Drum Up JB 2.0 <Drum's> 鼓动新山2.0《鼓籍》

About “Drum Up JB”
When the energetic 24 Festive Drums was first developed as an art form in Johor Bahru, it also represented the Chinese diaspora’s nostalgia for their homeland. The traditional drums, formations, calligraphy and 24 solar terms reflected the unity and spirit of their ancestors who migrated south over the past century. The peoples’ resilience and tenacity reverberated throughout the land, in tune with the drum beats. Now, JB Drums and Orang Orang Drum Theatre have joined hands to “Drum Up JB”, to reflect on the 24 Festive Drums’ roots in Johor Bahru. At the same time, they are searching for new meaning and interpretations in the face of ever-evolving identities and changing times.

About “Drum’s”
A hundred years of thunder, a whisper of nostalgia,
Drumming and dancing along the way,
Flourishing and growing over the decades.

With drums as our witnesses, we wonder,
How shall a new beat arise?

"Drum’s”, which premieres in October 2024, uses beats and rhythms to evoke emotions, summon memories and recall histories. Guided by the 24 solar terms and the rich heritage of traditional drums, “Drum’s” traces the changes in life perspectives over time.

The artists deconstruct and recombine landmark 24 Festive Drums performance pieces from past decades to enable the audience to witness the progression of the art form. They then draw their gaze back to their immediate surroundings, the realities of living in a multicultural environment, to explore what a “new” beat would sound like.

New generations of drummers are living heritage practitioners. “Drum’s” not only represents a record of how drums and the drummers’ identities are interwoven, but is also an extrapolation of the unwritten future. Talented guest director Yeo Lyle leads 24 drummers in harnessing rich traditions, movements and sounds to showcase the evolution of 24 Festive Drums, challenge boundaries, create bold new narratives, and showcase fresh interpretations of this traditional art form.

关于『鼓动新山』
二十四节令鼓诞生之初，气势磅礴、振奋人心，亦娓娓述说着人们对于故土的思念。狮鼓、阵型、书法字与二十四节气……个中形式体现百年来先辈南迁、在异地团结壮大的精神价值：澎湃、不屈不饶、努力不懈的民族韧性，随鼓声在这片土地上回荡，传承了华族的精神脉搏。新山鼓队与人人人鼓剧场连手『鼓动新山』，扎根新山回望二十四节令鼓的历史轨迹，同时探寻时代与身份认同变换中，自身如何与之对话，进而生长出新理解、新语汇与新诠释。

关于《鼓籍》
百年轰隆，一缕思念，一路敲打著、舞动著、也在数十载里繁茂滋长。
我们以鼓为籍，喃喃自问，如何为你载一节新歌？

鼓动新山盛情连载，新山鼓队与人人人鼓剧场再次联手制作，邀来剧场鬼才导演蔡德耀加盟，带领24位鼓手回到鼓乡新山，藉形体与声响描绘24节令鼓的旧时今日、展示这片文化土壤开出的万种新花。

2024全新创作《鼓籍》以鼓声唤起人的直观感受，妨如召唤过去的生活记忆、一段历史身份；再以二十四节气为牵引，藉想像丰富狮鼓的形声表现，追溯过往先民的生活感知，感受时间更替的自然规律。创作者将二十四节令鼓发展至今数十载的精髓，进行解构再组合成二十四节令鼓古今作品串烧，让观众品尝个中转化过程的细节。最后扎根本土，取材于自身贴近的生活景致，提问置身于多元文化环境下，我们将如何听见“新”的鼓歌？

新生代鼓文化传承者以『鼓』为『籍』具有双重意涵，一方面走入历史侧录『鼓与我们的身份连结』，同时展望未来继续书写『属于我们的鼓之典籍』。邀来剧场鬼才导演蔡德耀加盟，带领24位鼓手以想象丰富传统，藉形与声描绘24节令鼓的旧时今日，亦企图解锁传统边疆，大胆开创当代新诠释，持续浇灌出更为丰富的身份内涵与样貌，勇敢探寻这片文化土壤上开出的万种新花。

