Dance, Drama and more at Chaktomuk in Phnom Penh
Feb 23rd, 2010 by Jinja
I was down the pub to get some takeway when a friend walked in.
“I’m just in from the theatre,” she said, “they’re having performances through March first.” Apparently several times a day.
Now, I have had my head pulled in like a turtle this last week due to work.
But for the life of me I could see nothing on the web or in the (English or French) press. LadyPenh / Expat-Advisory / Phnom Penh Post / Cambodia Daily, BongThom, Asialife?
Anybody? TaxiVantha? (That was a friendly nudge, kindly correct me if I’m wrong.) Despite the best efforts of many arts groups, there’s still a pretty big cultural divide, largely due to language. I prefer to blunder in whenever possible, you never know what you’ll discover.
I have managed to score a Khmer events program, (blogged up as a scan) and will link up a translation shortly. There is a lot of culture to be explored in Phnom Penh, but sometimes it’s a bit of a treasure hunt. Chaktomuk ahoy!
More from Andy:
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/taking-stage.html
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/street-performance.html
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/festival-season.html
Feb 25 Postscript: Very Rough Draft Translated schedule
(Earlier draft in comments below, subject to change.)
On the Festival of Khmer Theatrical Performance of the Kingdom of Cambodia
1st Day: Thursday 18th February 2010
Time: 16:00
Opening Festival of Khmer Theatrical Performance of Kingdom of Cambodia 2010, preside over Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and Lok Chumteav
2nd Day: Friday 19th February 2010
Starting Competition Process
Morning:
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Buddha Brovat” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Takeo Province
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Dong Sovann Chan Kiri” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kep City
Evening:
2:30 Lakhon Yike “Brovat Phnom Sompov” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Battambang Province
5pm Committee Meeting
3rd Day: Saturday 20th February 2010
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Mekhantragoun Phnon Kachol”performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Kompong Speu province.
2:30 Lakhon Bassac “Khla Osleak”performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Koh Kong province
5:00 Committee Meeting
4th Day: Sunday 21st February 2010
Morning
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Bontong Maratak” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Svay Rieng Province
Evening:
2:30 Lakhon Niayay, “Phkarik Ottong” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Ratanakiri province
5:00 Committee Meeting
5th Day Monday 22 February 2010
8:00 Lakhon Niayay “Kon Khos Heuy Me”performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Bay Len province
Evening
2:30 Lakhon Bassac “Tejo Meas” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kompong Thom province.
5:00 Committee Meeting
6th Day: Tuesday 23rd February 2010
Morning:
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Tondakam Chivit” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kompong Chnang Province
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Maratak Kon Ploh” performed by the Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Prey Veng Province
Evening:
2:30 Lakhon Bassac “Tip Sangva” performed by Bodyguard Unit.
5:00 Committee Meeting
7th Day: Wednesday 24th February 2010
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Tom Nuogn Phsot”performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kratie Province
2:30: Lakhon Bassac “Thnam Su Kom Heng Phop” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kompong Cham Province.
5:00 Committee Meeting
8th Day: Thursday 25th February 2010
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Khun Hluong Prah Stach Kon” performed by Bodyguard Unit
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Bandam Morakat” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Banteay Meanchey Province.
Evening:
2:30 Dance “Radovayattava Chor”performed by Khmer Art Institute
5:00 Committee Meeting.
9th Day: Friday 26 February 2010
8:00 Lakhon Bassac “Daravichhay Malay Sorya” performed by Department of Culture and Fine Arts, Kampot province
Evening
2:30 Lakhon Pleng Kar “Petibokleak” performed by Cambodian Living Arts
5:00 Committee Meeting
10th Day Saturday 27 February 2010
8:00 Lakhon Yike “Chab Cheab Kabbas” performed by Cambodian Living Arts
10:00 Lakhon Bassac “Preah Ko Bot Prah Sorya” Performed by Department of Culture and Fine Art, Kandal Province
Evening
2:30 Lakhon Sromol Sbek Thom “Sokkacha” performed by Sovanna Phum Art Association
5:00 Committee Meeting
11th Day: Sunday 28th February 2010
8:30 Lakhon Sbek Por “Prah Thin Vong Neng Prah Neang Pov”performed by Khok Thlok Art Association
10:00 Lakhon Sbaek “Bhuddho” performed by Khmer Amatak association
5:00 Committee meeting
* * *
Notice:
Monday 1st March 2010
Full day: The committee will open the meeting to evaluate all art presentations and classify the competitive results.
