In the performance, the 1952 absurdist classic The Chairs, two characters known as Old Man and Old Woman tell each other stories to pass the time and prepare chairs for a series of invisible guests. 

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Director Iswadi Pratama divided the play into five different fragments played by nine different actors in total. Each fragment is delivered with a simple, yet unique approach, which highlights the actors’ ability to switch into different roles.

Regarding the upcoming showcase in Japan, Iswadi said the real challenge was to deliver a performance for a non-Indonesian-speaking audience. To tackle the issue, he capitalized on interesting choreography, physical comedy and pantomime so the essence and message embedded in the play is wholly delivered to the audience.

The special preview also served as a trial performance, with people of various backgrounds being invited to see how the classic play would be received by the general public. As Iswadi said in a statement, “I feel that this opportunity came at the perfect time to further push the boundaries of Teater Satu’s creative process and bring it to the international scene.”

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Teater Satu is a theater community from Bandar Lampung founded by husband-and-wife artist team Iswadi Pratama and Imas Sobariah in 1996. Most members of Teater Satu had no  prior experience in acting when they first joined the community.

The troupe embarks for Japan on Saturday will perform The Chairs on August 31. SCOT Summer Season festival has been held annually for the past 50 years and is helmed by Japanese theater director Tadashi Suzuki from the Suzuki Company of Toga.

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