M1 Singapore Fringe Festival: THOM PAIN (based on nothing)
A play that probes the significance of what we often dismiss as trivial in our daily lives, Will Eno’s “THOM PAIN (based on nothing)” promises an insightful exploration of the ordinary through theatre & dance at M1 Singapore Fringe Festival…
Image credit: Crispian Chan
Directed by Edith Podesta & choreographed by Yarra Ileto, the piece showcases dance & acting students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts' BA (Hons) Performance Making programme. Reflecting on what initially captivated her about the play, Podesta says, "I was drawn to both the celebration of the mundane, lost love, and the poetic ode to childhood grief in the script."
Image credit: Crispian Chan
Since THOM PAIN (based on nothing)’s debut in 2004, Eno’s play remains a timeless search for meaning amidst life's chaotic whirlwind. Thom, a man facing an existential crisis, uses biting humour to muse on the trials of lost innocence, desire & disappointment. Thom is an unpredictable narrator; his storytelling is fragmented & non-linear, drawing the audience in to explore the blurred lines between reality & illusion…
Image credit: Crispian Chan
This adaptation’s interdisciplinary approach unveils nuanced layers in the storyline, unravelling the intricacies of Thom's psyche & accentuating the script's surreal elements. "As a director, it's been such a pleasure to be able to pull from such a wide and diverse storytelling palette”, Podesta tells us, “Yarra’s choreographic work has brought together the strengths of both [dance & theatre] disciplines, with the dancers able to physicalize emotions, relationships, and narrative nuances."
Image credit: Crispian Chan
As Edith describes the tapestry the team has weaved together to bring THOM PAIN to life, we picture a kaleidoscopic portrait that vividly captures the complexities of the human experience. The performers embody various facets of Thom's personality & emotions, past and present, creating what Podesta describes as a complex tableau of “the wandering, the shallow, the focused, the inner child, and the hopeful — [all] on stage simultaneously as Thom Pain deconstructs his experiences and extracts his regrets and wrong turns.”
The play’s contemplation of authentic human bonds is mirrored by the cast’s cross-disciplinary collaboration. Podesta says, "[The devising process] resulted in wonderful moments of camaraderie and cooperation, as well as disagreements or differences in understanding among these diverse aspects of [Thom’s] externalised selves." With such heady themes, this play promises to transcend the confines of the stage…
Grab your tickets for Thom Pain's performance from January 18th to 21st at the NAFA Studio Theatre.
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