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Weiwuying and Théâtre de la Ville Co-produce Kusomo and His Bali Mynah, a Drama Based on a True Story that Explores Human Values
Kusomo and His Bali Mynah, co-produced by the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) and Théâtre de la Ville, has been dubbed “the family drama most suitable for children to watch with their parents in the first half of 2020.” The show presents the courage that a boy develops during his maturation process in the form of a modern fairy tale, inviting the audience to ponder the issue of becoming refugees following climate change. The show is performed in the Weiwuying Recital Hall on Feb. 16 (Sun.) at 10:30, 13:30, and 16:30.
Kusomo and His Bali Mynah tells the story a young Indonesian refugee traveling to Australia following a tsunami. Kusomo stands out among the refugees because he always carries a Bali mynah on his shoulder. Kusomo grew up with this Bali mynah, and the two have become inseparable. Although Australian authorities take great care of Kusomo and the Bali mynah in the beginning, an animal protection association shows up one day, taking away the Bali mynah. To make matters worse, Kusomo is deported back to Indonesia.
Lin Chia-hui, the deputy administrative director of Weiwuying, stated that “Weiwuying and Théâtre de la Ville co-produce this meaningful story to address the universal issues of human rights, animal rights, and climate change and to show the audience the courage required to grow. Since 2018, Kusomo and His Bali Mynah has been performed in public primary schools in Paris. This year, it will premier in Asia to encourage Taiwanese children to self-reflect as well as understand and care about what is happening to their country following globalization.”
Kusomo and His Bali Mynah is based on the historical event of Tunisians smuggling to Europe in search of development opportunities following the Tunisian Revolution. The audience is presented the issues of human rights and values, the friendship between a man and a bird, and the courage needed for one to grow.
Yang Yi-lin, the director of Kusomo and His Bali Mynah, noted that “The lesson behind this fairy tale is the building of self-confidence. As people grow, they must learn to be independent; stop relying on others; and step out of their comfort zones. Losing his Bali mynah brought Kusomo great sorrow. However, the loss of his guardian angel provided Kusomo an opportunity to grow and mature.”