Survival Games, A Science Performance

Bangkok--27 Nov--B-Floor Theatre ‘Survival Games’ : A Science Performance by B-Floor Theatrepresented by the Wellcome Collectionin collaboration with theMahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit A thrilling encounter between the worlds of contemporary art and science will be realized in “Survival Games,” a scientifically-inspired performance happening in mid-January 2013 in Thailand. Wellcome Collection (part of the Wellcome Trust, a UK-based global charitable foundation) has commissioned 6 artists-in-residence in 6 countries to produce artistic works inspired by local scientific research. One of them is B-Floor Theatre, Thailand’s vanguard contemporary theatre company, and their scientifically-inspired performance is titled “Survival Games.” After having investigated the work of malaria and melioidosis researchers at the Wellcome Trust Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), B-Floor will present their latest creation on the endless battle between humans and ever-mutating diseases driven by the survival instincts of both. ‘Survival Games’ is directed by Teerawat Mulvilai and Nana Dakin, two B-Floor directors with critically acclaimed works in and outside of Thailand, equipped with a cast of veteran stage performers, and joined by the innovative contemporary Thai shadow puppetry of The Wandering Moon troupe. ‘Survival Games’ will be performed at 8.00pm from January 10th -14th and 17th -21st, 2013 at Main Auditorium of Pridi Banomyong Institute in Soi Thonglor. Wellcome Collection is making all ten performances free of charge to the public. For reservations, contact B-Floor Theatre at 089 1674039 or email: [email protected]. More information at www.bfloortheatre.com, www.wellcomecollection.org/global *Notes* The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. It supports the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Trust's breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. It is independent of both political and commercial interests. www.wellcome.ac.uk Wellcome Collection, located in London, UK, explores the connections between medicine, life and art in the past, present and future. The building, part of the Wellcome Trust, comprises three gallery spaces, a public events programme, the Wellcome Library, a caf?, a bookshop, and a wide range of event spaces. The Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) is a well established and highly productive research collaboration between the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, the University of Oxford, and the Wellcome Trust (UK). The unit conducts world class research into some of the greatest threats to global health in the 21st century. The main research interests are the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology, pharmacology and treatment of infectious diseases throughout Asia and elsewhere in the developing world. www.tropmedres.ac B-Floor Theatre is Thailand’s vanguard physical theatre company distinguished for its use of performers’ body movements and visuals. In the past decade, B-Floor has been invited to perform in numerous art centers and festivals around the world. “Survival Games” is funded by the Wellcome Trust via its “Art in Global Health” project, and B-Floor has been given the opportunity to create the performance independently; the performance does not promote any particular organization. It will be a presentation from the artists’ point of view on what they have witnessed in the scientific world, in the form of a stage performance. For Immediate Release Interview with the Co-Directors of ‘Survival Games’ A Science Performance Teerawat Mulvilai and Nana Dakin Two directors from B-Floor Theatre “It's an amazing opportunity... to translate our discoveries into a stage performance... healthcare issues are based on a network that links countless people together from birth til death... ” Q : Since B-Floor Theatre was selected to represent Thai artists in this ‘Art in Global Health’ project, what do you think is interesting about it, and how does it challenge you? Nana: It's an amazing opportunity to learn about the world of tropical disease research and a great challenge to have to translate our discoveries into a stage performance. Teerawat: Previously when we wanted to create a performance, we used to always start with reading books or articles to find inspiration and information. But this time our process started very differently; we sought information and inspiration from original sources, interviewing scientists, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and patients affected by the diseases on the actual sites. We can't plan exactly how this project will turn out. Rather, it's a journey we have to take where we figure things out along the way. We have a total of 5 months to really go deep and focus on scientific and health issues that are quite alien to us - regular fans of B-Floor know that we usually address social and political issues more than anything else. Nana: Not only do we need to learn things that are new and quite alien to us, we need to find a way to perform this scientific data! We have to find a way to communicate it through visuals and movement and tell a story that reflects how this data relates to current social issues. This is a fascinating challenge. Teerawat: However, even with this project we’re still interested in finding its socio-political angles, because healthcare issues are based on a network that links countless people together from birth til death. It’s not just about humans and diseases - it’s about life and death and the management of both steered by larger organizations and structures. We’re starting to see that everything is interconnected, and hoping that science and its logic can change the world we live in to become a better and healthier place. If you know a disease, you’ll also know how to prevent and cure it. But the bigger question is: how do we get to know it at all, especially our 'societal illnesses'? What makes them grow? We have to work to get to know the diseases that hinder our society’s growth and development, so we can prevent it