A project that aims to prevent human trafficking and exploitation, IOM X has partnered with some of Thailand’s top YouTube creators in an attempt to reach 13 million young Thais and convince them to take the lead in making smart purchasing decisions that reinforce the fair treatment of workers in the manufacturing industry.

This will be achieved through stories posted on YouTube that that highlight both the good side and the bad side of the manufacturing industry.

From Bie the Ska’s drama depicting a father’s misery on the production line of a mobile phone factory, producing the very product his daughter is begging him for, VRZO’s “Happy”, an ironic look at how clothes are marketed, versus how they are made, to BILLbilly01’s animated music video highlighting the fact that there are real people making the clothes that we wear, IOM X’s “Do you know who made it?” campaign deep dives into the manufacturing industry.

Softpomz gets the inside scoop from kids on what’s fair and what’s not when it comes to work and Picnicly interviews restaurant owners working to improve the lives of their staff and suppliers.

“Here’s the truth: whenever we make a purchase, we risk supporting exploitation. But if we choose what we buy wisely, we can contribute to breaking the cycle of abuse that harms the people behind the products,” said Tara Dermott, IOM X Program Leader.

There are approximately 16.6 million people in forced labour in Asia Pacific, across a variety of industries, including manufacturing. Annual illegal profits from forced labour in Asia, including manufacturing, are an estimated US$52 billion (Bt162 billion).

Human trafficking victims in manufacturing jobs in Asia Pacific often live in substandard housing, are not paid their full salaries, and have their documents confiscated to prevent them from leaving their jobs. They may be subjected to unpaid overtime, hazardous working conditions (such as working with toxic chemicals and dangerous machinery) and are at risk of injuries resulting from repetitive motions. Not having the right protective clothing and gear can lead to serious health issues such as cancer, respiratory illnesses, dermatological problems, liver damage, hearing problems and neurological problems.

Debt bondage – the practice of forcing someone to pay off a loan by working – is a common practice used in the manufacturing industry to keep victims bound to their workplace. For example, a migrant working in the electronics manufacturing industry in Southeast Asia pays an average of $500 to $1,200 in recruitment fees; often these fees are then deducted from the worker’s salary.

Find out more at IOMX.org/tham to learn to understand where the products you buy come from, and how you can help prevent the exploitation of the people who make them.

Roland Cohan will lead the first-level training, titled “The Art of Being Human”, demonstrating the simple technique of mindfulness and awareness, which can benefit people of any spiritual tradition and enrich their existing spiritual path.

This path shows how to take the challenges of daily life in our modern society as opportunities for both contemplative practice and social action.

Suited for both beginners and those with experience, “The Art of Being Human” offers a foundation of sitting practice together with mind-body practices. Participants will be introduced to the Shambhala path of “warriorship” based on the development of genuineness, confidence, humour and dignity.

Cohen is a senior teacher in Shambhala who has served as resident senior teacher for Shambhala in New Zealand and resident director of Shambhala training in Boulder, Colorado. He has taught at Naropa University and continues to teach in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Shambhala Training is inspired by the ancient legend of the Kingdom of Shambhala, said to be a society that drew its gentle and fearless sense of social responsibility from the practice of meditation.

The legend has been a guiding vision for many centuries in Asian culture and has parallels in Western traditions. All aspects of our daily life and society – family, commerce, education, the arts – can be permeated with a sense of sacredness.

The Art of Being Human” sessions from April 13 to 15 include talks by the director, individual meditation instruction meetings, periods of walking and sitting meditation, mindbody exercises and group discussions.

Learn more at https://Bangkok.Shambhala.info.

The Hope Fair – a socially responsible project set up in 2014 – returns for its summer edition and takes place in the second floor ballroom of The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok on May 31 from 9am to 3pm. Shoppers have the opportunities to give back to communities by supporting the exhibitors so they can continue their mission and donate to kids in need in the slums of Khlong Toei. Entrance is free. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/events/1813246942053259/

A night with Bill Bailey

The Westin Grande Sukhumvit plays host to Bill Bailey on April 5 for a low down on his travel tales and general shenanigans over 20 years as a travelling comedian. With brand new material interlaced with Bailey’s signature musical virtuosity, surreal tangents and trademark intelligence, he tackles politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness. Tickets are Bt1,000 available at http://www.TicketFlap.com/billbaileybkk18 or through Facebook.com/events/209376689807542/.

