Formerly known as Chinese Arts Now, the newly named Kakilang theatre company return from the 21st February with their multi-art form festival. Kakilang – meaning ‘one of us’, the perfect term to encapsulate the work staged by artists of East and South East Asian heritage. Set to take over various London based venues – the Barbican, Two Temple Place, Yard Theatre, Rich Mix and Shoreditch Theatre, as well as outside of London at York Theatre Royal, Kakilang will continue on with its mission to showcase a host of exciting new work. Ahead of this year’s event, Associate Artistic Director Si Rawlinson tells us more about curating this year’s line up, receiving support from the Bagri Foundation and what audiences can expect!

Kakilang will be hosting Kakilang Festival 2023 from the 21st February to 22nd April at the Barbican, York Theatre Royal, Two Temple Place, The Yard, Rich Mix and Shoreditch Theatre. How are you feeling ahead of the festival?

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Kakilang(formerly Chinese Arts Now CAN) has announced the full programme and dates for its unique multi-art form festival which celebrates the work of artists from across the wide spectrum of East and Southeast Asian heritages. Eight extraordinary events platforming theatre, dance, visual arts, live music, cabaret and puppetry will be staged from the 21 February – 23 April 2023 in a selection of London’s leading arts venues including the Barbican, Omnibus Theatre, Rich Mix, Shoreditch Town Hall, Two Temple Place and The Yard.

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Chinese Arts Now(CAN) today unveils an exciting new name and bold new visual identity:

Kakilang (自己人)

– ‘one of us’ in the Hokkien dialect, evoking kinship and affinity – widely used amongst East and Southeast Asian diasporic groups, is the company’s new name.

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Returning with the third edition of their festival, Chinese Arts Now will stage ten weeks of new exhibitions, performances, screenings, comedy and scratch nights showcasing British East and South East Asian Artists online. Seeking inspiration from the neo-Gothic architecture of Two Temple Place, fine artist and singer-songwriter Chloe Wing presents an art installation fusing fashion and design with a musical element – a specially crafted paper gown and headpiece drawing on themes of gender, social conventions and mental health. Ahead of the digital showcase, Chloe tells us more about her inspirations for the piece, the installation’s creative process and what audiences can expect from the installation.

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A racialised term coined over a century ago, the impact of the term ‘Yellow Peril’ has been a damaging one; English novelist Sax Rohmer’s creation of villain Dr Fu Manchu in the 20th century further playing into the fear of the supposed existential threat imposed by East Asian nations on the West – this perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Exploring this further within her short film Casting Fu Manchu, a digital commission supported by organisation Chinese Arts Now; artist and filmmaker Eelyn Lee tells us more about deconstructing the fictional character – highlighting the inequalities faced by actors of East and Southeast Asian heritage, working with casting director Nicci Topping to cast the film and the process of socially distanced filming.

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As part of their continuing commitment to support artists during the pandemic, Chinese Arts Now have commissioned a series of new works as part of their ‘Digital Commissions’ initiative, an initiative encouraging the integration of technology and art to explore pertinent issues whilst reaching wider audiences. Commissioned for her work nineteen ways of looking, composer and producer Jasmin Kent Rodgman tells us more about her Instagram Opera, a production highlighting the experiences of 19 individuals, tackling themes of racism, isolation, media and mental health that will play out over 10 days during November.

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Originally situated in Limehouse, the East End of London before the Second World War, Chinatown – now currently situated just off Shaftesbury Avenue since the 1970s in West Central London has continued its tradition of being an important cultural hub for the Chinese community as well as being an iconic fixture of the West End. Initially shown as part of Chinese Arts Now’s inaugural festival in 2019, Donald Shek’s Augmented Chinatown fused a real life tour with imaginative augmented reality structures – an inventive work exploring beyond the physical boundaries of Chinatown. Awarded a Digital Commission this year to develop his work, Donald tells us more about his updated Augmented Reality 2.0 – a virtual tour/audio drama available on Google Play and the Apple Store from 15th September.

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For the last 15 years, Chinese Arts Now have been committed to presenting works focusing on contemporary Chinese perspectives. Recognising that there was a lack of shows presenting their narratives, CAN have established a network of partner organisations such as the Southbank Centre, Soho Theatre and the Young Vic amongst others who have supported the presenting of their work. Last year welcomed a new addition to CAN, the Chinese Arts Now Festival “dedicated to showcasing to the public performing arts that explore contemporary Chinese themes, perspectives and art forms. CAN Festival 2019 showcased a diverse range of art forms (music, drama, live art, dance, films, digital arts) with over 60 events across London“. Adapting to current theatre closures due to the Covid crisis, CAN are currently supporting artists with their ‘Digital Commissions’ initiative. CEO & Artistic Director of Chinese Arts Now An-Ting Chang tells us more about the festival and the commissions.

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