In THE LIVES OF GIANTS, Khmer classical ballet artist Sophiline Cheam Shapiro has taken an episode from the Reamker epic that describes a pervious life of the vengeful giant king Reap and given it her own interpretive twist. With innovative movement and melodies, this piece conjures a mysterious and magical world as reflection of our own and posits compassion as an antidote to self-perpetuating cycles of violence.

Set & Lighting Design 

Produced by the Khmer Arts Ensemble and premiered at onStage Series in New London in 2010 with subsequent touring to the Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hanover, MA, the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT, Goodhart Hall at Bryn Mawr College, the Khmer Arts Theater in Takhmao, Cambodia, Cal Performances in Berkeley and Arts & Lectures in Santa Barbara

Conceived of, Directed, and choreographed by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro
Costumes by Merrily Murray-Walsh