A talk by Ken Takiguchi - Unleashing Spectators’ Imagination: On Dramaturgy of 'Mortal Man: Two Monologues'

In this talk, Tokyo-based dramaturg and translator Ken Takiguchi — a friend to many in Malaysian arts and culture — returns to Kuala Lumpur to share about his experience and practice of dramaturgy. 

Drawing from his role as dramaturg for Leow Puay Tin's newest play, 'Mortal Man: Two Monologues', Ken will speak about his year-long conversations with Puay Tin through different iterations of the performance text, as well as the role that chance and tikam-tikam plays in the project.  He will also reflect on the process of collaboration with a playwright who is also performing in the work.  

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Ken Takiguchi is a dramaturg and translator. He was based in Malaysia and Singapore from 1999 to 2016.  Formerly a research fellow at National University of Singapore (NUS), he obtained his PhD from NUS specializing in theatre translation, intercultural theatre and cultural policy.  Besides his academic commitment, Ken has also served as the Head of Cultural Department at The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur; a consultant for the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (Malaysia), a board member for The Necessary Stage (Singapore), and a member of the Asian Dramaturgs’ Network.

Ken currently works as the general manager at the Setagaya Public Theatre in Tokyo and teaches part-time at Tokyo University of the Arts and Tama Arts University.  He is also a member of the editorial board of TURBA: The Journal for Global Practices in Live Arts Curation.  His recent publications include Excavations, Interrogations, Krishen Jit & Contemporary Malaysian Theatre (Kuala Lumpur: Five Arts Centre, Singapore: Epigram Books, 2018, co-edited), and (Asian) Dramaturgs’ Network: Sensing Complexity, Tracing and Doing (Singapore: Centre 42, 2023, contributor).

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This talk is presented by Five Arts Centre in partnership with The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur.

Five Arts Centre is supported by Yayasan Sime Darby, Creador Foundation, and Luminate.