TESTAMENT - KEREZ an original theatre piece created by Sakhna Theatre of Bishkek based on the Kyrgyz epic Kojojash as told by Alymkan Deginbayeva directed by Nurlan Asanbekov costumes by Ainura Asanbekova set by Iuldash Nurmatov choreographer by Sergey Streltsov Kojojash - Munar Alibaev Sur Echki - Kenzhegul Satybaldieva Zulaika - Alymkan Abdykadyrova Shaman - Baktykul Dzhanybekov Tulguchu - Asel Maamytova Ala-Bash - Ilgis Zhunusov and featuring Omurzak Kaiypov as the storyteller and the musician Asylbek Nasirdinov March 29 - April 1, 2007 presented by La MaMa E.T.C. and Yara Arts Group La MaMa E.T.C. (First Floor Theater), 74A East Fourth Street Thur-Sat 8PM + Sun at 3PM and 8PM for tickets call (212) 475-7710 or www.lamama.org NEW YORK, March 15 – The Kyrgyz artists of Sakhna perform “Testament or Kerez” an original production of a Kyrgyz epic, March 29 to April 1 at 8:00 pm in La MaMa's First Floor Theater, 74A East Fourth Street. The production, created by artistic director of Sakhna Nurlan Asanbekov and performed by a company of eight, is about a hunter who slaughters all the peacefully grazing goats, despite the entreaties of Sur Echi, the mythical Mother Goat, who then takes her revenge. The Kyrgyz performers ritually portray both the tribe and the wild herds around them. Munarbek Alibaev portrays Kojojash, the hunter. The cast also includes the Sakhna actors Alymkan Abdykadyrova, Munarbek Alibaev, Baktytkul Dzhanibekov, Asel Maamytova, Kenzhegul Satybaldieva, and Ilgis Zhunusov. The production features the traditional epic singer Omurzak Kaiypov and Asylbek Nasirdinov accompanies the production on traditional instrument. Costumes are by Ainura Asanbekova, the is set by Iuldash Nurmatov, and the show was choreographed by Sergey Sratsov. Sakhna Theatre was founded under the direction of Nurlan Asanbekov in 2002. The artists work and experiment with traditional material, creating contemporary experimental versions of the great Kyrgyz epics. They study the oral folk traditions of their nomadic culture in order to help them revive these epics through ritual theatre. The universal theme of man's relationship with nature is at the heart of their productions. The epic stories are accompanied by traditional songs and instruments, further preserving this 1,000 year old culture. To date they have created three productions: “Testament or Kerez", which won the main prize in Bishkek's "Art-Ordo" International Theatre Festival; "Kurmanbek" and "Maktym-Dastan," which were created with support from the Swiss Agency for Development. Most recently the company collaborated with Yara Arts Group, a resident company at La MaMa on the creation of “Janyl” a world music theatre piece based on a Kyrgyz epic that performed in La MaMa in March. The production of “Testament or Kerez" at La MaMa was made possible in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Afffars.Travel for the Kyrgyz artists was supported by a grant from the Educational Fund of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Soros Foundation of Kyrgyzstan. Special thanks to John and Nancy Walter, LaMaMa E.T.C. and the Yara Arts Group for their support. “Testament or Kerez” performs Thur-Sun March 29 to April 1 at 8:00 pm with a matinee on Sunday at 3PM in La MaMa's First Floor Theater, 74A East Fourth Street. Tickets are $15; box office is (212) 475-7710; online ticketing is available at www.lamama.org.