Kyone Daw. Soon people from both villages were fighting. In the end the person who posted the fake photo arrived and explained the purpose behind his ‘joke’.  All the villagers learned that Facebook is dangerous for people if it is misused and that they each have a part to play to ensure that the negative effects of social media do not overwhelm the nation.

THROUGH OUR EYES

A devised performance exploring the relationship between humans through inanimate objects.  This performance will focus on how food is used as a social medium within Bruneian culture.  This performance will include local art forms to aid in conveying the story.  It will also touch on other inanimate objects that affect human relationships.

HOPELESS

The story of three lives intertwined during a pandemic.  A nurse and her struggles, an artist turned food delivery driver making ends meet, and a retrenched mother struggling to keep her family fed.  The three characters discover their own sense of humanity as they are confronted with a new reality wrapped in anxiety, isolation and hopelessness.

DONG REK

A man-made line discriminates between humanity and love. Thio Khao Phanom Dongrah (Khmer: ជួរភ្នំដងរែក – Phanom Dongrak in Thai is a derivative of the Khmer word “Phnom Dangrek”) is a mountain range that spreads across the northeast border between Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.

This divide creates conflict amongst the communities. Their leaders consumed with rage aim to destroy their adversaries by attempting to murder, demolish and dehumanise each other; thereby falling prey to the myth of borders and lines severing connections in humanity.

An academic approach to the dissection and contemplation of conflict and culture in Southeast Asia.

NOTIFICATIONS!

CUBA FAHAM

VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE VOL. 2: NONGSKUY