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THEATRE MINDANAO BECKETT FESTIVAL IN PAGADIAN
Performing Beckett is a theater festival of four adapted stage plays by the famous Samuel Beckett, a playwright and theater director whose works were prime examples of the Theater of the Absurd. Samuel Beckett was one the forerunners of the Theatre of the Absurd through his plays. He challenged the notions of conventional theater performances and of writing plays. His plays were notable because of the absurdity of the characters, the non-linear storyline and unconventional staging of performances. The whole theater world (both in the academe and in actual theater practice) celebrates this year the centenary of his birth. This festival is organized by Kumbingan Ensemble as Mindanao celebration of Beckett centenary. Performing Beckett will feature four Mindanao theatre artists in four solo performances: Rockaby Beauty, adapted from ROCKABY by Jean Claire Dy of UPMin Kumboyahan (Davao City), Ngano Ako?, adapted from NOT I by Denise Aguilar of Pasundayag Community Theatre (Cagayan de Oro City), Yawyaw, adapted from A PIECE OF MONOLOGUE by Owen Jaen of Artists' Quarter (Butuan City) and The Last Tape, adapted from KRAPP'S LAST TAPE by Felimon Blanco of Kumbingan Ensemble (Pagadian City). The festival will be held on November 5, 2006 (Matinee at 3pm and Gala at 7pm) at Guillermo Grand Ballroom, New Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City. This festival is a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) . This is also supported by NEW GUILLERMO HOTEL, the OFFICIAL VENUE AND HOTEL of the festival. (Click Guillermo Hotel to go to the hotel's website.) For more information about the Mindanao Beckett festival, email kumbingan_ensemble@yahoo.com. For more info on Beckett Festivals around the world, click here to go to the Beckett Foundation based in the U.K. Profile of Festival Artists FELIMON BLANCO of Kumbingan Ensemble, Pagadian City Felimon graduated from the three-year Theatre Training and Research Programme of PRACTICE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL in Singapore last May 2005. He also trained under traditional master teachers of Japanese Noh Theater, Chinese Beijing Opera , Indonesian Wayang Wong and Indian Bharatanatyam . Felimon acted in a multi-lingual short film called CAFÉ, which was shown in Singapore and Canada. His most recent dance and theatre credits include My Sister. My Friend (Mumbai India), Uwahig (CCP Manila), Ugnayan 05 (Manila), 1st Initiation International (Singapore), Arancada (Tambulig), Kagawasan sa Cotta (Ozamis City), The Lambago Project (Cagayan de Oro City) and indaK (Pagadian City). He performed lead roles in productions such as Antigone, Antagonists, Wilderness, Stags and Hens, Seagull, Slow Love, Endgame, Psychosis 4.48, The Water Station and Caucasian Chalk Circle in Singapore (2002-2005). He also created solo performances also performed in Singapore: Inner Struggle, Where are you?, Maid, When I met Abdul and The Silent Church. Presently, he is the Artistic Director of Kumbingan Ensemble who travels to different places in Mindanao conducting theater and dance workshops. Felimon is a proud product of the MSU Sining Kambayoka Ensemble. OWEN JAEN of Artists' Quarter, Butuan City Owen Jaen was the Artistic Director and Founder of the former Actors' Quarter Dance & Theater Guild in Butuan City. He was part of the team who performed during the 2005 International Stage Reading Festival in Taipei, Taiwan. His theatre credits include as director, actor and playwright of local productions such as The Lost Wings (children's theater), Paypag (dance drama on Mamanwa culture), Usa ka Damgo (One Dream, World Vision Philippines' entry to the Children's Theater Festival in Germany, 2002), From Iraq wid Lab (2004, 2006), Twanbaloka, the Musical (July 2004). He was the Project Director of the 1st Kasawgan Theater Festival last August 5, 2006. Owen is a workshop facilitator/trainer in theater and performing arts in Caraga Region. DENISE AGUILAR of Pasundayag Community Theatre, Denise is an artist of Pasundayag Community Theatre in Cagayan de Oro City. She worked before as Public Affairs Officer of the Office for Cultural and Public Affairs of Liceo de Cagayan University, where she took on works as Production and Stage Manager of Rodelsa Hall. She just recently resigned from her work in a call