Metro Diaries
Musings of a Collective Moving Experience
Metro Diaries
Introduction
Metro Diaries was conceptualized and will be created by 63Kolektib founded by Jomel Reyes and Juan Gonzales and now I’m joining to co-create Metro Diaries with them. Please see the presentation here.
Coming from a long line of Filipino migrants, my journey has been all about self-discovery and understanding how culture shapes identity. My work is deeply tied to personal experiences and the shared stories of migration. Recently, I’ve been captivated by the little world within the Dubai Metro.
This 2024, the Dubai Metro is celebrating its 15th year, with millions of people it has served and millions of stories it has witnessed from all walks of life. Stories of tired eyes, of video calls longing for home, of mothers longing, of mothers with their children running around, of tourists squinting carefully reading the signs, of chaotic rush hours, of cramped holidays, of encounters, of kindness.
Recent related articles:
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/09/09/dubai-metro-at-15-how-trains-transformed-a-city/
https://dubai-metro.me/category/station-name-changes/
These stories are what we want to capture in Metro Diaries–the microcosm of the everyday metro train that keeps changing its station’s name but is a constant part of every commuter's life.
I’m excited to be joining 63Kolektib, founded by Jomel Reyes and Juan Gonzales, to co-create this project. Through Metro Diaries, we will document and share the everyday experiences of commuters. We’re not stopping at just words—we’ll be adding layers of dance, movement, video projections and others to immerse the audience in these stories. By combining different elements, we hope to capture the complexity of life on the metro. We’ll also be holding open calls for collaborations, starting with free public workshops at Tipon 3.
I believe that the skills I have today are the result of joining community theatre and the generosity of those who came before me. They were patient in teaching us all the ropes and generous with their knowledge and opportunities. When I first started in theatre, the primary question was never about talent; it was always, "How committed are you?" I responded in four letters: "V-e-r-y," and never looked back.
After a few years, I came across Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, which famously asserts that mastering your craft requires investing 10,000 hours (it was debunked and debated but still, it remains true that to be good at something, you need to invest in it).
Around the same time, I also read Angela Duckworth's Grit, where she emphasizes that resilience is a critical factor in achieving success. It’s not just about talent, it's the perseverance to keep going. I’m not discounting the importance of talent, but what community theatre has taught me is to always show up—whether you're scared, whether you've made mistakes, or you don't feel like you deserve it--just show up and be present. It will take care of itself.
It also taught me that in an ensemble, there are no small roles.
As of the moment, I want to create platforms, build communities, and teach them tools and ways how we can execute theatre productions or other productions. I aim to expand my artistic practice to include more collaborative and immersive experiences, nurture emerging talent, and bridge cultural narratives through innovative projects.
I count myself lucky because I met collectives such as 63Kolektib and TRIBE who has the same thrust and vision as mine. I plan to collaborate with them and merge the available resources to extend the reach of this project and to create more opportunities and projects for fellow artists.
Overview of the Plan
My future artistic endeavours are centred on further developing my practice by:
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Metro Diaries: Musings of a Collective Moving Experience
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Concept: Metro Diaries is a project that captures the essence of everyday life within the microcosm of the Dubai Metro. It will highlight the stories and inner thoughts of individuals during their daily commutes, focusing primarily on the experiences of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) but also expanding to include diverse nationalities through an inclusive storytelling approach.
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Objective: To create an immersive theatrical performance that reflects the lives of everyday commuters, fostering empathy and understanding among diverse communities. The performances will be of different mediums dance, acting, singing, poetry reading, projections and others.
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Post-performance discussions will be held to engage the audience and encourage shared experiences.
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Vision: This project aims to celebrate 15 years of the Dubai Metro and connect audiences with the emotional landscape of urban life.
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Detailed Plan
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Metro Diaries Performance
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Show Concept
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A 3-part immersive show lasting 30-45 minutes, scheduled for February 2025.
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The show will include devised performances created through workshops, research, and prompts.
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An interactive experience with the audience, including an open discussion on migrant experiences.
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Show materials and references
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Sample video projection - video edited by DVN, second photo taken by Jun Arevallo.
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Ticket as memorabilia or merchandise - initial designs, not final.
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I recently found out that the meaning of nol in Arabic is fare which made perfect sense because we use it for public transport.
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"Bayad po" literally means "Here's my payment," but when in the context of taking the public transportation, it means "Here's my fare," or "Please pass my fare on to the driver." There is that human interaction that we usually do when we take public transport.
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Pre-production Activities
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Host "Tipon 3" gatherings: community workshops focusing on stage management led by Trixie Danielle, production management led by Jomel Reyes, and directing+play analysis led by Juan Gonzales.
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Offer free workshops targeting students and young adults, introducing them to community theatre and its transferable skills.
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Workshop Details
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2-day intensive workshops covering stage management, production management, and directing.
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Showcase participants' learnings on the final day.
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Present the Metro Diaries project to the participants and open the collaboration opportunity.
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Challenges and Solutions
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Financial Constraints
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Challenge: Ensuring adequate funding to provide decent allowances for participants and quality production resources.
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Solution: Seek sponsorships in-kind, collaborate with local businesses, sell merchandise, and explore partnerships under a trade license.
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Commitment and Schedules
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Challenge: Balancing participants' availability and dedication to the project.
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Solution: Foster a sense of ownership and passion for the project, provide flexible scheduling, and maintain clear communication. We will also indicate in the contract if they have a full-time commitment or part-time commitment and how many hours per week can they allocate for the project.
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Venue
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Challenge: Securing an affordable and accessible venue for performances and workshops.
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Solution: Partner with community centers, schools, or cultural organizations that can provide space in exchange for collaboration or outreach activities.
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Collaborators
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Challenge: Engaging reliable collaborators and resource persons.
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Solution: Build strong relationships within the artistic community, offer clear roles and responsibilities, and ensure alignment of vision and goals.
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Audience Reach
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Challenge: Attracting a diverse and engaged audience.
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Solution: Use social media, community outreach, partnerships with cultural organizations, and targeted marketing to raise awareness and drive attendance.
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Resource Persons and Materials
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Challenge: Access to research materials and expertise to inform the project.
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Solution: Collaborate with academic institutions, libraries, and cultural experts to gain insights and support.
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By addressing these challenges and implementing the outlined plans, I am confident that my/our future projects will not only nurture my growth as an artist but also contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape of the UAE, fostering a community that celebrates diversity, creativity, and shared experiences.