Abstract
January began with an explosion of a long-time dormant Taal volcano. It was necessary to wear masks when going outside. The environment was a threat to one’s health. March, lockdown due to COVID-19 began – no intercity travels, work from home, no person-to-person teaching and learning in schools, no travels. Quarantine. Being with others seems a threat to ones survival; social media noise consumes the silence of each mind; and yet, instantaneous online communication adds up to feelings of isolation. After 7 months (and counting) of lockdown; 343, 000 still rising COVID-19 cases; and 4.6M unemployed Filipinos, theatre must continue – through knowing, understanding and exploring stories, voices and movements of cultures despite the obliged physical distancing. In these trying times, in the absence of the physical stage and live performances, theatre curtains opened a new platform of opportunity. As Filipino artists, and resilient life learners, a challenge to share stories that inspire and move people to action through different technological devices to a wider audience has been posted – a smaller screen but a bigger stage. This is a phenomenological paper of Filipino Theatre and Live Events artists who continuously thrive and innovate doing and experiencing theatre, in different platforms, to narrow the gaps of misunderstanding and to pave the way to a culture of vigilance, peace, and compassion.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2021 Special Focus - Voices from the Edge: Negotiating the Local in the Global
KEYWORDS
Theatre, Lockdown, COVID-19, On-Screen Performances