center in Cebu City, and is now going back to her first love—performing arts. Her theatre credits with Pasundayag include Vagina Monologues, Adios Papa and Guerrilla. JEAN CLAIRE DY of UP Mindanao Kumboyahan, Davao City Jean Claire Dy teaches Literature and Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. She heads the Bayla Vinta Dance Group , the dance arm of the UP Mindanao Kumboyahan. She was a Writing Fellow for Fiction to the 37 th UP National Writers Workshop, the 39 th Dumaguete National Summer Writers Workshop, and was one of the Philippine Representatives in Creative Writing to the ASEAN Nature Hug Arts Camp in 1998. In 2005, Claire attended the "Orissi/Yoga Dance Therapy Workshop" under the tutelage of international theater artist and Orissi dancer Keziah Apuzen. Her theater experience includes being part of several theater productions in Silliman University. She has also attended workshops in acting and theater production organized by the Speech and Theater Arts Department of Silliman University. Profile of KUMBINGAN ENSEMBLE Kumbingan Ensemble, Inc. is a non-profit integrated performing arts group based in Pagadian City. It is officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC Registration G2001-00255) and with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (TIN 006-312-859). Kumbingan represented the Philippines to CULTURE SHOCK : An Exhibition of ASIAN Rich Cultural Heritage , one of the highlights of the 2005 Singapore Street Festival held last June 11, 2005 at the National Youth Hub, Singapore. The group was also invited by the Provincial Government to do a welcome dance for Tourism Secretary ACE DURANO during the launching ceremony of Asian Spirit at Pagadian City Airport last August 2005. The ensemble performed its dance production ARANCADA to a sold-out performance at Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur last December 29, 2005. Recently, it performed in indaK , which was a back-to-back dance concert with the Malengas Cultural Dance Troupe of Zamboanga del Sur National High School last September 14, 2006 at the ZSNHS Gym. On November 5, 2006, Kumbingan will host PERFORMING BECKETT A Festival of Beckett Adaptations , with collaborating artists from the Cities of Butuan, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. This is an NCCA-funded project in celebration of Beckett centenary this year. During the National Arts Month in February 2006, it hosted the Conference of Zamboanga del Sur Artists at Anastacia Pension last February 19, 2006. Artists and cultural workers in the province attended the conference, which paved way for the creation of kaZAulogaN - Zamboanga del Sur Artist Network . The ensemble serves as the Secretariat of the artist network. Upon invitation by the Saint Columban College - High School Department, the ensemble conducted a one-month Summer Dance Class last April - May 2006. Kumbingan artists also choreographed Pagadian's Pasalamat Festival contingent to the Aliwan Festival held in Manila for the last two years (2005 & 2006). It represented Western Mindanao to the MINDULANI collaborative theater project entitled UWAHIG, which was performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) during the 31 st UNESCO - International Theatre Institute World Congress in May 24, 2006. In May 2006, it hosted the 3-day UNDERSTANDING CONTEMPORARY DANCE : A CHOREOGRAPHER'S WORKSHOP held at Saint Columban High School. The workshop was sponsored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in Manila, and co-hosted by Saint Columban High School. It also recently hosted the 2nd MINDANAO RASA BOX ACTING WORKSHOP held on September 15-16 at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol Complex, Pagadian City. In February 2007, it will host the MINDANAO DANCE DRAMA WORKSHOP in cooperation with Department of Education. Past cultural performances include many city and provincial government functions, BIMP-EAGA International Skills Olympics in Iligan City, in ICC La Salle in Ozamis City, in Molave, Tukuran, Pulacan and Sominot, in Tangub City's Dalit Festival (1 st Placer in 1998), in Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City, and in the 1 st Mindanao Modern Dance Festival in Koronadal City. |
photos: gauss obenza, maan chua, IPAG, kumbingan ensemble, geejay arriola, sining kambayoka, bobby timonera
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