Review by William Chan
The 4th edition of the inclusive arts festival “Todos Fest!” featured a theatre performance entitled “Life Is a Dream” at the Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory on Saturday afternoon.
The festival was organised by local art organisation Comuna de Pedra (“Stone Commune”). The Portuguese word “todos” means “all”, “every” or “everyone”.
Expanding upon previous dance productions, “Life Is a Dream” takes a more delicate approach to storytelling, intertwining the personal experiences of the cast members – encompassing fear, depression, dreams, sorrow, joy, and reflections on life and death – within its narrative.
Featuring performers with physical and mental disabilities, the theatre production begins with a light-hearted discussion on the existence of ghosts. Each participant takes turns sharing their beliefs, infusing the conversation with humour and childlike wonder. Beneath the surface, the performers’ intensity and sincerity in expressing their opinions are evident. From the audience’s perspective, their perspectives may seem humorous, almost condescending, akin to observing children engaged in nonsensical arguments.
The tone dramatically shifts when one performer emotionally declares that there are no ghosts since their departed family members have never visited them. This statement is followed by other performers expressing a desire to become stronger, to be able to care for their families. This particular scene serves as a profound wake-up call for the audience. Despite possessing the intellectual capacity to comprehend such sentiments, we often neglect to share our own concerns and emotions with those close to us, and we even frequently fear openly expressing these sentiments.
The show progressed with a dance performance, led by a professional dancer who guided one of the performers in synchronised choreography, creating a visual display of movement.
In addition to the dance, a dramatic scene unfolds where a performer, known for her eloquence, continuously talks while others on stage purposely ignore and annoy the other performers. Through her ramblings, she expressed her frustration about her parents often disregarding her opinions and needs, inadvertently mirroring the behaviour of everyone else on stage.
This segment prompts profound reflections on the current state of equality and rights. While gender and sexuality receive significant attention in the spotlight, I can’t help but wonder if the performers themselves are the ones truly marginalised. Those parts of the current trend possess the intellectual power not only to advocate for themselves but also to attract considerable attention, potentially for financial gain and media coverage. As a consequence, it appears that people with disabilities receive less attention and support nowadays – their voices are largely ignored by society – because gender and race have taken the main stage.
The opening ceremony of “Todos Fest!” also took place on Saturday, marking the culmination of the festival that had commenced on April 12 and concluded on Sunday. Jenny Mok (莫倩婷), the festival curator, emphasised during the ceremony that Comuna de Pedra’s goal has always been to advocate for marginalised individuals, including those with physical and mental disabilities and the elderly, and to provide them with opportunities to showcase their artistic talents.
Mok noted that the choice of the theme “ghosts, life, and death” was made because it resonates with the audience, as all of us inevitably face these issues and can empathise with them. She added that none of us possess definite knowledge about the possibility of ghosts and the afterlife, thus giving the audience no edge regarding the knowledge of the topic, compared to the performers.
Additionally, Mok mentioned that following the ceremony, the festival featured a screening of films involving marginalised groups. She highlighted that while previous screenings primarily focused on documentaries, this time they included films in which marginalised individuals participated in making them.
In the spirit of inclusivity and connection, the Inclusive Market at Todos Fest! invited local organisations from various communities to showcase their products at the venue.
This photo taken on Saturday shows the Inclusive Market at Todos Fest! at Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory – Photo: William Chan
Jenny Mok (莫倩婷) gives a speech during Saturday’s opening ceremony at Former Iec Long Firecracker Factory. – Photos provided by Todos Fest!
