Phare Ponleu Selpak. Twenty years ago, 8 young Cambodian refugees returned home after living in exile. Their community was about 4 kilometres outside Battambang. There were many problems, and much of the local youth had social problems as they were farmers without land. These 8 youngsters had art training abroad, and so they started giving free painting lessons to other youngsters. The following year they widened this to include music, community theatre and circus. In 2001, they had their first Cambodian tour, spreading an educational message on subjects such as land mines, HIV and malaria. This community spirit has spread and Phare still tours the country spreading its social message, even visiting prisons and other similar institutions.
Today Phare performs in Siem Reap. They have a show daily at 7.30 pm and we are honoured to be able to carry news of their performances. More than that, we carry the inside story. What life ws like for the performers, how Phare came into being, and their hopes for the future.
Halloween, of all the odd festivals, seems to be the most celebrated in Siem Reap. There will be a number of parties around the town – we’re adding them to our calendar (click here for full calendar) as they come in. Most notable would be the Fright Night Parade, organised … Read More →
Be very afraid!!! With Halloween coming up, and Pchum Ben just finished, October is a month for ghosts. Phare, The Cambodian Circus has unveiled its new show “Chills” which is all about that. A group of young Cambodian students explore their terror of ghosts in a thrilling and unusual show … Read More →
1000 Hands is the animation department of Phare Ponleu Selpak – the N.G.O. in Battambang that produces (amongst many other things) the Circus School. I’ve not explicitly mentioned 1000 hands before, but I’ve just come across this video from them. It’s an attempt to educate Khmers in managing their resources … Read More →
For our final look at Battambang, we visit the Phare Ponleu Selpak again. “My village” is a brand new show that has been developed for the Japanese Market. The show, about a Cambodian village, will be performed in Little World theme park in Inuyama city, Japan for three months. I … Read More →
The launch of the new show “Chills” at Phare, the Cambodian Circus has been put back to the 12th of this month. Apologies to everyone for the inconvenience. Here’s their revised October calendar: … Read More →
We have received this message from our friends at Phare, The Cambodian Circus: Phare Ponleu Selpak, Phare Production, Michael Laub and H A U Theatre present to you “Galaxy Khmer” Dear friends, partners and art lovers, friends of Cambodia, Phare Ponleu Selpak and Phare Production call for your support of … Read More →
OK, OK, it’s not called the New Adventure, but compared to the show I saw before it’s a new show. The story is basically the same: a young lad, abused at home, runs away to Phnom Penh. He’s set upon by some unsavoury characters and ends up being rescued by … Read More →
“This is the night of the Eclipse”. So starts the subtitles on the current performance of Phare, the Cambodian Circus. That’s what we said a week ago, but tonight, for the last time EVER it will be displayed. Maybe they will change it to “This is the LAST night of … Read More →
“This is the night of the Eclipse”. So starts the subtitles on the current performance of Phare, the Cambodian Circus. This show has been appearing in Siem Reap now for a few months. September has been a marathon month for them – they feature all month. However, it’s coming to … Read More →
Phare introduced two cards yesterday for the benefit of long term residents in Siem Reap. These are really good deals and if you love the circus, don’t miss out. The community card has extra bonuses too …. Circus Lover’s Card: Enjoy more than 10 different shows yearly and support a social … Read More →
A scoop for the “Post” Here is Phare’s October Program. We’ve seen the Adventure before (click here to read our review) Chills is a show, brand new to Siem Reap. This is their information on it. But rest assured we will be there on Wednesday October 9th to review it … Read More →
“I lost my bike” or “Bat Kang Khniom” is a show performed, at the moment, only in Battambang by the Generation 6 students. I timed my visit to the city, specifically to see this show, and to see how the Gen 6 youngsters measured up to the other generations I … Read More →
Our Battambang feature this week combines a “My Story”. Hoeut Hoeub and Mon Chanthy are two students at Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang. They are currently in Generation 6 and part of the show “I lost my bike” which you will already have seen the report of here. They agreed … Read More →
Part 2 of our Battambang series takes us to the home of the circus. Phare Ponleu Selpak. Literally “Brightness of the Arts”. The easiest way to understand what it is about is to watch the video below. But it is 15 minutes long, and I know many of you won’t … Read More →
