Curtain Call: ‘Under The Volcano’

The performance of Under The Volcano ended successfully last week and we would like to thank everyone who came down to show your support.

We managed to catch up with some of our audience members to find out more about their thoughts towards the performance. We also got to hear some of the thoughts and questions raised during the post-show talk on the first night.

“I think the performance really captured the emotions of awe and wonder and I think it’s intrinsic respect for nature and I really appreciated that from the performance”.

– Karanina Suryadinata, Administrator and Production Assistant

“I’ve never seen physical work that risky, that captivating on stage before, and I’ve never seen something that combines a sense of traditional side with contemporary movements so effectively and seamlessly”.

– Jacyntha England, Drama Theatre

“I think it was a very powerful performance, the usage of performers, props, and songs are effective and on point. I get what they’re trying to portray”.

– Maggie Sun, Student

Post-show dialogue

Rehearsal of Under The Volcano

Our audiences also shared their thoughts on their appreciation towards the Minangkabau culture.

“I appreciated how the plate dance, the silat and the ladders were all virtuosic and seamless. I liked how there were no boundaries between traditional forms and contemporary movement”.

– Eng Kai Er, Artist

“The music and choreography was beautiful. Through the movement, the emotion and the story could be felt”.

– Priya Selvakumak, Lawyer

“The movements were amazing, energy was great. I’ve always been a fan of artists using the body as a main tool for storytelling”.

– Ali Anwar, Artist

On Saturday, we also held a workshop for Under The Volcano as part of our engagement programme. Focusing on Minangkabau’s martial arts and movements, participants had the opportunity to learn from three of the performers. Here are some our participants’ thoughts.

“I got to experience a different style of traditional culture. It reminds me of a combination of Balinese dance, Kalaripayattu and Dikir Barat which I am exposed to”.

– Serina Sng, Participant

“The workshop was friendly and accessible. A lot was taught in a short time”.

– Chan Sze Wei, Participant

“I feel like I can understand an aspect of their culture that isn’t seen in Singapore”.

– Sebastian Tan, Participant

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Thank You to everyone for making Under The Volcano a success! Your feedback and response means a lot to us and the artists. If you have any other comments or feedback, do feel free to express them in the comments section below or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We look forward to seeing you again at our upcoming events. For more details about our upcoming programmes, do head to our main blog here to find out more!

Our Ambassador Shares!

We had some help from our ambassadors for front-of-house (FOH) duties during the performance of Under The Volcano. While helping out, our Ambassadors were able to catch the performance. Here is an extract from one of our ambassadors, Kerrine Goh, with her thoughts on the performance!

“Unlike other dance performances I have been to, this performance required me to be physically and consciously present in order to revel completely in the experiences of the victims”.

– Kerrine Goh, TheatreWorks’ Ambassador

To read on, check out the post on the Ambassadors’ Blog here!

Thank you Kerrine for your contribution!

‘Under The Volcano’ Workshop: Looking Back

On Saturday, we held a workshop for Under The Volcano as part of our engagement programme! Focusing on Minangkabau’s martial arts and movements, participants had the opportunity to learn from three of the performers from Under The Volcano! Here are some photos from the workshop.

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I got to experience a different style of traditional culture. It reminds me of a combination of Balinese dance, Kalaripayattu and Dikir Barat which I am exposed to.

– Serina Sng, participant

The workshop was friendly and accessible. A lot was taught in a short time.

– Chan Sze Wei, participant

I feel like I can understand an aspect of their culture that isn’t seen in Singapore.

– Sebastian Tan, participant

Thank you to all the participants who took part in the workshop. We hope you have had an enjoyable time!

‘Under The Volcano’ Audience Shares

Under The Volcano opened last night at 72-13! We would like to thank everyone who joined us last night to make the opening of this performance a success. Conceived by Bumi Purnati Indonesia, this dance-drama piece relives the devastation and rehabilitation of the people affected by the 1883 Krakatau Eruption. We caught up with some of our audiences after the performance to find out more about what they felt.

