Created in 2024 by 10 Cambodian artists from Phare Circus, Chokepoint is a committed circus show that denounces plastic pollution, a global scourge that is particularly devastating in Cambodia. Combining artistic performance with an environmental message, it illustrates humanity's dependence on plastic and its disastrous consequences for the planet and its ecosystems.
Through a variety of circus techniques (acrobatics, juggling, Chinese mat, aerial hooping...), the artists explore the paradoxes of plastic: a seductive material that enhances human capabilities while at the same time hindering them. The costumes, designed from recycled plastic, symbolize this duality, being both dazzling and oppressive.
The aesthetic of the show evolves towards an invaded, suffocating world, where the all-powerful plastic ends up deforming, compressing and dehumanizing bodies. A blend of humor, poetry and physical performance, Chokepoint questions our addiction to plastic and our ability to escape it before reaching a point of no return.
Stage direction: Bonthoeun Houn, Sabine Collardey & Julien Clément
Composer: Sothea Ly
Acrobatic vision: Abdeliazide Senhadji
Costumes: Koemyean Hin & Collectif Tepsyort
Production: Xavier Gobin & Ratha Ya
Circus performers: Kanha Chuob, Sithang Hok, Sopheap Houn, Ratanaksombath Mony, Sreyleak Nov, Phearum Pay & Pouch Prep
Musicians: Monyreaksmey Kong, Sothea Ly & Ratanak Gnam
Phare Circus is no ordinary circus; it's a captivating blend of live art with a social mission, attracting physical theater enthusiasts and travelers alike to its nightly performances under its big top in Siem Reap, nestled near the enchanting temples of Angkor.
At the heart of the Phare circus is a remarkable story of hope, resilience and empowerment. The troupe is made up of 60 talented artists, all graduates of the NGO Phare Ponleu Selpak “The Light of the Arts”, which trains diverse talents in circus arts, theater, dance, music and visual arts. They are supported on a daily basis by 50 dedicated staff, from technicians to hospitality, production, finance, marketing and communications teams.
What makes the Phare circus truly extraordinary is the unwavering commitment of its artists, many of whom have lived through the same issues addressed in their shows. Whether it's economic hardship, discrimination, domestic violence, civil war trauma, cultural conflict, abuse of power, confrontation with mystical beliefs, or the disastrous consequences of plastic pollution, these artists draw on their life experiences to evoke authentic emotions in their audiences. What unfolds before our eyes in Phare Circus shows is a testament to optimism and resilience in the face of adversity, a celebration of the triumph of community over negativism.
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