A True Calling by EX-Theatre Asia (22 & 23 April 2011)

22-23 Apr 2011
Fri – Sat, 8pm

Approx 70 mins

Esplanade Theatre Studio

Standard – S$25

LANGUAGE
Mandarin and in Manipuri with English surtitles for the Mandarin portions only

Synopsis

A True Calling demonstrates the dichotomy between truth and falsehood, being and becoming, between theatre and life, between faith and deception. All of these – along with the minimalist stage design and the refined acting – remind us of the universal values, bringing more resonance to the production. “

- Yu Shan Lu / Theatre Critic

A talented actor wanders the country and earns a living by taking on multiple roles. One moment he can be a tiger, scaring the villagers away, the next moment, he becomes a guru, advising the wealthy and leading them to find peace of mind. A king hears of his talent, and summons the actor to put on the biggest performance of his life. Seeking to perfect his craft, the actor agrees, but at what cost? Adapted from an Indian folklore, A True Calling not only challenges the audience’s perception with its focus on the actor’s body language and skill, but it also encourages the audience to take a closer look at the depth of their hearts – where each one of us takes our role-playing. What is truth? What is pretense?

A True Calling is a play about acting – not only the acting on stage, but also the acting in our lives. In fact, there is an actor living in all of us, as we play various roles in the society. Are we true to ourselves as well as the roles we are playing? As the story begins, “it won’t be a good story if you just listen and read” – every one of us should bring the story of A True Calling back to our lives, and carefully follow the true calling in our hearts.

Performed in Mandarin and in Manipuri with English surtitles for the Mandarin portions only.

Artistic Director/Director: Chongtham Jayanta Meetei
Administrative Director/Producer: Lin Pei-Ann
Original Story: by Vijayadan Detha
Adaptation/Performers: Derrick Wei & Jayanta Meetei
Live Music by ARCN TEMPL (Leslie Low & Vivian Wang)

EXPLORATIONS: Find out more about the works being performed. Join us in an informal post-performance talk by the director and artists.

Tix@Sistic