AS part of the programme to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Five Arts Centre presents Conference of the Birds, a contemporary opera directed by Chee Sek Thim.
This workshop production is an interpretation of a poem written in Persian by 12th-century poet Farid ud-Din Attar, describing the journey of a group of birds in search of a leader. The story is told through sound and movement, accompanied by a score composed by Johan Othman, who is also musical director. The libretto was written by William Radice from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
Performances are at 8:30pm on 20 and 21 Nov 2009, as well as at 3pm on 22 Nov, at the Wawasan Open University stage in Penang.
Conference of the Birds is priced at RM20 for adults and RM10 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at Sentuhan, 90 Armenian Street (tel 016 4733483); Penang Heritage Trust, 26 Lebuh Gereja (tel 04 264 2631); or by contacting James Lochhead at 016 4846042 or e-mail jampot@gmail.com.
Chee, Johan and Radice will also share on the process and inspiration behind the creation of Conference of the Birds. This dialogue is sponsored by the British Council Penang and takes place at Sun Café, 65 Jalan Macalister at 4pm on 21 Nov. Admission is free.
All photos courtesy of Five Arts Centre, with captions by Mark Teh. 
