THE ABRISHAM JOURNEY

About Kakiseni Arts Exchange KL 2013

Kakiseni Arts Exchange KL (AEXKL) is Malaysias premier arts exchange programme that unites and bridges the local and international performing art communities through a transfer and exchange of knowledge. AEXKL is a platform that challenges participants perspective and skills by exposing them to other cultures and art forms while simultaneously stimulating public awareness and interest in the performing arts industry through community outreach activities. Already in its second year, the programme brings together a diverse group of artists across various artistic disciplines in a focused, collaborative effort spanning two distinct tracks: an overseas collaboration/local community outreach and a collaborative workshop between local and international performing artists resulting in a final staged production. As the host of AEXKL, Malaysia is well-placed as the home to a unique and diverse performing arts scene due to its multicultural makeup and wide-ranging cultural heritage. With roots in Malaysian culture but complemented with a global exchange of ideas and inspiration, AEXKL draws a thread through Malaysian performing artists, their foreign counterparts and the public through the common language of art as a powerful tool of personal expression. Working alongside the National Department for Culture and Arts (Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara - JKNN), Kakiseni spearheads AEXKL by bringing together government, private and public support as a firm foundation for this initiative and the local performing arts industry.

Programme Info
For 2013, AEXKL will be spreading its wings westward in an exciting international collaboration as one of this years two major programmes, giving Malaysian artists a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to work together with award-winning Iranian puppeteer and thespian Hamed Zahmatkesh. Whimsically named The Abrisham Journey, the programme will see local performers handpicked by Zahmatkesh himself to adapt and localise The Mythical Moon a classical Persian myth telling the tale of Fereydn and Zahhk to share with Malaysian children and communities nationwide. The Abrisham Journey will begin with a six-day workshop from the 25 th of August for up to 20 participants to learn and hone their skills in puppetry, masks, and acting, even culminating in a forest camping trip for a night. At the end of the workshop, director Zahmatkesh will choose four performers from the group two men and two women for the actual production of The Mythical Moon. The finalised cast will then begin rehearsals from the 2nd to 27th of September, working between 10 to 12 hours a day with breaks every Sunday in preparation for the play which will be performed in Bahasa Malaysia and in a mobile stage that can be easily transported between performance venues. To localise the presentation and performance, all props, sets and costumes will be produced in Malaysia. The Malaysian cast will then get a once-in-a-lifetime experience to transcend language barriers and cultures when the story is brought back to its birthplace Iran. For more than three weeks, the cast will be performing this classic tale in various Iranian communities and locales while perfecting it further. This will culminate in performances at the International Children Theatre in Hamadan between the 16th and 22nd of October, right before the production travels back to Malaysia on the 23rd of October. Armed with a unique cultural perspective and experience, the cast of The Mythical Moon will embark on a tour of Malaysia between the 25th of October and 2nd of November to reach rural communities in Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, and Johor, with a main showcase in Kuala Lumpur slotted between. By bringing the production off the beaten path, The Mythical Moon is expected to surprise and delight children of all ages in an entertaining yet easily understandable manner.

Interested participants can submit their applications from now until 20 August 2013.

Workshop Registration Form

Date: 25th August 30th August 2013 Time: 10am 6pm Venue: TBC Intake of participants: 20 persons Target of participants: Children theatre practitioner, Community Theatre practitioner, Puppeteer Fees: Free Of Charge Enquiry: ganhuiyee@kakiseni.com Call: 016-2084449 Website: aex.kakiseni.com Conducted in Persian, translate in English Registration deadline: 20th August 2013

Note: 1. Please email the completed form together with your CV to ganhuiyee@kakiseni.com 2. Please note that the finalized casts need to fully commit in 2 months work out which from 2nd September to 4th November for rehearsal/ culminate in performances at the International Children Theatre in Hamadan/ embark on a tour of Malaysia 3. Please read through the programme info for further information.

I hereby agree: To participate in The Abrisham Journey Workshop (25th 30th August 2013). To be videotaped and/or photographed while participating in The Abrisham Journey Workshop. (Photos and video footage of participants will be used for archival and promotional purposes only). The organiser shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, injury and/or any mishap that may occur during this workshop.

Name: NRIC or Passport No: Date:

Participants Signature

Please fill in your personal particulars on the next page.

Personal Particulars Please attach your CV together with this submission.) Name: Gender: (M / F ) Date of Birth: NRIC: Passport No: (Please attach your photocopy IC for local participants/1st page of passport scan for foreign participants) Contact No:(Mobile) (Home) Email: Address:

Do you have any medical condition(s)? (eg. Asthma, anemia, etc)

Do you have any food or drug allergies?

In case of emergency, please contact: Name: Relationship: Contact:

\ Enquiries: ganhuiyee@kakiseni.com Aex.kakiseni.com Registration deadline 20th August 2013