Synopsis:

Fourteen. The number of days typically required for self-isolation. As stages remain empty during this unprecedented period of social distancing, theatres too have been forced into isolation. How are dance artists around the world responding to these uncertain conditions that have, by necessity, shifted the audience's gaze into digital spaces, and how can we find new ways to experience dance, together but apart?

Led by Taiwanese dance artist Chen Wu-Kang, 14 is a dance marathon streamed live from across time zones and continents. Join 19 independent artists from Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand as they reclaim the stage, tasked to reflect on the situations they are in and present themselves through the format of a 14-minute solo—completely alone with neither crew or audience in sight. Optional live commentary from guest commentors providing insightful perspectives to the solos further explores new possibilities for online performance and intimate viewing.

From an outdoor theatre in Italy steeped in history to an intimate independent theatre in the suburbs of Bangkok, be transported to performance venues around the world as night and day dance around one another, and as desires, strengths, anxieties and other personal responses unravel. Collaborative yet autonomous, 14 applies the rituals of traditional theatre alongside the cinematography, live-editing and livestream to explore new performance perspectives and our collective experiences of time and isolation in this pandemic-stricken world.

A prelude to da:ns festival, this Esplanade Commission is co-produced with National Theater & Concert Hall (Taiwan), and co-presented by Centro per la Scena Contemporanea (Italy), Chang Theatre (Thailand), Lavanderia a Vapore (Italy), National Taichung Theater (Taiwan) and Salihara Arts Center (Indonesia).

Viewers are encouraged to make themselves comfortable for the live experience of the marathon and may choose to tune in or leave at any point. A recording of the livestream will also be available till 31 Oct.