About Chakra

Avant Theatre & Language in collaboration with The Laughing Ostriches
presented
CHAKRA ~ R e v o l u t I o n I n E v o l u t I o n
For Melbourne Fringe Festival 2003
4th & 5th October 03 (7.30pm - Night shows) & 5th October 03 (3.00pm - Matinee) @ 96F

Chakra,   Samuthra,    Samuthra Dancers,    OWBC,    Pro & Tech Crew,    Photos

Chakra was an enthralling and enrapturing double bill depicting the permanence in-flexibility, happiness in sorrow, turmoil in enjoyment and the vernacular mainstream in the ever-changing circle which one experiences in Life’s Chakra. With the East meeting the West in the 2003 Melbourne Fringe production, two Melbourne based theatre groups, Avant, Theatre and Language and The Laughing Ostriches collaborated in merging Asian and Western art forms in their productions, One Wheeled Bull Cart and Samuthra.

Samuthra flowed straight from the inner deep dark secrets of women who have dared to move from the East to West but with their lives still revolving around an incomprehensible third space. This movement piece interwove monologues that shocked and tantalised the visual appetite with various aspects of South East Asian theatrical dance/art forms. True dark secrets were adapted for stage and was shared to the privileged few. All four monologues challenged, shocked, shook and moved senses with issues that were sensitive, intimate and repelling.

One Wheeled Bull Cart exploree women, premarital sex, men and the culture. higher education, raised economic status and independent personalities. The production asked if the notion of a patriarchal world was being challenged. A group of young people grappling with the notion of identity and cultural ennui presented stories that encouraged the audience to join in their roller-coaster journey that tests their cultural roots in their new and exciting contemporary world.

Play Synopsis of SAMUTHRA

The Curse that Cured - Monologue performed by : Sheersha

“ Appi nang hari ma wasanawathai..appa pinnata…may lokai ma in hondama laylee appai generata labuna…magai laada mahatai wa….priya aiya gaima thatha ta waga salakannai….” (She is the most beautiful daughter in law in the world. She takes care of my bedridden husband as though he is her own father. I must thank god for Priya, who is such a wonderful daughter-in-law) Priya’s mother-in-law raves to the whole world about her. But she was not god’s gift but the curse in the family just a few month’s ago. Although Priya is well settled now, she cannot erase the bad memories that drove her to….. This secret is more than just a painful memory.
Dance ensemble utilise stylised forms of the Tadashi Suzuki ’s method of actor training.

If Only I had…. - Monologue performed by : Rebecca

“ This is not the first time that he has looked at me this way. I was enjoying his gaze. It made me feel like a woman. Painfully I enjoyed every moment of it.” A daughter shares her secret of wanting more from the man who has walked out of her romance books. When things went out of control, she confides her rape to her mother who is a high profile Australian diplomat. Torn between her job and love, the mother struggles to fulfil her duty. But wait! Was this a plot by the daughter or was it….? This secret is shared in total confidence for the information is highly classified.
Dance ensemble depicts Tableaus inspired from, Theodore Gericault's painting, The Raft of the Medusa.

One Moment of Fault - Monologue performed by : Valerie

“Look at this baby, Joseph! Don’t you want to be here when he takes his first step and speaks his first word? Leaving him now when he needs you most will not be as you say for the good of him!” Florence begs her husband to stay. But he left her for a job in Gladstone and things were never the same again. Not for Florence, nor for Joseph or for the baby. Florence shares her deep secret as to why for twenty over years, she never could touch, hug or get close to her son. Now that her grandson is born, Florence sees the need to explain why her son was never touched although she loves him immensely. A mother’s most painful secret will leave you reflecting.
Dance ensemble work inspired by Japanese Butoh.

Lamb for Sacrifices - Monologue performed by : Kate

“ Aku bersedia melakukan apa saja supaya dia jadi miliku untuk selama lamanya” Linah says over and over again to Andrew that she will do anything to make him hers forever. And she did something that no woman will dare do, to make him hers forever. Linah, an Indonesian tour guide met Andrew in Bali and they both fell deeply in love. She gets pregnant and he starts drifting away. She visits a witchcraft doctor (Dukun) who tells that if she wants Andrew, she has to…… This secret will grip you where you least expected.
Dance ensemble work inspired by Tadashi Suzuki’s Training Method and the Indian Bharathanatyam.

Play Synopsis of ONE WHEELED BULL CART

One Wheeled Bull Cart explores Women, Premarital Sex, Men and the Culture. HIGHER EDUCATION, RAISED ECONOMIC STATUS, INDEPENDENT PERSONALITIES, are these issues a threat to traditional Asian masculinity? Is the notion of a patriarchal world being challenged? She’s blonde, blue eyes and independent. It’s ok for her to have sex though she’s not married. But you’re Asian for god’s sake!!!! They are living so far away from hot and humid Asia, but why are they still tormenting themselves with uncompromising customary traditional bondage? Meet these young people grappling with the notion of identity and cultural ennui. Join in their roller-coaster journey that tests their cultural roots in their new and exciting contemporary world.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RDG Collab  Two Spicy Masala OWBC Samuthra  Price Polygamy

Community Initiatives