Story/Music - ສຽງຂອງຍ່າ (My Grandmother's Voice)

Vanasay Khamphommala knows almost nothing about her grandmother, except that she was a singer. Having set out on a journey to Laos in search of her voice, she recounts this quest in a performance that blends object theater and music.

This poignant performance offers an immersion into Laotian culture. Born in France, the performer Vanasay Khamphommala never knew her grandmother, who died in 1944, just a few days after the birth of her only child, Somphet. To trace the thread of her grandmother’s life, Vanasay traveled to her village in the heart of Laos and collected phrases, melodies, and sounds that her grandmother might have spoken, heard, or sung.
This journey of self-discovery, bringing her closer to her Asian roots, offers an opportunity to question how these roots have been rendered invisible in the name of assimilation. All set to the rhythm of songs, stories, and karaoke.