Kuo Pao Kun Festival 2012

What better way than to learn more about KPK than by watching his plays come to life onstage? You’re in luck ‘cos there’s a festival specially about KPK this year!

2012 marks the tenth anniversary of Kuo Pao Kun’s passing. Perhaps best known for pioneering and developing multicultural themes in his body of works, Kuo’s humanistic ideals, integrated into his brand of theatre continue to rouse and inspire theatre-makers today. This festival is open to all who share our passion; beyond honouring him, we wish to explore our intricate relationship with Kuo Pao Kun a decade later.

(taken from the publicity material from The Theatre Practice. Grab your own copy at SISTIC counters.)

Festival highlights

Lao Jiu: The Musical [12-29 July 2012]

Lao Jiu will be restaged as a musical directed by Kuo Jian Hong, with a script adapted by Liu Xiaoyi and composed by Eric Ng. This version, first staged in 2005, will be performed in Mandarin with English surtitles.Tickets from www.sistic.com.sg from 01 April 2012.

Day I Met The Prince [30 August – 02 September 2012]

An adaptation of The Little Prince, Day I Met The Prince is a journey that unravels the many sides of humanity and a moving discovery of self-worth.
Performed in Mandarin with English surtitlesTickets from www.sistic.com.sg from 05 July 2012.

The Spirits Play [25-28 October 2012]

The Spirits Play will be staged in a collaboration between two Asian theatre masters, Makoto Sato (Tokyo) and Danny Yung (Hong Kong), using art forms of Noh theatre and Kunqu opera.Performed in Mandarin & Japanese with Mandarin & English surtitlesTickets from www.sistic.com.sg from 12 July 2012.

Exhibition [09 Sept 2012 onwards]

Kuo’s life and works will be exhibited from the first time at the National Museum of Singapore.

Re-interpretation: The Coffin is Still Too Big [19-21 July 2012, Buds Youth Theatre]

Inspired by KPK’s The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole, BYT creates an original piece of work to discuss: is the coffin still too big???
Performed in English.Visit www.budstheatre.com for more details.

Re-interpretation: Vriksha [Sept-Oct, dates TBC; NUS Indian Dance]

Vriksha retells the stories of The Silly Little Girl and the Funny Old Tree through dance, in the language of Bharatanatyam.

More information from www.practice.org.sg!