Pieces of Them

DIRECTOR’SNOTES ����

KerenChaukria ��

Toyou, Whydoyouwatchtheatre?Whatisitabouta theatricalexperiencethatasksyoutokeep comingback?Isittheideaofescapingyour realityandenteringaspacewhereyoucan observeanotherperson'sworld?ThequestionI askmyself….Isitenoughtobeabystanderin theworldsthatweobserve?Howdowebegin connectingtheseworldstogetherinorderfor ustotrulyunderstandanother'sexperience? Howdowebegintobeapartofwhatwewatch? Howdoweawakenapartofusthatwenever knewexisted?Andintheendwhatwillallofthis mean?

Theprocessofcreationisajourneythatyouwill choosetoembarkon,ajourneyofself reflection,oftruthandexploration.What happenswhenyouchoosetoimmerseyourself intotheprocess?Whatwillyoudiscoverinthe worldsthatarebeingcreatedandhowwill thoseideasbetransported?Immersivetheatre willhelpyoubreakthoseboundariesas performersandasobservers,itistimeforyou tobreakthenormsofwhatitmeanstobea spectatorbyallowingyourselftotruly participateintheexperienceofeverchanging worlds.

Lepage,apractitionerfromQuebec,choosesto approachtheatreinaplayfulway,playing games,childhoodfavorites,anddevelopswork throughaprocessofcollaboration,seeking alternativeformsofstorytellingforthose dissatisfiedwithlinearnarratives.Couldthisbe yourmomenttoplay?Areyoudissatisfiedwith thenarrativethathasbeenpassedontoyou?

Thejourneystartedfor‘them’whentheydecidedto letgo,whentheybegantoplay.Piecesofthem begantounfoldineachmomenttheychosetolet go,ineachmomenttheybegantoquestionandin eachmomenttheyopenedthemselvestoreflect.

Haveyoueverthoughtaboutwhatitmeanstobe human?Imeanreallythoughtaboutwhatitmeans tobehuman?Piecesofthemdid….theywantedto knowwhatthepasthadcreated,whatthepresent wascreatingandwhatthefuturewantedtocreate. Humanbehaviorisfascinatingright?GeckoTheatre saiditbestwhentheyfocusedontheextraordinary challengingjourneysthatweexperienceas humans.Using“multiplelanguagesintheworkand tellinguniversalstoriesthroughmovementand emotion,sound,lightingandsetdesign,allowing peoplefromallbackgroundsandnationalitiesto accesswork.”Transcendingthebarrieroflanguage, geographicallocationandtime?Isthatpossible?A pieceofthemneededtotry…Apieceofthem wantedtobuildanemotionalnarrativesothey couldexperiencehowwetrulyunderstandthe storieswearetold,thestorieswebelongtoandthe storieswewillpassdown.Oratleastour perspectiveofthem.Doesapieceofyouwanttodo thattoo?

Sowhatdidtheydiscover?Apartofmealmost wantsmetohidethetruthfromyousoyoucantruly goonthejourneyyourself,blindtoanyprejudgements,orperspectivesbutthatwouldbetoo muchofamazeforyoutofigureout.Let'sfaceit, whygothroughthatmazealonewhenwecango throughittogether?Imeanliterally…

Soareyouready?Areyoureadyforthisjourneyto begin?Areyoureadytoembarkonanadventure becausetruthfullythisadventurehasalready begun.Ifyouareready,thenImusttellyouthis,get readytoplay.Thisisn'twhatyoumightexpectbutI supposeitisintheunexpectedthatwetendtofind beautyinlife.

Haveanopenheartasyouenter,bereadytoask questions,youarenolongerabystanderitistime foryoutoexploreandbeapartoftheever changingworldswecreatearoundus.

Youwereapartofthisstorythemomentyoumade thechoice….

MichelleWang

Eversinceayoungage,Michellehasalwaysviewed theaterashersafespace.Asaresultofstarringin multipleproductionssuchas Matilda, Annie,and Hairspray!,shebecamethefounderofan organizationnamed MindofArts alongsidethe UnitedNationsInstituteofTrainingandResearch FoundedinNovember2021,Michelle'sorganization aimstoboostyouth'sconfidenceandpublic speakingskillsthroughperformingarts,whereshe conductsfrequenttheatricalworkshopsessionsfor youthaged13andbelow.Throughherexperiences workingwithyoungerchildren,aswellasherpeers intheHLIBDPTheatercourse,shehopestocontinue learningfromothersanddevelopmeaningful connectionsthatwilllastalifetime. PiecesofThem is Michelle'sdebutperformancefortheDPProduction.

StacyisaG11TheatreHLstudentwhohasbeen actingsinceshewas9yearsold.Shelovedbeingon stageeversinceshecouldremember,andjoined manyperformancesinschool.Shehasactedin schoolproductionssuchas SeussicalJr,The PhantomTollbooth, Hairspray, BugsyMalone,and more.HerfavouriterolewouldbeFizzy,ahopeless dancerwannabe,from BugsyMalone.Theatreand theperformingartshaveallowedStacytofind comfort,exploringareasoflifethatshehasnever touchedon,aswellasreflectingandlookingonward onherlifeandwhoshecreatedherselftobe.Stacy hopestocontinuetopursueherpassionfor performingartsinthefuture,dabblinginactingeven aftergraduation.

JillianChanfoundherpassionforperformingata veryyoungage,whensheenrolledinvariousdance, singingandactingclasses.Inrecentyears,shehas developedakeeninterestintheatre,especially musicaltheatre.Inandoutsideofschool,Jillianhas participatedinmultiplemusicalproductions, including BugsyMalone, Hairspray!, Cats!,andmost recentlystarringintheHKYAFtheatreproduction, I’m perfect.Theatreandtheperformingartshavegiven hermanyopportunities,mostimportantlyallowing hertobecomeamoreconfidentandopen-minded individual.AsanHLstudentintheIBDPTheatre course,shewillcontinueworkinghard,collaborating withherpeers,steppingoutofhercomfortzone,and pursuingherpassioninperformingarts. Piecesof Them isJillian'sdebutperformancefortheDP Production.

Myleighhasbeenpassionateabouttheperforming artsfromtheageof12yearsold.Shehasappeared inmanyproductionssuchasthePhantomTollbooth andAnnie.Herfavouriterolesofarwasplayingthe CharacteroftheBoylansisterinAnnie,whereshe hadtheopportunitytosingonstage.Myleighsays herfavouritepartofbeingintheproductionis;being abletocollaboratewithherpeerstocreateworkthat ismeaningfultoher.AsacommittedstudentintheIB Theatrecourse,Myleighwillcontinuetoexploreher passionforTheatre.