from causing harm, and find a treatment for it. Q : I understand there are 3 phases to this project: research, performance creation and rehearsal, and the actual performance. You have just completed the first phase and are now in rehearsal, is there anything you'd like to talk about in this regard? Nana: It was really exciting to be allowed into scientific and medical spaces during our research. I felt like I'd been allowed into some kind of secret world, and I felt lucky to have the chance to talk to people I would have never otherwise encountered. The people we encountered were diverse, from impressive scientific experts to ordinary farmers, and it was fascinating to listen to their experiences. It was also very inspiring because although we were meeting many kinds of people, we were finding connections between them, ourselves, and understanding how our lives relate to one another. The Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) works with several tropical diseases, but we've decided to focus on two which we found quite outstanding, which are Malaria and Melioidosis. Malaria has been around for a long time and has an efficient drug to treat it, but the disease is constantly in evolution and resistance to the latest anti-malarial drug is being spotted. Melioidosis is a fatal infectious disease caused by bacteria in the soil and water - and the northeast of Thailand has the highest incidence rate of infection in the world - yet it is virtually unknown to most Thais. Teerawat : Melioidosis happens to many farmers in the Northeast, especially in Ubon Ratchathani and Udonthani. It kills over 1,000 people a year, making it one of the top causes of death. It came to global attention when an American ex-soldier was found infected with Melioidosis that had been hidden in his body for over 60 years since the time of the Vietnam War. He supposedly inhaled the disease into his body, and it remained there until he became weak enough for it to manifest itself. Melioidosis was then nicknamed the “Vietnamese time-bomb.” I’m particularly interested in this because of its war backdrop. The US government has in fact listed in as a bioterror weapon. It also reminds me of the ancient folktale of Khom Dam Din (literally Khmer soil-diver) as well as a politician who kissed the earth after his plane landed. Another exciting feature of this disease is that it’s a wonderful imitator. You can have Melioidosis but mistake it for tuberculosis, diabetes, etc. — any number of things which could cause a doctor to give you the wrong diagnosis and prescriptions. I’m amazed by the disease’s prolonged survival and its low-profile nature. As of now the most endemic places to find Melioidosis are in Northeastern Thailand and Northern Australia. One theory is that these two pieces of land used to be connected and were later separated because of plate tectonics. Meanwhile, the disease lived quietly in the soil until an unlucky man walked into it and picked it up. That’s how I think it earned the title ‘Time-bomb.’ Nana: We are interested in creating a performance that can encompass these stories that we are uncovering and encountering in this project - the stories of the diseases, the patients, and the scientists. We see each of these three groups evolving in relation to one another, and each one struggling for the right to carry on and remain alive. Q : There will be 10 performances of ‘Survival Games’, and thanks to the Wellcome Collection it will be free of charge to the public. Apart from your regular fans, who else would you like to come see this performance, and why? Nana: Our regular B-Floor fans are typically creative and culturally minded professionals, who could be considered privileged because of their education or their experiences. They see the value of art as a medium that can generate exchanges of experiences, opinions, attitudes, knowledge and concerns. But for the majority of Bangkokians this is not the case. I think many people feel that neither art nor science are things that connect to their everyday lives, or that they are too difficult for "normal" people to understand. I know I felt that way about science when I was growing up, and I was never very good at science in school. But I do remember every once in a while being drawn in by what a teacher was saying when it was presented to me as a story - the story of a plant, the story of the universe… these stories were things I could be enthralled by. I hope that we can succeed in drawing everyday people in to watch and experience a story they can connect to. *Note* ”Art in Global Health” is six artist residencies in six countries. Each artist conducts a study on the works by researchers in a Wellcome Trust-funded research centre in their country of residence, and will present their findings in the form of a creative work to communicate with the audience/ viewers. www.wellcomecollection.org/global - Mirium Syowia Kyambi and James Muriuki will present their research findings on the works by the Kemri — Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya. - Elson Kumbula will present his research findings on the works by the Malawi —Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme in Malawi. - Zwelethu Mthethwa will present his research findings on the works by the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies in South Africa. - Lena Bui will present her research findings on the works by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam. - Katie Paterson will present her research findings on the works by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the UK. - B-Floor Theatre will present their research findings on the works by the Wellcome Trust Mahidol University — Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Thailand. ‘Survival Games’ will be performed at 8.00pm from January 10th -14th and 17th -21st, 2013 at Main Auditorium of Pridi Banomyong Institute in Soi Thonglor. Wellcome Collection is making all ten performances free of charge to the public. For reservations, contact B-Floor Theatre at 089 1674039 or email: [email protected]. More information at www.bfloortheatre.com, www.wellcomecollection.org/global