NEW AESTHETICS AND IDENTITIES: WELCOME TO ASIA

There are five productions in the Kenneth Myer Asian Theatre Series at the Arts Centre in 2010.

In Shanghai Beauty, Jin Xing examines how our sense of beauty is culturally and historically shaped. In Mother India 21st Century Remix a new generation take an iconic 20th Century film and remake it as their own. A Midsummer Night’s Dream creates a work of immense vitality through a mix of dance voice and percussion interwoven with stories from Korean folklore, mythology and history. Ong Keng Sen’s landmark production of The Continuum: Beyond the Killing Fields, is a powerful documentary performance exploiting both traditional and highly contemporary performance techniques. By juxtaposing global events against the ordinary everyday, Toshiki Okada’s Five Days in March perfectly captures the irony and impotency of Generation Y in Japan.

The Kenneth Myer Asian Theatre Series 2010 program also includes a range of public forums, workshops, education programs, exhibitions and artists talks. Moving Image Asia provides the opportunity for everyone to be an artist and tell their own story of Asia through the medium of the moving image. Journey with us and enjoy!

The Kenneth Myer Asian Theatre Endowment Fund was established in 2009 with a grant from The Myer Foundation and the Sidney Myer Fund and founding gifts from Mrs Neilma Gantner, Mr Carrillo Gantner AO and Mrs ZiYin Gantner and Mr Baillieu Myer AC and Mrs Sarah Myer.

COMPETITION: MOVING IMAGE ASIA

The Arts Centre invites everyone to tell their own story of Asia through the medium of the moving image by participating in our short film competition. Films should be less than ten minutes duration, focus on Asia and could be filmed in China, Korea, India, Cambodia, Japan or in Australia – Cambodia in Springvale or Korea in Box Hill for example.

Selected films will be invited for screening in the foyers of the Arts Centre during the performance seasons and the makers of the screened films will win season tickets to the Kenneth Myer Asian Theatre Series as well as being finalists to win the overall grand prize. The overall winner will win a trip to the Asian city of their choice or if you live in Asia a trip to Australia!

For more information click here.


KENNETH MYER ASIAN THEATRE SERIES – FREE ASIALINK FORUMS
In conjunction with the performances, the Asialink Centre at the University of Melbourne and Kenneth Myer Asian Theatre Series at the Arts Centre present a series of stimulating forums, featuring leading academics and artists.

The forums are free but please RSVP via the Asialink website.

SHANGHAI BEAUTY:
Contemporary visions of sexuality in Asia
Speakers will include: Jin Xing, Artistic Director, Jing Xing Dance Theatre and Choreographer Shanghai Beauty, Dr Audrey Yue,
University of Melbourne

Wednesday March 3, 6pm
Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, Level 1 Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
This forums is free but please RSVP via the Asialink website.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM:
Shakespeare in Asia
Speakers will include: Kyu Choi, Director, Asia Now & Dramaturge, Yohangza,
Professor Peta Tait, La Trobe University

Tuesday 7 September, 6pm
Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, Level 1 Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
This forums is free but please RSVP via the Asialink website. 


THE CONTINUUM: BEYOND THE KILLING FIELDS:
Cultural resistance and continuity in Cambodia
Speakers will include: Ong Keng Sen, Artistic Director, Theatreworks, Singapore and Director Continuum: Beyond the Killing Fields,
Emeritus Professor David Chalmers, Monash University

Monday 13 September, 6pm
Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, Level 1 Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
This forums is free but please RSVP via the Asialink website.

FIVE DAYS IN MARCH:
Contemporary Youth Culture and Politics in Japan.
Speakers will include: Toshiki Okada, Artistic Director, Chelfitsch and Director, Five Days in March, Associate Professor Peter Eckersall, University of Melbourne

Tuesday 26 October, 6pm
Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, Level 1 Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
This forums is free but please RSVP via the Asialink website.