The Global Soul - the Buddha Project (2003)

19 June 2003 – 21 June 2003 @ Victoria Theatre

Synopsis

One of the most influential figures of Asian contemporary theatre, director Ong Keng Sen embarks on his next production following the success of Search:Hamlet in Denmark. Inspired by Gautama Buddha and the musings of travel writer Pico Iyer, The Global Soul stars renowned butoh legend Min Tanaka; Charlotte Engelkes, the stunning Swedish actress last seen in Heiner Goebbels' Hashirigaki (Singapore Arts Festival 2001) and Paris-based Nigerian dancer Sophiatou Kossoko.

What does spirituality, travellers and global currency mean to contemporary artists? A poignant tale of personal search; it embraces stories of Buddha, jet lag, airports, butoh, liyuan opera (a thousand year old Chinese operatic form), and Korean court songs within a contemporary soundscape by Toru Yamanaka of dumb type. 

Conceived & Directed: Ong Keng Sen
Writer: Charlotte Engelkes, Robin Loon
Dramaturge: Robin Loon
Composer: Toru Yamanaka

Set Design: Justin Hill
Light Design: Scott Zielinski
Video Design: Heman Chong 

Collaborators-Performers:
Charlotte Engelkes
Kang Kwon Soon
Pichet Klunchun
Sophiatou Kossoko
Toru Yamanaka
Zeng Jing Ping 

Producer: Tay Tong
Production Management: Jean Yue
Technical Management: Peter Gohler 
Stage Management: Valerie Oliveiro, Vivian Lee 

Assistant to Composer: Ishikawa Tomohisa
Sound Engineering & Video: Michael Meliani
Head Mechanist: Danny Hones
Master Electrician: Tom Pearl
Scenery Coordinator: Dorothy Png
Translators: Christina Ng, Hena Yeo, Yoon Eben
Crew: Alan Mathew, Scott Dominic Peterson, Tessa Mae Sim 

Promotion & Publicity: Traslin Ong
Collaterals: Andy Lee, Jirka Jansch 

(Source: National Arts Council Programme) 


credits

Ong Keng Sen
Conceptualizer, Director
Robin Loon
Dramaturg, Playwright
Charlotte Engelkes
Playwright, Collaborator, Cast
Toru Yamanaka
Music Composer, Collaborator, Cast
Justin Hill
Set Designer
Scott Zielinkski
Lighting Designer
Heman Chong
Video Designer
Kang Kwon Soon
Collaborator, Cast

artefacts

Singapore Arts Festival (2003), Programme
Programme for Singapore Arts Festival (2003). 
National Arts Council
Recorded: 30 May 2003