Wikipedia

Phare Circus

Phare, The Cambodian Circus (PCC) is a contemporary circus troupe based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The performances blend traditional and modern circus arts with Cambodian storytelling, drama, dance, live music, and visual arts. The performances are created by the artists themselves, drawing from their own lives, Cambodian history, folklore, and contemporary society.[1][2]

History and organization

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The origins trace back to 1985 at Site II Refugee Camp in Thailand where French humanitarian Veronique Decrop used drawing classes as art therapy to help young refugees from the Khmer Rouge war. In 1995 Veronique Decrop with nine former refugees founded Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) in Battambang with the goals of using art to heal the community after the war, revive Cambodian arts, and to alleviate poverty.[3][4]

PCC is part of Phare Performing Social Enterprise (PPSE), a social enterprise established in 2013 as an extension of the non-profit Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) school in Battambang to fund the school and sustain jobs for the graduates.[5]

Recognition and milestone

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PCC has been recognized by Tripadvisor with the "Certificate of Excellence"[6] and Lonely Planet as a "Top Choice"[7][8] for its theater in Siem Reap. Together, PCC and PPS set the Guinness World Records for the Longest Circus Performance.[9] PCC was awarded Arival Travel's "Social Purpose / Community Engagement" award in 2023.[10]

The theater has been praised for its circus troupes who have presented in platforms both locally and internationally including Ringling International Arts Festival,[11] Oz Asia Festival[12] in Adelaide, Australia, La Tohu in Montreal,[13] the New Victory Theater in New York, and Sydney Festival in Sydney, Australia.[14] Their production, "White Gold" received acclaim as a "Critic Pick" in The New York Times[15] in December 2023.

Collaborations

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PCC collaborated with Michael Laub and Cambodian Space Project on "Galaxy Khmer",[16] which appeared at the HAU Theater in Berlin, Germany and Bergen, Norway in January 2014.It also collaborated with Global Arts Corps for "See You Yesterday",[17] which was performed at the Ubumuntu Arts Festival in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2016.

References

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  1. ^ Dunston, Lara (September 11, 2013). "Under the big top at Cambodia's edgy Phare Circus". CNN. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Art as a tool for healing? Cambodian circus fosters joy and confidence". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  3. ^ "Phare Family". Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  4. ^ "Sustainability - About Phare Circus". Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  5. ^ "Our Story". Phare Ponleu Selpak. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  6. ^ "Phare, The Cambodian Circus on TripAdvisor".
  7. ^ "Phare the Cambodian Circus | Siem Reap, Cambodia | Entertainment". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  8. ^ "Siem Reap: 11 best things to do beyond Angkor Wat". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  9. ^ "Longest circus show | Guinness World Records". Archived from the original on 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  10. ^ "Arival Spotlight Awards - Shortlist/Winners - 2023 Orlando". Arival | The Resource for the Best Part of Travel. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  11. ^ "Cambodian Circus Arrives in US for First Time". Voice of America. September 21, 2015. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Oz Asia Festival Review – The Cambodian Phare Circus | Eventalaide". Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  13. ^ Wheeler, Brooke (February 19, 2024). "Phare's White Gold Represents Cambodia Abroad". Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "Sydney Festival: White Gold". Sydney Scoop. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  15. ^ Samuel, Brittani (December 15, 2023). "Theater Review: In 'White Gold,' Rice Is a Sacred Starch". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024 – via NYTimes.com.
  16. ^ "Michael Laub / Remote Control Productions". michael-laub.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  17. ^ "See You Yesterday | Global Arts Corps". globalartscorps.org. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
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