Several individuals gather in a room, each carrying a personal challenge akin to conquering a mountain. Give Me the Mountain, a physical theatre performance, is for anyone with a “mountain” to embrace or conquer in life—be it a mental or physical one.

The project was originated from a traumatic knee injury that the artistic director, Beverly Yuen, experienced back in March 2023. The incident, which left her physically limited and in pain, became the catalyst for the creation of Give Me the Mountain. She recalls: “I was not allowed to do full weight-bearing exercises for four months. I was thinking— Do I have to stop my physical theatre practice? I started to explore movement while sitting on a chair, using lots of movements from the upper body while I gently moved my legs, without causing my knee distress.”

The last time Yuen directed other performers was back in 2009 for “Poisons,” presented at the Physical Theatre Festival in Seoul. Why did she stop directing others? “I used to be very impatient, especially when dealing with training in theatre. I was tough on performers, and it brought out the worst in me. I hate that aspect of myself. So, since 2010, I only did solo performances, directing myself. This is my first piece directing other performers after 13 years,” she shares.

This time, she feels a strong need to work with others, especially those who have not worked in the setting of physical theatre and wish to fulfill it. She expresses that a myriad of life experiences, including her injury, has deepened much more empathy and patience within her. Around 85% of the script emerged from the notes Yuen penned during her months of recovery from the injury. Her time of immobilization led her to ponder how physical theatre training could be inclusive for more people in the community.

Yuen, also an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer since 2022, has acquired several fitness certifications. She wishes to integrate her professional knowledge in fitness with physical theatre training. The open call for performers stated that this project is for individuals who lack confidence in expressing themselves through their physical bodies or for those with limited physical mobility who wish to perform in physical theatre. The result of it? Among the selected participants are warriors recovering from knee, back, and ankle injuries, as well as those overcoming psychological challenges.

Shirley Soh, an art practitioner, shares: “What am I feeling as I approach the 70’s, and why have I responded to this open call? With time for reflection, I am looking at what is missing or has been missing in my life and there are two things, music and using the body in some form of expression.”

Elaine Siow, a freelance actress, who also responded to the open call, wishes to be able to express with her physical body despite tearing two ankle ligaments: “Despite having recently torn two ligaments, my passion for physical theatre is stronger than ever.”

Eugene Chow, a freelance actor, adds: “I feel that Covid hit me really hard, so there was a disassociation that happened between my mind and my body. I would like to get back in touch with my body; there are already some obstacles there.”

Reflecting on the notion of “old”, Soh elaborates: “What is old and when is old? There’s the physical side of ageing for sure: wrinkles, weaker muscle strength, joint pains. But what of the mind? We learn of the plasticity of the brain, which is the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of new experiences and learning. If the body can’t stay young, can the mind always do so? What is this link between the body and the mind?”

“This setback has taught me about the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of storytelling through movement. By overcoming my own obstacle, I aim to bring an authentic narrative to the stage,” Siow sums up her thoughts for the project.

Give Me The Mountain plays from 12th to 13th January 2024 at Republic Polytechnic (The Republic Cultural Centre Level 2, Dance Studio 2). Tickets available from Eventbrite