Produced by Drum Up JB 2.0
Presented by JB Drums + Orang Orang Drum Theatre
Guest Performers : Shicheng Theatre

In Partnership with Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, Malaysia Digital District, CloudJoi
Sponsored by 大阳光基金会、元生基金会

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THE PERFORMERS

JB Drums

JB Drums was founded to inherit and promote 24 Festive Drums, a Malaysian Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the early days of its establishment, JB Drums actively invited Foon Yew High School alumni and drummers from other backgrounds to continue their interest in drumming. At present, there are 10 professional drumming coaches and assistants from JB Drums, who are coaching more than 20 drum teams of different ages.Over the years, JB Drums has also gone abroad and has visited Singapore, China (including Macau, Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Chaozhou, Shantou, Xiamen, Tianjin, etc.), and also Africa (Kingdom of Eswatini & Lesotho) for performance and coaching. In 2017, JB Drums was invited by Orang Orang Drum Theatre to tour France jointly for six weeks and visit eight international folk art festivals.

Orang Orang Drum Theatre

Since its establishment in 2013, OODT’s core members Chew Soon Heng (Boyz), Leow Sze Yee (Zyee), and Damien Leow have been exploring the forms of music, dance, and theatre, seeking a new way of expression in the genre of drum theatre. They aim to revitalise traditional music and stories by incorporating and layering fresh elements of performance, striking a balance between preservation and innovation. The word ‘orang’ means people and OODT’s mission is to bring the arts to the people—to this end, they have set out to transform a Chinese traditional art form into a unique, multicultural performing art form in Malaysia.The award-winning drum troupe has participated in international music festivals in Europe, such as France, Hungary, and Serbia, and as well as in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and China.

 

GUEST PERFORMERS 

SICHENG Theatre

SHICHENG Theatre was established in 2006 and has a history of 18 years. It was founded by a group of 24 Festive Drums drummers with the goal of promoting and preserving the cultural performing arts of the 24 Festive Drums. The group is named "SHICHENG" after the Chinese translation of Batu Pahat, derived from the term "ZAO SHI CHENG (凿石城)” .They hope to establish a renowned professional performing arts troupe in their hometown, where they were born, raised, and developed.

SHICHENG Theatre focuses on two main areas of development: education and performance. On one hand, they are dedicated to teaching drum teams, organizing percussion workshops and camps to train the new generation of drummers. On the other hand, they regularly participate in various performing arts workshops to enhance their performance skills and knowledge. They also actively engage in creating new works to continuously produce more mature and professional performances over time.

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TICKET PRICE

Category	Standard Rate	Group of 4
Cat A	RM 128	N/A
Cat B	RM 108	RM 400
Cat C	RM 88	RM 320
Cat D	RM 68	RM 240

For group bookings and enquiry of wheelchair seats, please contact 018-373 9388.

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THE TEAM

Project Initiator and Advisor : Lee Sheah Liang, Eric Lee
Producer : Zyee Leow, Yi Kai Lim
Director : Yeo Lyle

Performers : Angeline, Bo Yan, Elwin, Jarratt Leong, See Shyan, Tok Shan, Wue Teik, Yi Kai, Yi Qian, Amanda Yim, Chun Wai, Chun Bin, Hao Ze, Jian Ru, Jia Her, Jia Wei, Nick, Tee Vlin, Wai Kei, Jia Siang, Kai Jun, Kenjin, Wee Ping, Hong Lin*, Jia Xuan*

Dramaturg : Damien Leow
Music Director : Zyee Leow, Jarratt Leong

Production Manager : Brenda Lim
Stage Designer : Zi Ying Chua
Lighting Designer : Eagle Lee
Costume Designer : Ix Wong
Sound Engineer : JJ Tan

Marketing & Publicity : Brenda Lim, John Wong
Graphic Designer : Foo

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