Australian artist Shannan Tamby Lim presents 'Samson', a physical comedy performance that blends horror and humour, inspired by Sumatran and Malay folklore.
On a Melbourne Fringe Festival stage, Shannan Tamby Lim portrayed a character named Samson, an innocent young man who left his home for the first time and encountered mythological creatures. The story drew inspiration from the concept of 'merantau', or migration, which holds significant importance in Minangkabau culture.
Lim was born in Singapore with a Minangkabau background and moved to Australia at age 10. He said ‘Samson’ was a performance that combined elements of comedy and horror. Lim blended these contrasting elements by referencing the distinctive style of Indonesian horror cinema, which always incorporates comedic scenes. Lim said he believed that the combination of comedy and horror reflected real life, with its mixture of joy and sorrow.
Besides Samson, the show also featured various characters from Sumatran folklore, like Malin Kundang, Harimau Jadian, and Kuntilanak. The performance also included universal characters like a mermaid.
In ‘Samson’, Lim, who’s also a writer, transformed into various characters using only simple costume changes and physical performance, like hopping with his legs together to represent a mermaid's tail.
Speaking to SBS Indonesian, Lim said Melbourne audiences embraced the performance warmly, including those without a Malay background.
Lim said he aimed to bring Samson back to Melbourne and other Australian cities next year, and even hoped to perform on international stages.
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