The festival is described as "an important and unique event in British theatre, designed to promote the best of contemporary East Asian drama through playreadings directed by distinguished guest directors. ... To date, Typhoon has showcased work from new and established writers across 10 East Asian countries. This year, T4 presents work from Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea and from Yellow Earth and Soho Theatre's Yellow Ink initiative which nurtures young British East Asian writers."
Here's the blurb about the play:
Allegorical and clever, The Big Purge is a hilarious play that addresses very serious issues. Set in Equaland, it moves between the shadowy wayang kulit world of ruling politicians and the naturalistic world of five people of various ethnic origins caught in a meelstrom of racial politics. At the core is a plot to purge Equaland of dissenters and Opposition Partly stalwarts who have become increasingly critical - a plot concocted by none other than the constipated, manipulative Chief Minister. What effect will his machinations have on the populace? will they be cowed by the spectre of racial violence? How will the immigrant races respond to this test of their royalty - stay on in Equaland or emigrate to Australia?
Hmmmm .... any of this sound familiar?
The festival runs from 17-21 May 2005, and if you are going to be in London (and how I wish I was!), do go and check it out.
6 comments:
Hi Sharon,
This is good news indeed.
But my personal take is that I hope there comes a day when an Asian involved in the Arts can stand hand in hand with the West, for an outstanding if not on par individual excellence and not to be shown because he/she is Asian, has written an Asian play and specifically fits an Asian category. Somehow, it spoils the fun a little for me. In that way, book publishing in Britain offers that more exciting challenge as opposed to the theatre festival in this particular aspect. Which is why as you have added it is 'increasingly
true' that writers are finding it harder to be published in Britain. But this difficulty also arises from it being such fair game. You're thrown into the deep with every skin colour under the sun and only your story will speak for you. You're not chosen for a asian tale to fill any kind of quota or multicultural void but simply because you have the talent to sell and an exciting tale that matches the deal. So I like that excitment better. So far in Australia and in Britain at this time I don't know of any big Asian writing festival as such. A writing festival remains for everyone and anyone worth his/her salt with something worthwhile to read from his/her published work is invited.
But this is good news all the same.
At least, Malaysia has the opportunity to put on a play. And definitely congratulations are in order for Kee! Thank you for the news.
"I hope there comes a day when an Asian involved in the Arts can stand hand in hand with the West, for an outstanding if not on par individual excellence and not to be shown because he/she is Asian, has written an Asian play and specifically fits an Asian category."
Agree with you, Susan.
Agree too with what you say about book publishing, by and large. (enjoy being a bit of a pian inn your side as you do in mine, I think! And i think it leads to very useful debate.) But there are plenty of examples of publishers missing excellent manuscripts which have then gone on to win awards or sell really well when the authors have had the faith in themselves to self-publish or work with a small press.
sharon, thanks for the info. Will certainly make an efoort to go. Sorry, I bloghopped here. Should have said hello first!
Hi Kak Teh - no need to introduce yourself - know you from Susan's blog - and you're very welcome. "Bloghopped" is a great word - wonder if it is the Oxford english dictionary yet?
Something else about Kee: He is actually writing a novel. 3 years ago New Writing 10 published an extract from his novel in progress. The piece in NW10 is actually quite innovative. The narration is all in some Penang English patois. Most of the words are spelt out like in some kind of phonetics: like der for the, los for lost. Wonder if he has completed his novel.
There was a reading from it at the Litfest last year (by Nell Ng). It's a novel I would love to see finished. How badly we need writers who speak with an authentic Malaysian voice.
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