Music on the beach

Sunset Beach Music Festival 2018 – a ska and reggae music festival on the beach – is back on Cha-Am Beach in front of Platoo Restaurant in Phetchaburi tomorrow. Running from 1pm until late at night, it features T-Bone, Job 2 Do, Srirajah Rockers, Pongsit Kampee, Singto Numchok, Miraculous, Deep ‘O’ Sea, Mocca Garden, Walrus, Gold Red, Samainainiyom, Rastafari 4e, BKing, Dajim, 90110, Hexthree, and DJ Peachy.

Tickets are Bt900 at 7-Eleven and http://www.AllTicket.com.

All gassed up

American DJ and producer Butane, the founder of Alphahouse Records and Little Helpers, will be in Bangkok tonight performing at Glow on Sukhumvit Soi 23 on March 30 from 9.30 to 3am. DOTT shares the bill. Entry is Bt350 including one drink. Book a table at (086) 614 3355.

Pooley on the spin

German-born record producer and DJ Ian Pooley mans the decks at Beam on Sukhumvit Soi 55 tomorrow night from 9 until late. He will be supported by Wildealer in the main room and Knatz and Foresto in the Dalmation lounge.

Find out more at (02) 392 7750.

The 2018 list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, was announced at Wynn Palace, Macao. Now in its sixth year, the latest list includes eight new entries, with Thailand claiming nine restaurants.

The nine Thailand entries include newcomer Paste (No 31), headed by Bongkoch “Bee’ Satongun, who was also named elit Vodka Asia’s Best Female Chef 2018.

Gaggan Anand of Gaggan, the Best Restaurant in Asia 

Other returning favourites include Suhring (rising nine places to No 4), Nahm (No 10), Le Du (rising 23 places to No 14), Eat Me (No 33), Bo.lan (No 37), Issaya Siamese Club (No.39) and The Dining Room of the House on Sathorn (No 43).

For Japan, Den (No.2) rises nine places to earn the title of The Best Restaurant in Japan, replacing five-time title holder Narisawa (No 6). The top 10 also has Florilege (No 3) and Nihonryori RyuGin (No 9). Tokyo-based Il Ristorante – Luca Fantin – is a newcomer to the list, landing at No 28.

La Cime in Osaka makes its debut on the list at No 17, earning the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored by Aspire Lifestyles. With a menu dedicated to modern French cuisine, Chef Yusuke Takada sources local, seasonal ingredients to present dishes of impeccable style and refinement.

Japanese chefs and restaurants were recognised in several individual award categories. Acclaimed chef Yoshihiro Narisawa is this year’s recipient of the peer-voted Chefs’ Choice Award, sponsored by Estrella Damm. For two decades, Narisawa has earned the respect of his peers with his refined dishes and ability to blend French cooking techniques, employ sustainable practices and honour Japanese culinary traditions.

Ranked No 20 on the 2018 list, L’Effervescence in Tokyo won the inaugural Sustainable Restaurant Award. The award is given to the restaurant with the highest environmental and social responsibility rating, as determined by audit partner the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Rising four places to No 5, chef Julien Royer’s Odette claims the title of The Best Restaurant in Singapore. Singapore claims seven entries on the list, including Burnt Ends (No 12), Waku Ghin (No 23), Les Amis (No 29), Corner House (No 36) and Jaan (No 44) as well as first-time entry Whitegrass (No 50).

Amber (No 7) in Hong Kong is named The Best Restaurant in China for a third successive year. The nine Hong Kong restaurants on the list include such perennials as 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana (No 13), Ta Vie (rising 17 places to No 16) and Lung King Heen (No 24). They’re joined by two newcomers, Neighborhood (No 32) and Belon (No 40).

Hong Kong’s The Chairman (No.22) and Mume in Taipei (No.18) tie for the Highest Climber Award with both restaurants rising 25 places.

The chefs of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018

Macao is represented by Jade Dragon (No 35) while Mainland China counts Shanghai restaurants Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (No 8) and Fu He Hui (No 30).

Mingles (No.11) in Seoul retains the title of The Best Restaurant in Korea while Jungsik lands at No 26, TocToc, the 2017 recipient of the Miele One To Watch Award, enters the list at No.42.

