THE COURAGEOUS TURTLE New theatre for Cambodia’s young generation, promoted by SMART
For over a quarter of a century, the Cambodian people have waited for justice. The on-going Khmer Rouge tribunal at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) aims to provide justice to the Cambodian people, those who died and those who survived. But the trials are also for a new generation – to educate Cambodia’s youth about the darkest chapter in Cambodia’s recent history.
However, surveys show that too few students are genuinely interested. Many of them would rather enjoy a modernized Cambodia and put the past behind them. Even if teachers broach the subject in class, students often ignore it. To counter this worrying trend the “Cambodian-German Cultural Association” (KDKG e.V.), Meta House and its NGO partners “Youth for Peace” and “Khmer Arts Action” are conducting an innovative school theatre project THE COURAGEOUS TURTLE with funding from the German “Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen” (IFA).
NICO MESTERHARM (Meta House): “For the first time in Cambodia, theatre in schools is used as an educational tool. It is widely understood, that the arts have the ability to create change and impact lives. Arts integration fuels creative thinking, and research shows that students are more fully engaged in learning when the arts are used as teaching tools.
The turtle only makes progress if it sticks out its neck. The narrative of the theatre play THE COURAGEOUS TURTLE follows Cambodian high school student Panha, who finds out about his family history by coincidence. Moreover, a pet turtle teaches him important lessons about how to cope with insecurity and injustice. Only two actors tell an engaging story with many characters in around 45 minutes, using different costumes and a few props within a simple classroom setting. With young people in the age group 10-24 comprising 36% of the population, Cambodia has the youngest population in Southeast Asia. Written by female playwright and short film director Sokyou Chea (30), THE COURAGEOUS TURTLE speaks the language of Cambodia’s new generation. It encourages students to talk with victims of the regime and to promote reconciliation. It’s about tolerance and the pressing need for civil courage.
Thomas Hundt, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Axiata: The integration of live performing theatre play and education is truly a new, fascinating and engaging art of learning. It is a fresh idea where creativity and key messages are combined to entertain and educate young Cambodians. Education is and will always be a significant pillar for the country’s further development and Smart is committed to contribute to this progressive movement of the education in Cambodia. Smart is a long term partner of Meta House and yet we are extremely excited to present this new intriguing theatre for Cambodia’s youth.
SOKYOU CHEA (Playwright): “THE COURAGEOUS TURTLE is not a Cambodian history lesson; I’m not a historian. If anything, this play is about contemporary Cambodia. The play is a dramatization of how we can learn from the past to build a better today and tomorrow for ourselves and for our country. The past that we refer to in the story is the Khmer Rouge era, the darkest years in modern Cambodian history. It still leaves its legacy even today. What we want the audience to take from the story, is that the fate of a country relies on every individual in society. When we are on the right track, it will lead us to prosperity. And one of the ways to start that is to promote moral/civil courage in the community and in the world in which we live.”
Cambodian culture experienced a deep and devastating blow during the terrible years of the Khmer Rouge regime. Performing arts were banned and artists, artisans, dancers and musicians were targeted. To contribute to the revival of the Cambodian art and film scene, Cambodia’s first independent cultural centre, Meta House was established in January 2007 in the capital Phnom Penh. It actively supports Cambodian artists and students to promote the development of contemporary arts and media, through local and international exhibitions, regular film screenings, workshops, community-based projects, artist exchange programs and by fostering links with galleries, curators, non-governmental/governmental organizations, as well as South-East Asian and international universities. It also hosts dance, theatre and music events, and provides space for meaningful public events, workshops and seminars by national and international NGOs. The international NGO “Cambodian-German Cultural Association” (KDKG e.V.) is the umbrella organization of Meta House. More: www.meta-house.com
Youth for Peace (YfP), established in 1999, is well known for its unique participatory and consultative approach in engaging youth to find peaceful sol