The teashop from Burma: A community cultural space
Accessibility
The teashop from burma involves discussion of the military coup in Myanmar, and discussions of forced displacement, and violence on the basis of ethnicity and religion.
The ingredients of lahpet thoke include tea leaves fermented with fish sauce, dried seafood, and legumes. You'll make your own salad and thus can omit any of these ingredients if you like. They will be present in the room, so anyone with severe shellfish or nut allergies ought to get in touch with us in advance.
The Blue Room Theatre is a wheelchair accessible space. The workshops are held in the upstairs theatre, which is accessible via lift. Accessible, all-gender bathrooms are located on the ground floor. The theatre will be warmly lit and spacious. The theatre may be air conditioned, and doors can be left open for improved ventilation, but the room has no windows. Chairs will be provided for seating. We will set up a quiet table in the bar space outside the theatre (the bar will not be in operation).
The workshop can be attended online: a video call link will be sent prior to the workshop to those who have registered.
The Audible Edge Festival has a dedicated accessibility budget. Please be in touch if you'd like to use this to help experience this event fully.
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6:30pm
The teashop from Burma: A community cultural space, with Yoe
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7:20pm
Break
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7:30pm
Dance Dance Intifada, with Feras Shaheen
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8:30pm
End
Details
In many cultures, restaurants and cafés serve as places for dining, casual meetups, or dates. However, in Myanmar (Burma), teashops are much more than that—they are vibrant social hubs, shelters for strangers, and spaces for informal cultural exchange. This talk will explore how Myanmar's teashop culture has evolved by blending native tea traditions with British colonial influences. More importantly, we will examine how these teashops have transformed into essential community and cultural spaces, reflecting the resilience and social fabric of Burmese society.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a Southeast Asian country rich in cultural and natural diversity. Since gaining independence from British rule, it has faced prolonged civil wars, armed conflicts, and military coups—the most recent one in 2021, which has led to a full-scale civil war. Despite decades of authoritarian rule and political instability, Myanmar’s people, traditions, and culture remain remarkably resilient. This talk will highlight the enduring significance of Myanmar’s teashop culture—a unique symbol of community, identity, and resistance.
Local artist Gabby Loo will assist in facilitating the workshop and preparing tea shop snacks, including the unique lahpet thoke (fermented tea leaf salad). These snacks and their ingredients are referenced as poetic metaphors throughout the talk.
Part of Audible Edge: Organise
In a climate of rising censorship, board overreach, anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic racism, and in a general climate of suspicion towards art, what alternative spaces are required to maintain the cultures we want to participate in? The Organise session of the Night School invites hearing from artists and cultural workers listening across disciplines. It aims to gently offer an inspiring sense of sovereignty, a chance to eat together and think about the role of cultural spaces in creating contexts for sharing truth and practicing freedom.
This session is co-presented with STRUT Dance and The Blue Room Theatre.