Locavore (No 21) in Bali keeps The Best Restaurant in Indonesia honour while Indian Accent, rising 11 places to No 19, is awarded The Best Restaurant in India for the fourth time. Other country winners include Raw (No 15), winning The Best Restaurant in Taiwan title for a second year, and Ministry of Crab in Colombo (No.25) securing honours as The Best Restaurant in Sri Lanka for a third successive time.

“The Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list welcomes eight new entries in 2018, reflecting the ongoing culinary innovation happening in this region. In its sixth year, we continue to recognise new talents, identify industry trends and celebrate excellence. We are thrilled to honour the 50 restaurants on the 2018 list, as well as the individual award winners, who inspire us with their singular visions and remarkable achievements,” said William Drew, group editor of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Nicolas Lambert of Caprice in Hong Kong also receives Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Valrhona. Hailing from a family of patissiers, Lambert honed his skills training alongside world-acclaimed French pastry chefs, including Christophe Michalak at Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris. Since joining Caprice in Hong Kong in 2015, the French chef’s delicate creations and artful plating have earned him a devoted following. His signature La Framboise Reconstituee reveals his technical skills as well as his ability to push creative boundaries.

The Art of Hospitality Award goes to Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet in Shanghai. Consistently within the top 10 of Asia’s 50 Best, Ultraviolet is an immersive, multi-sensory dining experience that combines gastronomic mastery and theatrical wizardry. Transported to a mystery purpose-built venue, guests are served a tasting menu in which each course is accompanied by bespoke lighting, visual effects and other senses-stimulating cues.

Other award recipients include Toyo Eatery in Manila earning the Miele One To Watch Award for its modern interpretations of Filipino culinary traditions. Celebrated chef Andre Chiang, of Raw in Taipei and formerly of Restaurant Andre in Singapore, is this year’s deserving recipient of The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award.

Find out more at http://www.TheWorlds50Best.com/asia.

The city has 16 foreign consular missions and 281 Fortune 500 enterprises, and is steadily becoming the first choice for industries, capital and talent in mid-west China.

Compared with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other firsttier cities, Chengdu boasts greater radiating power and potential, as well as lower marketing costs by means of exhibitions and fairs.

In the past five years, a large number of agricultural organisations, business associations and enterprise representatives from a dozen countries and regions have been attracted to each exposition for transactions and exchanges.

This year’s expo will occupy 55,000 square metres and host 1,500 exhibitors. An estimated 50,000 professional purchasers will be invited, including wholesalers, agents, distributors, chambers of commerce, supermarkets, hotels, industrial parks, government agencies, farmers running large plantations and breeding sites, scientific research institutions, universities and colleges and military outfits.

As a professional operation, the Chengdu expo provides a variety of exhibition services, including project cooperation promotion, product purchase resource matching, points of contact with agricultural parks and factories about visitations, consultation opportunities regarding governmental policies, points of contact with industry and business associations, and individual interviews and key media reports.

A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) — based on sales data for 76 countries — shows that consumption of antibiotics increased 65 percent from 2000 to 2015, driven by users in low- and middle-income countries.

The research team headed by scientists from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in the US capital said countries needed to invest in alternative treatments, sanitation and vaccination.

“With antibiotic consumption increasing worldwide, the challenge posed by antibiotic resistance is likely to get worse,” said the authors of the study, which was published in Monday’s edition of PNAS.

“Antibiotic resistance, driven by antibiotic consumption, is a growing global health threat,” it said.

“As with climate change, there may be an unknown tipping point, and this could herald a future without effective antibiotics.”

In the 76 countries studied, the number of so-called “defined daily doses” consumed rose from 21.2 billion in 2000 to 34.8 billion in 2015.

Eili Klein, a researcher at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy and one of the study’s authors, said the jump signifies “increased access to needed drugs in countries with lots of disease that can be effectively treated with antibiotics.”

But, Klein warned: “As more and more countries gain access to these drugs, these rates will only increase and that will drive resistance rates higher.”

One group of experts formed in the United Kingdom in 2014 estimates that in 2016, there were at least 700,000 deaths related to drug-resistant infections.

– Stop overuse –

Over the 16-year period studied, the increase in antibiotics consumption was marginal in the three countries with the highest usage — the United States, France and Italy.