“I’ve never seen physical work that risky, that captivating on stage before, and I’ve never seen something that combines a sense of traditional side with contemporary movements so effectively and seamlessly”. – Jacyntha England, Drama Theatre

‘Under the Volcano’ was featured in Business Times Lifestyle Section!

Read to find out more from the director, Yusril as he shares about his inspiration for this piece and the symbolism used in his directing.

“There will be many surprises when turning the traditional into something contemporary. But it also means we will create new forms of aesthetics which incorporate traditional philosophy and value” – Yusril.

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‘Under the Volcano’ will be on 22 and 23 April 2016, 8pm at 72-13.
Ticketing Details:
$25 Standard
$20 Consession for students and citizens above 62

To book tickets, email volcano@theatreworks.org.sg or call us at 6737-7213.

‘Under The Volcano’ Opens Tonight!

YES, Under The Volcano opens TONIGHT!

Tickets for this performance are still on sale, so do head to our ticketing page to purchase your tickets or come on down to 72-13 and purchase your tickets at the door!

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Performance Details:

21-23 April 2016, 8pm
72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 239007

Duration: 60mins

Tickets: 
$25 Standard
$20 Concession for Students and Senior Citizens above 62

Email volcano@theatreworks.org.sg or call 6737-7213 to book your tickets!

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We will also be having an exciting workshop about Minangkabau’s martial arts and movement on Saturday, 23 April. Click here to find out more!

 

Behind-the-scenes at ‘Under The Volcano’

Rehearsals for Under The Volcano at 72-13 have begun! Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at this exciting production.

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We have also put up some eye-catching banners here at 72-13. The building can now be easily spotted and found along Mohamed Sultan Road. Check it out now!

We are two days away from the opening of Under The Volcano. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Get yours here now!

Conversations with Performer: Hendriko Putra

Hendriko Putra has been active as an actor and fighter since graduating from his Theatre Arts Studies Program ISI Padangpanjang in 2009. With his talents, Hendriko has been involved in numerous productions as a martial artist, actor, and dancer. Some of the productions he has been involved in includes Dance Parewa with Ali Sukri as the choreographer, Pagar directed by Yusril, and Under The Volcano at The 6th Theater Olympics in Beijing 2014. We caught up with him to learn more about his process for Under The Volcano. 

“My biggest challenge on the creation process of Under the Volcano was during the exploration process when we were combining together the realistic movements, stylisation, and distortions that were rooted in the movements of the traditional Minangkabau  martial art”. – Hendriko Putra

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Conversations with the Director, Yusril

Yusril Katil, the director of Under the Volcano, was introduced to theatre by the  writer, humanist and theatre artist from West Sumatera, the late Mr. Wisran Hadi. Since then, he has worked in the arts, his most notable works in Indonesia includes Menunggu (1997-2000), Pintu (2002), Tangga (2007-2013), Pagar (2012), Under The Volcano (2014) and Air di Dulang Siapa yang Punya (2016).

 “Why is the dialogue (of Under the Volcano) in poetry? Because poetry has the power to tell the vast with using minimum language. Poetry also has a connotative meaning, and it can be ambiguous and diverse, as poems do not have just one singular meaning”. – Yusril

Conversations with Performer, Dedi Darmadi

Dedi Darmadi has practiced Silat since he was a young boy. He is part of the group, Randai ABG Mamba, and has been involved as a Persilat (a person who doing Silat) and Randai player. At this moment, he is the staff of Ajang Gelar ISI Padangpanjang. He has worked together with Yusril (director of Under the Volcano) in a number of theatre productions, and is glad to be part of the group presenting Under the Volcano here in Singapore.

“Under the Volcano is a work of maturation of ideas; how environmental issues have been raised as a theme in contemporary theatre that relies on the power of multimedia, lighting, the movements of traditional Minangkabau, music and the set”. – Dedi Darmadi