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#Showbiz: On subjective lies and hard truths in 'Coyotes'

KUALA LUMPUR: Local theatre company Theatresauce will be presenting Coyotes as its first Mainstage production for its 2022 season.

The play which is a collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre is set to run from April 13 to 17 at KLPAC's Indicine.

Written and directed by Emerging Directors Lab alum Alex Chua (2017/18 batch), Coyotes is a new three-person play which has seen intensive development over the course of a year.

The play, conceptualised and written during last year's lockdown, tells the story of two overprotected siblings, Nana and Po, who were raised to believe that everyone else in the world is gone, and that dangerous man-eating coyotes roam freely.

Isolated by choice from immense fear, the siblings live off canned food and rituals of storytelling and watching cartoons.

One day, their father, who has been getting food and medicine for them, falls ill, leaves the house, and never returns.

Before the siblings can decide what to do about their predicament, a stranger shows up at the door with knowledge of a world that is very different from theirs.

As the two conflicting worlds clash, Nana and Po must decide what is the truth, what were the lies, and where they will go in the future.

Coyotes explores what happens when young people are indoctrinated, as well as the blurry lines of subjective truth and the lies we tell ourselves to survive.

From flat-earthers and anti-vaxxers to 5G-dangers and birds aren't real, Coyotes was written in response to the onslaught of erroneous information and conspiracy theories circulating on the Internet throughout the pandemic.

While some are downright nonsensical and make fun party conversations, others are potentially divisive, dangerous, and life-threatening. How does the latter affect our belief systems and alter the way we see and interact with the world?

The production features Tania Knutt, Catherine Leyow and Ian Skatu, with Asraf Zulk making an appearance as the Coyote.

Tarrant Kwok designs the set while Shirly Lee designs projections.

Audiences can expect the unfolding of an intense and suspenseful narrative as they track the unnerving journey of the two siblings.

Performances run for 75 minutes without intermission at 8.30 pm from Wednesday till Sunday, with additional weekend matinees at 3pm. Covid-prevention SOP apply.

The shows are for mature audiences only and entry is by for pre-purchased electronic tickets only.

Tickets are priced at RM48 and can be purchased at http://cloudtix.co.

Visit www.theatresauce.com or www.klpac.org for more details.

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