- Duration is 60 minutes without intermission.
- All ages.
Performed in Khmer without surtitles.
The performance contains smoke, loud noises & music and strobe lights, please be aware of the situation if you have children.
【2022 Weiwuying Circus Platform】 Phare the Cambodian Circus - Influence
© YouTube(Phare, The Cambodian Circus)
Influence mixes drama, circus, and puppetry to explore struggles for power and survival: survival of the fittest. From primordial organisms battling in pre-historic jungles to an ancient king being manipulated by external forces or a runner tripping his competitors to win a race, all seek to triumph. The characters of Influence dominate and are dominated, trick and are tricked, but ultimately discover their strength and find a unique place in the world.
Influence is one of the latest creations by Phare Ponleu Selpak, with funding support from UNESCO and the European Union as part of a professional arts development project. The artists, musicians, and their teachers have come up with a powerful, theatrical drama about a contemporary social issue, survival of the fittest and struggle for power, that is on track to become a top Phare production.
"From Existence to Emptiness" represents the wisdom of Buddhism for the Four States of Phenomena in the Principle of Physics: Formation, Existence, Destruction, and Emptiness.
In reality, nobody and nothing is permanent. If we truly realize this truth, we will treasure every moment. Without holding on to permanence, we can find peace and happiness.
Creative and Production Team
Producer|Det KHUON
Staging collaboration|Elsa De WITTE, Agathe OLIVIER, Antoine RIGOT
Stage assistant|Chamroeun KHUONTHAN
Music creation|Vanthan LY
Circus performers|Vimean KONG, Hoeub HOEUT, Ratha NGET, Sienglong AOK, Chanda CHHUON, Chanrachana SREY, Makara VIN
Musicians|Sophat KANN, Makara LY
Artists Introduction
Det KHUON
In 1972, Det KHUON was born in a rural family in Battambang, Cambodia. At the time, the civil war was raging and was soon followed by the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and his murderous organization, the Khmer Rouge. At a young age, Det fled to a vast refugee camp on the border of Thailand to escape the atrocities. He lived there until the age of 22. It was the "survival of the fittest" in the chaotic camp environment, so he learned martial arts to defend himself. In addition to practising combat techniques and gymnastics, Det participated in drawing workshops offered to child refugees. His experiences led him and a group of friends to create Phare Ponleu Selpak (the brightness of the arts), intending to help youth in his situation overcome the trauma of war. Upon his return to Cambodia in 1992, he took an internship at the National Circus School of Phnom Penh, primarily focusing on learning teaching skills. As founder of Phare Ponleu Selpak in 1994, he founds the circus school in 1998 and stages many of its productions. Det wrote and directed the show Influence working with Elsa DE WITTE, Agathe OLIVIER and Antoine RIGOT and assisted by Chamroeun KHOUNTHAN.
Teams Introduction
Phare the Cambodian Circus
Phare, The Cambodian Circus, opened its doors in February 2013 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Its mission is to create job opportunities for graduates of the circus, music, and visual art programs at Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school in Battambang and to give back nearly 75% of its profit to support the school programming. Phare, the Cambodian Circus, performs nightly at its venue with additional afternoon shows during the high season. It has been seen by more than one hundred thousand people, and its productions have also toured extensively across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the U.S.A..
Phare, The Cambodian Circus' shows are inspired by the real-life experiences of its creators and performers and deal with themes such as war, discrimination, relationships, poverty, and ghosts. CNN media praises "Phare is no ordinary circus, but an edgy, alternative, down-to-earth, all-singing-and-dancing Cambodian circus in the tradition of Cirque du Soleil."
Phare Ponleu Selpak
Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) or "The Brightness of the Arts" is an innovative community-based Non-profit-school founded in 1994 by nine young Cambodians and their French arts therapy teacher who returned to their country after spending their childhood in the refugee camps at the Thai border. The school helps children from difficult socio-economic backgrounds dealing with issues like poverty, homelessness, human trafficking and death of parents reintegrate into society through education, culture and arts. The artistic training offered by PPS has been found to aid concentration, communication and creative thinking skills, thus vastly improving the choices available to them as they reach adulthood.
PPS is a springboard for a new generation of Cambodians, especially Cambodian artists. Today, Phare Ponleu Selpak has grown dramatically. The organization now revitalizing Cambodian arts and culture through performing and visual arts classes, education, and social support. Everyday these programs are provided to over 1000 students in Battambang and 800 families in three target communes receive social follow-ups by the organization.
