Myanmar Projects

"This is something very new and interesting. We need this in Myanmar." 
– Ye Mon, Professor at Yangon University, Myanmar
We are partnering with Thukhuma Khayeethe (Art Travelers), one of the only theatre troupes that dares to perform contemporary theatre, to train artists in social theatre methods and their practical applications for community education and social empowerment.

Project Donors

Project Partners

  • Thukhuma Khayeethe
  • Gitameit Music School

Volpone

In February of 2012, the ensembles began training in the classic physical style of Commedia Dell’Arte. Our Burmese partners were fascinated by the humor and saw many similarities to the archetypes in classical Burmese theatre. We chose to adapt Ben Johnson’s Volpone for modern performance in English and Burmese. Act 1 was performed with great success, and we look forward to creating Act 2.

We’ll be headed back in the Spring of 2013 to continue solidifying their theatrical programming, doing more performances and further developing our production.

History & Projects

Working in Myanmar since 2009, Bond Street Theatre is committed to Thukhuma Khayeethe, a group of socially conscious, contemporary theatre makers in Yangon.  We stay in touch with Thila Min and the gang, ever mindful of their progress as artists and humanitarians.

  • 2012 - We continued work on a new production with Thukhuma Khayeethe.  Our Burmese partners wanted to explore the archetypes and humor of Commedia Dell'Arte, so we chose to work on Ben Johnson's Volpone.  In three weeks, the ensembles created a dual-language version of Act 1 and performed for an invited audience.
  • 2010 - We completed 12 performances of The Handwashing Show  and 1 workshop, reaching over 2,500 kids and adults for 12 schools in 3 States in southwest Myanmar: Yangon, Karin and Mon States.  Despite working under a censor-happy regime, we only had one show cancelled due to “permission withheld”.
  • 2010 -  On a return trip we discovered, to our amazement, that a new theatre company had grown from the outreach programs at the Gitameit: Thukhuma Khayeethe (Arts Travelers).  We worked with director Thila Min and performers Soe, Thura and Sai Nyi. In a two-week rehearsal period, we began work on a “serious” play, and an “edu-tainment” piece for children in schools and orphanages. While the serious, main stage piece remains a work-in-progress, our fun show promoting hygiene was up and running in no time. 
  • 2009 - Bond Street Theatre traveled to Yangon to complete an evaluative trip, and met Gitameit Music School.  The companies began to collaborate on social outreach projects.