But it was a different story elsewhere: in Asia, consumption of antibiotics more than doubled in India, skyrocketed 79 percent in China and rose 65 percent in Pakistan.

The three countries are the biggest users of antibiotics among the countries deemed low and middle-income for the purposes of the study.

They are also countries that suffer in some areas from poor sanitation, irregular access to vaccines and a lack of cleaning drinking water — all conditions that allow infectious diseases and drug-resistant infections to spread.

“Radical rethinking of policies to reduce consumption is necessary, including major investments in improved hygiene, sanitation, vaccination, and access to diagnostic tools both to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and to decrease the burden of infectious disease,” the study says.

For Klein, eliminating overuse of antibiotics should be “a first step and a priority for every country” especially given the alarming projection that by 2030, consumption may have increased by another 200 percent.

“Estimates are that 30 percent of use in high income countries is inappropriate,” Klein told AFP.

“Kilorun 2018: The Running Festival of Food/Fun/Friend/Family” introduced an entirely new race concept, motivating everyone, no matter their level, to get outdoors and keep fit. It was held last weekend at Lan Khon Muang Plaza and the course took runners through Rattanakosin Island and offered them an opportunity to indulge in gastronomic experiences.

The first race “KG (Kilogram) Aroi Run” held on Saturday was set up as a leisure route of eating and sightseeing. Along the 2.4 kilometre route, runners could chow down on signature dishes from Kopi Hia Tai Gee, Udom Pochana, Err Urban Rustic Thai, Krua Apsorn, Mont Nom Sod, Lan Fha, Radna Yod Pak Sood 40 Pee, Matsaya, Nutthaporn Ice Cream and Made by Todd Chili Chili. Runners passed such scenic locations such as Giant Swing, The Golden Mount, Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat) and Rajdamnoen Avenue and those who gained between 0.5 and 1 kilogram were awarded with special rewards. More than 600 entrants took part.

The KM (Kilometre) Breakfast Run kicked off the activities on Sunday at Lan Khon Muang Plaza. The route covered a loop of beautiful attractions such as the Giant Swing, Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat), Democracy Monument, Sanam Luang (Royal Plaza), the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Museum Siam and San Chao Pho Sua (Tiger God Shrine) and the race itself was classified into three distances of 2.5, 5.5 and 9 kilometers. More than 2,000 entrants participated in and received a race pack exclusively designed for the event.

The two-day event was organised by Index Creative Village in collaboration with Air Asia and the Traffic Foundation. An exclusive line-up of stars, celebrities and other public figures also showed up at the series, including actor Thana “Nhong” Thana Chatborirak and his little sister Wanmai, DJ Archawin “Ton” Lhaisakul, former professional tennis player Danai “Pick” Udomchoke and his family and actress Ratchawin “Koy” Wongviriya.

Three runners wearing the best fancy dress costumes in the KG Aroi Run were rewarded with an exclusive “Baowhill” plush doll as well as air tickets to Osaka, Bali and Hanoi.

The male and female winners of the KM (Kilometre) Breakfast Run took home a year’s supply of domestic flights along with tickets to Osaka for two seats. The winners of the 5.5 kilometre won an international flight, as did those to cross the finish line first in the 2.5 km Kids Run.

The next event is slated to take place in Bali on June 2-3.

Thirteen years have passed since Thailand officially entered the “ageing” society and 16 since it adopted the Second National Plan for Older Persons, 2002-2021 and while the intentions were good, a mere 28.6 per cent of the goals set out have actually been implemented and progress continues to be painfully slow on other objectives listed in the strategy.

Now help is on the horizon. Instead of letting the government go it alone, the Pfizer Thailand Foundation has stepped in with a three-year project titled “Pfizer Healthy Ageing Society”.

“We considered many projects but decided on this one in light of the lack of progress on the national plan and the fact that the focus is on seniors who are going to retire very soon or have already retired. Besides, most of the projects focus on healthcare while we think that financial preparation is also crucial. The Pfizer Healthy Ageing Society therefore focuses on physical health, mental health and savings,” says Siriwan Chuenchomsakun, a trustee and secretary to Pfizer Thailand Foundation.