PLEASE NOTE. Due to exams and staff sickness, The Adventure will not be showing in September. Instead Eclipse will run from September 4th to 30th. … Read More →
WOO HOO! Generation 3 at Phare does it again! The class that brought you Putho and more recently Eclipse brings us Khmer Metal. This very briefly appeared in Siem Reap when the circus first came here. Now, for the first time in the big top, we are treated to this … Read More →
Mark your calendar! August 5th, 2013. A very special occasion to experience two shows in one evening. We will welcome a group of approximately 25 Korean Classical Opera artists and traditional musicians from the Republic of Korea and artists from the Royal University of Fine Arts Traditional Orchestra of Cambodia … Read More →
Here’s the Phare program for August. Note the special re-appearance of Khmer Metal. This is a wonderful show and will only be in Siem Reap for a limited time, before being retired when the cast go on tour in Japan with a new show. Make sure you see it while … Read More →
“Ever fancied running away to the circus? Well now’s your chance.” So starts the advertising “blurb” for the series of art workshops run by Phare. They have been going throughout July, and we are told will be continued through August. We went along to one to take some pictures and … Read More →
You know how it is. You’re sitting at a show, camera on a tripod, and taking pictures of the best bits of the show. Recently I was at the Generation 6 special show at Phare, the Cambodia Circus. (www.pharecambodiancircus.org). There I was, camera all lined up, waiting for two of … Read More →
On Friday, we went to see a very special show at Phare. The main show was Eclipse, which we’ve reviewed and posted pictures before. However we did make a YouTube video of their really exciting finale. After the regular Eclipse show, we were treated to a very special, one-night-only performance … Read More →
Dah Dah …. With a fanfare and a small flourish, not to mention an acrobatic performer or two, the Cambodian Circus, Phare, announced its new café. Of course, we went along for a meal. It’s at the circus ground, and we know you know where that is. We turned up … Read More →
“The Adventure” starts its second short run at Phare tonight.It’s on now for 4 days. For those regular readers of this blog, you may remember Chamroeun’s story. If you’re new, or an infrequent reader, you may be one of the hundreds who read our story on the latest show at … Read More →
The Adventure I love Phare, the Cambodian Circus. I am delighted to have been at the opening night of their latest show “The Adventure” last night. It’s a WOW! It’s in their new tent at the circus ground behind the National Museum. For those of you who don’t know, Phare … Read More →
Sunday 23rd June 19:00 until 21:30. Please join us for the Premiere of Phare, The Cambodian Circus’s new performance “The Adventure”! Purchase your tickets from Beyond Unique Escapes and they will donate $3usd from EVERY ticket sold to Angkor Hospital for Children! After the show the MUSIC and FUN will … Read More →
***CIRCUS WORKSHOP under the BIG TOP!*** Greetings Circus Lovers, some very exciting news! @[290335817744593:274:Beyond. Unique Escapes] and @[448605011873227:274:Phare, The Cambodian Circus] is very pleased to announce that there will be another Circus Workshop on the weekend of the 15th and 16th of June. Bookings and payment can be made at … Read More →
We have just received the latest Phare Cambodian Circus program for June Thanks to Beyond Unique Escapes for publishing this. You can get your tickets through them at www.beyonduniqueescapes.com You can read all about Tchamlaek here, when we reviewed it. The new show, Phsong Preng (which means adventure) will be … Read More →
AT LAST! After lots of waiting! The new tent at Phare has been unveiled to the public. We went along during the final run-through session today and can confirm that it’s wonderful. There is finally protection from the rain, and just in time for the rainy season. The acoustics are … Read More →
I had been promised an interview with one of the cast of Tchamlaek, and we set this one up with Chamroeun. He is the stage director for Tchamlaek and is a generation 1 artist of Phare Ponleu Selpak. His English is poor (he does speak fluent French), so he told … Read More →
Phare Ponleu Selpak. Twenty years ago, 8 young Cambodian refugees returned home after living in exile. Their community was about 4 kilometres outside Battambang. There were many problems, and much of the local youth had social problems as they were farmers without land. These 8 youngsters had art training abroad, and so they started giving free painting lessons to other youngsters. The following year they widened this to include music, community theatre and circus. In 2001, they had their first Cambodian tour, spreading 
an educational message on subjects such as land mines, HIV and malaria. This community spirit has spread and Phare still tours the country spreading its social message, even visiting prisons and other similar institutions.
