Through spoken word, poetry, music and conversation Cafe Philosophique aims to look deeply into the things that make us human and provide a space to question and dissect their roles in our lives.

A night in the Balcony Bar with the setting sun and sounds of artists in a series of performances, De L'amour. Ending with an open conversation where you are invited to share your thoughts and experiences while listening to those of others.

This is a series of Tuesday nights, individually ticketed, exploring the nature of relationships.

DATE:

Tuesday October 22, 7:00pm

Relationships with Our Families

Spoken word from: May Jasper, Helen Kassa, Consciously Kyah (pictured), Tumi

Music: Parvyn

Some of the most stained relationships on earth are within family dynamics, and they often have repercussions and play out in other areas of our lives.
Is there a way to heal the unspoken?

May Jasper

May Jasper is published playwright, actor, storyteller, podcaster and television presenter.  She has worked on podcasts like Random Article (host and main researcher) and Human/Ordinary (producer).  She has performed widely as a storyteller and won the inaugural Melbourne Moth Grand Slam.  She was the host of Mainland Tonight, a late night talk show on WTV.  She is a regular performer with Melbourne Shakespeare Company, and has also performed in her own shows, including the critically acclaimed not a very good story (which toured to Adelaide and Perth) and May and Alia do Pirates! (of Penzance) (which toured to New York and throughout Canada).  Other shows May has written include Murder at Warrabah House, Speaking and Death’s Variety Hour.

Tumi

Tumi is a Motswana poet and rapper who began his creative journey as a teenager, after seeing his first rap cipher. Captivated by the sound synchopated speech over a fat beat, he wrestled a pen to an empty page and turned churning thoughts to rhyming verse. Tumi’s style is a vibrant blend of poetry and rap, which he uses to share abstract ideas, as well as real life experiences. Since moving to Melbourne in April 2014 his passion has taken him from hip hop open mic nights(Horse Bazaar, Whole Lotta Love), to poetry slams (Slammalamma Ding Dong, Voices in the Attic) and park ciphers where he has schooled and been schooled by Burn City’s finest.

Consciously Kyah

Consciously Kyah is a Toronto born artist and lyrical poet, currently living in Melbourne, Australia. She explores inner and outer space through rhythmic use of the English language. Her sound is distinct–a gentle fusion of music and poetry; sometimes using nothing but her voice to move her audience. The subtle tremors in vocals, the cadence and selective choice of tone create an atmosphere for both audience and music to meet. Kyah has taken the stage at festivals like Strawberry Fields, Blue Black Beatz, One Beat One Love, Emerging Writers Festival, and her very own production titled ‘Seeping’ at Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Helen Kassa

Helen Kassa was born in Asmara, Eritrea and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Helen grew up reading the works of legendary Ethiopian writers and poets, inspiring a deep desire to craft her own story telling and share it with the world. In 2004 Helen moved to Australia, where she further perused her dream of sharing her story telling through film, and in 2014 completed a bachelor of Film and Production at SAE Institute of Melbourne. Helen produced and directed the documentaries Melbourne Lion’s (2012) about a young African Australian soccer team in Melbourne, Mr. Addis (2013) a story of the first Ethiopian man to come to Australia, and What happened to Michael? (2013), which looks into the tragic story of Ethiopian Australian, Michael Atakelt, after he was found dead in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River. Helen wrote, directed and produced the short film Finding (2014) which shares the story of an arranged marriage and its implications within the African diaspora. Helen’s passion for film and love of music has lead her to direct a number of music videos such as Keto Salak, Jembere, and The Grand Silent System. Helen’s largest project and the culmination of her skill, passion and drive, is her first feature film, Found in a Dream (2017), which is a story of love, culture, and the struggles faced by African Australians. Helen is a graduate of the Footscray Community Arts Centres’ Emerging Cultural Leadership program (2011). Her poetic and written work has been read and published on SBS radio Australia, 3CR and multiple community events within Australia, Ethiopia and America. And in 2012 Helen published her first book of poetry Gitimina ene “ግጥምና እኔ” (Poetry and me). Helen gives a voice for disadvantaged young Australians through performance art, film, documentary, poetry and music videos. She sees a need for the stories of African Australian’s to be heard and seen.

Parvyn (Musician)

Born in Adelaide to Punjabi migrant parents from Malaysia, Parvyn is the frontwoman of the band ‘The Bombay Royale,’ a band that plays genre inspired by vintage Bollywood soundtracks under the stage name ‘Mysterious Lady’. Parvyn started singing at the tender age of 5, alongside her father, Dya Singh in his World Music Group.

Parvyn's stunning, pure and soulful voice has captured the hearts of audiences around the world. Parvyn combines her rich heritage from ancestral Punjab with elements of jazz, blues, folk and country to perform in her own unique style. Her band’s debut album ‘You Me Bullets Love’ was released in 2012 and its title track was featured in the popular video game Far Cry 4.

LAST UPCOMING SHOW WITH CAFE PHILOSOPHIQUE

Tuesday October 29, 7:00pm

Relationship with Place

Spoken word from: Sermsah Bin Saad, Enza Gandolfo, Soreti Kadir, Jacky T

Music: The Orbweavers

Join us for one session, or all. There will be light snacks provided and drinks available for purchase.

MEETING POINT: Please either check in with the host on arrival to be led into the Balcony Bar

ACCESSIBILITY ENQUIRIES: If you require assistance, please email any accessibility requirements and questions through to arts@hotelesplanade.com.au and our staff can assist you.

U18's MUST be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian at all times

**Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the start time of Cafe Philosophique

We acknowledge the lands on which we present this work are the lands of the Yalak-ut Weelam people of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.