Tuesday 02 March 2010
Full day: Celebration on (upcoming?) National Cultural Day and pubulication of results of theatre performance
Wednesday 03 March 2010
Celebrate the National Cultural Day 03/03/2010
Closing Festival of National Khmer Theatrical Performance, presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen
Tags: cambodia,dance,khmer,theatre
This just in, the Festival is a competition of regional troupes and groups organized by the Ministry of Culture. This includes both independent and state-sponsored organisations. Apparently the schedule is changing by the day.
Featured prominently are Lakhon Bassac (12 performances), Lakhon Yike (6-7), traditional dance and Lakhon Niyay (Spoken Theatre). Khmer Arts Academy, Sovanna Phum, Phare Ponleu Selpak, and many others.
Coverage is on Southeast Asia FM 106 / SEATV
It seems prizes will be awarded for Bassac, Yike and possibly other art forms.
Update:
The Festival was opened by Sok An on 18 February.
Hun Sen will close it on 3 March, National Cultural Day.
The Festival/Contest is from 19 Feb through 28 February.
There are 28 productions from 27 institutions. Several prizes will be awarded for the best performers, evaluated by committee.
The schedule is changing daily, it is best to inquire at the theatre.
February 22, 2010:
- 08:00 Bassac opera, showed “Duong Keo Chevit”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Siem Reap province.
- 10:00 Bassac opera, showed “Techo Meas or Chumteav Sraend”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Kampong Thom province.
- 14:00 Lakhaon Neyeay (Spoken theater), showed “Kon Khos Hoey Mae”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Pailin province.
February 23, 2010:
- 08:00 Yike opera, showed “Toanakam Chevit”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Kampong Chhnang province.
- 10:00 Bassac opera, showed “Morodok Kon Phloh”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Prey Veng province.
- 14:00 Robam Roeung (Dance Theater), showed “Phchaob Nesai Sbay Kabas The”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Mondolkiri province.
February 24, 2010:
- 08:00 Yike opera, showed “Bantoang Ker”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Preah Vihear province.
- 10:00 Bassac opera, showed “Tumnuonh Phsaot”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Kratie province.
- 14:00 Bassac opera, showed “Thnam Suor Kamhaeng Phob”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Kampong Cham province.
February 25, 2010:
- 08:00 Yike opera, showed “Khun Luong Preah Sdech Kan”, by the artists of the Department of Guards of Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
- 10:00 Bassac opera, showed “Bandam Morodok”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Banteay Meanchey province.
- 14:00 Robam Roeung (Dance Theater), showed “Rodov Yeatra Char”, by the artists of Khmer Arts Academy.
February 26, 2010:
- 08:00 Bassac opera, showed “Dara Vichhay Malay Sorya”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Phnom Penh city.
- 10:00 Bassac opera, showed “Bandam Preahkor”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Kampot province.
February 27, 2010:
- 08:00 Yike opera, showed “Chab Cheab Kabah”, by the artists of Cambodian Living Arts.
- 10:00 Bassac opera, showed “Preah Kor Botr Botr Preah Sorya”, by the artists of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Kandal province.
- 14:00 Lakhaon Sbaek Thom (large shadow puppet), showed “Sokachak”, by the artists of Sovanna Phum Arts Association.
February 28, 2010:
- 08:00 Lakhoan Sbaek Por (color puppet theater), showed “Preah Thinvong Neang Pov”, by the artists of Kork Thloak Artist Association.
- 10:00 Lakhaon Seak (circus theater), showed “Puthoar”, by the artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak.
- 14:00 Lakhoan Neyeay (Spoken Theater), showed “Pethy Bok Leak”, by the artists of Cambodian Living Arts.
Thanks to friends in the arts community for impromptu unofficial translation.