Without preparation for life in their golden years, Thailand’s elderly cannot be guaranteed a comfortable existence. It’s expected that by 2021, more than 20 per cent of Thailand’s population will be over the age of 60 making Thailand what is known as a “complete ageing” society. By 2023 will be a “super aged” society, meaning that the elderly will make up more than 28 per cent of the total population.

Pfizer Thailand Foundation is working with Kenan Institute Asia and the project, now in its second year, and following 12 months of implementation in Bangkok, has turned its attention to building a healthy elderly population in Ubon Ratchathani Province

The project brings together a panel of the country’s leading health academics and practitioners to provide a deeper understanding of healthy living and behavioural change that will lead to good physical health, strong mental health and adequate savings.

The Bt17 million budget is funded by the foundation and is used to create workshops and activities to build on the health, society and economic data collected from target populations. It then uses that information to develop a holistic healthcare approach for pre-seniors (aged 45-59), selecting them from the public healthcare and school systems by giving them the knowledge they need to prepare for old age.

“They not only have time to prepare but we hope that each of them will pass on the knowledge to their communities and students,” says Supaporn Mahaphontrakoon, project manager, Kenan Institute Asia.

The society’s recent pre-senior workshop in Ubon Ratchathani Province saw 120 change agents from public health offices, community healthcare volunteers, community development academics, and community thought leaders participating, exchanging holistic health and financial knowledge vital to bring about behavioural shifts towards wellbeing and healthy ageing. The activity plays a vital role in helping to imbue a deep understanding in the community and prepare Thailand to become a truly healthy ageing society.

It is just one of several workshop and activities, with topics ranging from “get to know about healthy ageing and preparations for ageing”, “lovely home”, “how eating can prevent NCDs”, “ease mind, balance body”, “anti-amnesia medicine” and “financial literacy’.

The Bangkok leg of the project tackled the Khlong Toei and Bang Khunthien areas where relationships between potential change agents and the community were already strong.

Both locations created around 120 change agents and each of them will pass on their knowledge to around five people. “In fact, what we learned is that they can spread the knowledge to 30 individuals,” Supaporn says.

After the training, the change agent distributes healthy ageing practices to their groups, from teachers to students or from public health officers to their patients and their communities. In Bangkok, the project also provided nine grants of Bt50,000 for proposals initiated by the change agent to implement in their community so that they can pass on their knowledge through the activities.

“What we found is that each project is mainly in healthcare and in a conventional format. So we gave some advice to allow them to start by addressing problems or issues already faced in the community and which therefore will have more impact.”

Ubon Ratchathani was chosen because it is home to a high number of elderly and has strong and active community relationships between public health officials and older people.

Kesorn Prachoomdaeng, 55, is a public health technical officer who works in the town’s municipal hospital and focuses on preventive care. She’s responsible for three villages and decided to join the project to learn more about wellness in the elderly. “I am going to be an old person soon, so I want to prepare for it,” she says.

Meanwhile Pimporn Uthaphu, 40, also a public health technical officer but from Warin Chamrab, says she had never really thought about the need to adapt the home to cater to elderly, such as replacing the squat toilet, which is still in common use upcountry, providing easy to use faucets and adapting stairs to avoid falls.

Kesorn and Pimporn also benefited from learning about the mental health of the elderly as both have parents living with them.

“What we heard during the training is exactly what is happening at our homes and that has given us a better understanding of an old person’s mentality,” says Kesron, adding that her mother who has just finished chemotherapy for cancer wants to go back to working in the rice field. Pimporn’s father has all the symptoms of alcoholism but still drinks everyday.

As civil servants with a pension, they admit that the knowledge about savings doesn’t really concern them. Yet according to the project’s baseline KAP (Knowledge Attitude and Practice) survey conducted by Kenan, financial literacy is a forgotten issue on the elderly agenda. While many do understand the importance of saving, they find it impossible to manage their finances. A whopping 65 per cent in Bangkok and 93 per cent in Ubon have household debts.

Suvipha Chaladki, the consultant from Kenan responsible for the project’s financial components, says that despite huge debts, it is not only possible but vital to have savings.

“If you are in debt and don’t have any savings, then what do you do when you have, say, a medical emergency? You end up having to borrow money and that increases your debt,” she says.