Special Thank
【2022 Weiwuying Circus Platform】 Phare the Cambodian Circus - Influence
© YouTube(Phare, The Cambodian Circus)
Influence mixes drama, circus, and puppetry to explore struggles for power and survival: survival of the fittest. From primordial organisms battling in pre-historic jungles to an ancient king being manipulated by external forces or a runner tripping his competitors to win a race, all seek to triumph. The characters of Influence dominate and are dominated, trick and are tricked, but ultimately discover their strength and find a unique place in the world.
Influence is one of the latest creations by Phare Ponleu Selpak, with funding support from UNESCO and the European Union as part of a professional arts development project. The artists, musicians, and their teachers have come up with a powerful, theatrical drama about a contemporary social issue, survival of the fittest and struggle for power, that is on track to become a top Phare production.
"From Existence to Emptiness" represents the wisdom of Buddhism for the Four States of Phenomena in the Principle of Physics: Formation, Existence, Destruction, and Emptiness.
In reality, nobody and nothing is permanent. If we truly realize this truth, we will treasure every moment. Without holding on to permanence, we can find peace and happiness.
Creative and Production Team
Producer|Det KHUON
Staging collaboration|Elsa De WITTE, Agathe OLIVIER, Antoine RIGOT
Stage assistant|Chamroeun KHUONTHAN
Music creation|Vanthan LY
Circus performers|Vimean KONG, Hoeub HOEUT, Ratha NGET, Sienglong AOK, Chanda CHHUON, Chanrachana SREY, Makara VIN
Musicians|Sophat KANN, Makara LY
Artists Introduction
Det KHUON
In 1972, Det KHUON was born in a rural family in Battambang, Cambodia. At the time, the civil war was raging and was soon followed by the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and his murderous organization, the Khmer Rouge. At a young age, Det fled to a vast refugee camp on the border of Thailand to escape the atrocities. He lived there until the age of 22. It was the "survival of the fittest" in the chaotic camp environment, so he learned martial arts to defend himself. In addition to practising combat techniques and gymnastics, Det participated in drawing workshops offered to child refugees. His experiences led him and a group of friends to create Phare Ponleu Selpak (the brightness of the arts), intending to help youth in his situation overcome the trauma of war. Upon his return to Cambodia in 1992, he took an internship at the National Circus School of Phnom Penh, primarily focusing on learning teaching skills. As founder of Phare Ponleu Selpak in 1994, he founds the circus school in 1998 and stages many of its productions. Det wrote and directed the show Influence working with Elsa DE WITTE, Agathe OLIVIER and Antoine RIGOT and assisted by Chamroeun KHOUNTHAN.
Teams Introduction
Phare the Cambodian Circus
Phare, The Cambodian Circus, opened its doors in February 2013 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Its mission is to create job opportunities for graduates of the circus, music, and visual art programs at Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school in Battambang and to give back nearly 75% of its profit to support the school programming. Phare, the Cambodian Circus, performs nightly at its venue with additional afternoon shows during the high season. It has been seen by more than one hundred thousand people, and its productions have also toured extensively across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the U.S.A..
Phare, The Cambodian Circus' shows are inspired by the real-life experiences of its creators and performers and deal with themes such as war, discrimination, relationships, poverty, and ghosts. CNN media praises "Phare is no ordinary circus, but an edgy, alternative, down-to-earth, all-singing-and-dancing Cambodian circus in the tradition of Cirque du Soleil."
Phare Ponleu Selpak
Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) or "The Brightness of the Arts" is an innovative community-based Non-profit-school founded in 1994 by nine young Cambodians and their French arts therapy teacher who returned to their country after spending their childhood in the refugee camps at the Thai border. The school helps children from difficult socio-economic backgrounds dealing with issues like poverty, homelessness, human trafficking and death of parents reintegrate into society through education, culture and arts. The artistic training offered by PPS has been found to aid concentration, communication and creative thinking skills, thus vastly improving the choices available to them as they reach adulthood.
PPS is a springboard for a new generation of Cambodians, especially Cambodian artists. Today, Phare Ponleu Selpak has grown dramatically. The organization now revitalizing Cambodian arts and culture through performing and visual arts classes, education, and social support. Everyday these programs are provided to over 1000 students in Battambang and 800 families in three target communes receive social follow-ups by the organization.
Special Thank
- Duration is 60 minutes without intermission.
- All ages.
Performed in Khmer without surtitles.
The performance contains smoke, loud noises & music and strobe lights, please be aware of the situation if you have children.