Food for thought
Lilliput Theatre – The Company
Lilliput theatre was born in 1975 out of the vision of two artists, actor Tony Hall and dancer Noble Douglas, who were driven to use the performing arts as a medium to stimulate young people’s creative energy, and to build their character, self confidence and self esteem. The theatre company has evolved its own techniques and exercises that are deftly employed to create drama and tell stories in novel ways, scripted by the young thespians themselves. The end result is abstract, innovative and thought-provoking productions with intricately woven scripts of drama, dance and costuming. Under the guidance of artistic director, Noble Douglas, drama director, Wendell Manwarren and costume designer, Merylle Mahabir, Lilliput offers drama instruction to children aged 7 to 18 and training in contemporary modern dance to children aged 3 to 18. Lilliput provides youth with a forum for self exploration and expression, to channel their imagination while nurturing a love, respect and discipline for the craft and tradition of the performing arts and the creative process.
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
The Poem, by Merylle Mahabir.
The Emperor had a Vision
said, "I need something new!",
He got a fancy new Tailor,
and a fancy house too.
Then Empire State buildings
new boats and a plane
to wear his new clothes in,
we know it's insane.
The Emperor's New Yes Friends
say "the Clothes looking fine!"
but there's nothing to see,
are they deaf, dumb and blind?
We all see that he's naked;
is he going mad?
And he spends all our money,
it is mad, bad and sad.
The Emperor's New Clothes
are outrageous, expensive,
but there will be a parade and
we're creative, inventive.
We took a page from Pierrot:
cut old curtains and lace,
put on a straw hat
and made up our face.
With dames, baby Dolls
though our costumes are scant
Saga boys, Devils, Imps
don't tell us we can't.
The Nation's not safe now,
so just as a surety,
Lilliput walks with Stick-fighters
for our own Band Security.
Fireworkx!
Crack, Snapple and Rock
Saturday, April 26, 2008
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES
Lilliput Theatre Calls Us To Introspection
April 28, 2008 – Port of Spain, Trinidad…Lilliput Theatre will premiere its interpretation of The Emperor’s New Clothes at Queen’s Hall beginning Friday May 16, 2008 and running throughout the weekend. In their re-presentation of this classic tale, the young thespians emphasise the relevance of the tale’s metaphor to Trinidad and Tobago’s present political and societal landscape.
This year, Trinidad and Tobago’s political environment deeply inspired the artist and designer, Merylle Mahabir, in her conceptualisation of the theme for Lilliput’s 2008 thought-provoking production. “The original story echoes what is going on in the country. I wanted to do something that highlights the complicity and the follow-fashion mentality of the people not just ‘The Emperor’ in the big con. It seemed really apt and inevitable that we do this,” muses the artist. The Lilliputians were charged with creating theatre out of Mahabir’s conceptual designs which first came to life in the streets during Lilliput’s 2008 Junior Carnival portrayal.
Mahabir’s desire to make her art socially and environmentally conscious led her to look back to traditional costume design. In the costuming there are historical references from very different periods combined with influences from Trinidad and Tobago’s traditional mas characters. The designer created fancy yet economic costumes reflecting those of the Pierrot, Dames, Baby Dolls, Saga Boys, Devils and Imps. “There is a kind of not-quite-covered-up feeling although they dress to impress. Between the loosely spaced strips of fabric, one can see their 'underwear'. Their real story,” she says.
Lilliput Theatre teaches theatre to children aged 7 to 18 and dance to children aged 3 to 18. It was founded in 1975 and encourages self-confidence through the challenge of theatre, game play and imagination. The theatre’s production team is led by the founder, artistic director, producer and choreographer, Noble Douglas and the director, Wendell Manwarren.
Juxtaposing rising concerns for indiscriminate government spending with growing complacency in society, Lilliput’s 2008 production is well timed. In the words of the director, “In signature Lilliputian style, the play is not for those who want all the answers…rather it stimulates one to think and read between the lines.”
WHO: Lilliput Theatre
WHEN: Friday May 16, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday May 17, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday May 18, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Queen’s Hall, St. Anns, Port of Spain
TICKETS: $80 adults/$60 children
Crosby’s Music Centre, St. James or students of Lilliput Theatre
For more information, please contact:
Liza Miller, Director of Public Relations, Caribbean
Estuary Public Relations
Phone: (868) 761-1195
Email: liza@estuarypr.com
http://www.estuarypr.com/
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Craig Venter is on the verge of creating synthetic life
TED Talks
Can we create new life out of our digital universe?" asks Craig Venter. And his answer is, yes, and pretty soon. He walks the TED2008 audience through his latest research into "fourth-generation fuels" -- biologically created fuels with CO2 as their feedstock. His talk covers the details of creating brand-new chromosomes using digital technology, the reasons why we would want to do this, and the bioethics of synthetic life. A fascinating Q&A with TED's Chris Anderson follows (two words: suicide genes).
Oojami summer gigs!!
17th May - Kortrijk, Belgium - www.kokopellifestival.be
26th May - Loughborough - UK1st June - Sunrise festival - UK
7th June - White Mischief - London, UK
13/14 June - BDSS, DJ set - Blackpool, UK
15 June - Amsterdam Roots Festival
11 July - Wales, UK
13 July - The big Weekend Festival - Cambridge, UK
24th August - Solfest, UK
Shizuka Minami
Shizuka Minami 
Shizuka Minami was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1979. She studied aerodynamics and holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Tokai University. In 2003, she moved to New York to pursue a career in photography. She attended the International Center of Photography : Documentary Photography and Photojournalism Program in 2005. She is a member of PHaT Photo's Photographers in 2008.
She is passionate about festivals, carnivals and music performances and has photographed them around the world.
Exhibitions/Actions:
Veras Images Exhibition Canon Open Gallery in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, 2007
Friends Without a Border's Friends of Friends Photography AuctionNew York, USA, 2006
Slideluck Potshow 7 - theme 'Energy' New York, USA, November 2006
The School at the International Center of PhotographyNew York, USA, 2005
Shizuka is currently in Trinidad.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Liza Miller, Director of Public Relations, Caribbean
Estuary Public Relations
Phone: (868) 761-1195
Email: liza@estuarypr.com
Local Trini Juke - UNDERGROUND
Wireforkx
Lizament
Model...Juss Natural