Dr Kittima Sriwatanakul, senior project manager, Pfizer Thailand Foundation, adds that even though the project aims to raise consciousness for soon-to-be seniors, it would be impossible to implement it countrywide.

“So we have to build the change agents as the key persons to pass on the knowledge. It’s a big issue so we want to create a model which the government sector can work from and expand.”

The major problem, she adds, is to convince people to change their attitude.

“We all have the knowledge and know how to do it but we can’t do it. So we have to change our attitude then do it repeatedly until it becomes a habit. Changing the behaviour is the toughest part, as people will only do that if they face a crisis. But getting old is not a crisis and if we ignore the preparations until we are actually old, then it’s too late.”

Siriwan Arunthippaitoon, senior expert with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security’s Department of Older Persons and adviser to the project, says the first phase of the project was successfully implemented thanks to the cooperation between the government and private sectors, and civil society.

“Today the project is entering a second phase built on strong national and community networks,” she says.

 Heineken, the global beer brand that bills itself as being born in Amsterdam and raised by the world, takes Thais back through the ages this weekend through an immersive theatrical experience that traces its history. Dubbed “Star Venture” and featuring cutting-edge visuals and spectacular multimedia innovations, it’s being staged at the General Post Office in Bang Rak to mark the brand’s 145th anniversary.

“Heineken remains committed to offering consumers unrivalled experiences through the concept of ‘Open Your World’ in all its ongoing activities. This year, Heineken is proud to launch this product-focused campaign through the ‘Star Venture’ event, an immersive theatrical experience that presents Heineken’s brand history and heritage from four important years of the company’s history. This is also reflected in vintage Heineken labels on our bottles and cans for fans to collect. Despite having undergone many redesigns, our identity and premium quality have remained consistent. We are excited about this upcoming performance,” says Pattapanee Ekahitanond, marketing manager for Heineken and Strongbow at TAP Group in Thailand.

The General Post Office, also known as the Grand Postal Building and built in 1940, will be transformed into the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam for the occasion and showcase four important years in Heineken’s history. The production starts in 1873 with “Amsterdam Start-up” featuring the origins of Heineken. In this zone, you will meet Mr Heineken who discovers the “magical” ingredient called Heineken A-yeast, a strain that is still used today.

“Grand Prix Paris” marks 1889 and showcases Heineken’s popularity after winning the top award at the World Fair in Paris. In this zone, visitors will be surrounded by such famous inventors as Thomas Edison and Gustave Eiffel, and celebrate this successful moment for Heineken with performance of the can-can. “Crossing Borders” marks 1950 and Heineken’s growth through its international distribution and shipments to other countries while “Icons in the Making” going back to 1953 recounts the return of the red star as Heineken’s signature logo. Here viewers will meet fascinating pin-up girls and get to see the unique advertising that attracted beer drinkers, in addition to meeting famous icons from this golden era such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.

Arissara “Look Boone” Chounchaisit, one of Thailand’s leading stage directors and choreographers, is responsible for creating the show. Dr Nalin Petchin directs and actor Matthew Deane portrays Mr Heineken.

“I am so happy to be creating this show because what we are doing is something new here in Thailand. ‘Interactive theatre’ means the audience will not only sit and watch the show, but they become part of the show. The performers can interact and chat with the audience. This sort of show is very new, and more importantly it doesn’t occur in one room, it involves time travel in a series of rooms,” Arissara explains.

“It’s a challenge and we have to thank Heineken for taking the initiative with different ideas and giving the audience a chance to learn and experience something new. It was challenging to organise the sessions so as to allow the audience to enjoy the full experience in a limited time. What was also really amazing for our team was in learning the Heineken story, which was new to all of us. This allowed us to do a lot of research and we realised that it wasn’t so easy for Heineken to become the successful brand it is today.

“It’s such an honour to be a part of this show. I’d like to thank Heineken for entrusting me to play Mr Heineken. I’m a huge fan of the Heineken brand and raking on this important role allowed me to learn more about the brand and its rich history. I have a much better understanding of Heineken’s timeless taste and quality since 1873 and I hope everyone will enjoy this immersive theatrical performance, because we really put our hearts into this show and did our best to create an interactive experience for everyone to enjoy. This was a major priority for Heineken, and I believe the audience will not be disappointed,” says the actor.

To register, go to Facebook.com/Heineken and Instagram: @heineken_th.