PLAY: m u i by katlyn wong
Where delusions collide in an intimate & vivid theatrical experience…
Produced by behind the nightlight
BATS Theatre season, 6 – 13 April, Time 9pm no show Sun/Mon
The story
The shaking of a stick to determine ones fate, not a word or an action wasted as Katlyn Wong’s imagination breaths life into detailing her characters and the world they inhabit. New Zealand’s the land of milk and honey; migration has always been based on this promise of a better life. From China to Hong Kong and a leap of faith to New Zealand. The story unfolds from the small beginnings of the family business as it expands, reflected by the family’s hopes and desires. This is the environment that mui is shaped a small girls dreams are punctuated by dramatic life changes and choices that that lead to a very different reality. As her treasures and culture are packed up in her toy box and she embarks on her journey. “Ever feel that your life is being played out like a movie watching the events unfold like a high speed crash towards its conclusion this is the story of Mui” Katlyn wong
Katlyn’s emotional integrity as a performer, engages with an audience in a unique culturally enlightening insight into the background of this Chinese New Zealander.
mui will be in Cantonese supported with subtitles and English, where language isn’t a barrier to a Chinese speaking audience, or an alienating experience for an English speaking audience. By putting the work in a mainstream theatre like Bats Theatre we will achieve this blending of our audiences. Bats mainstream audience can have the opportunity to see a multicultural show within Bats programme, and also provide an accessible performance for the Asian audiences. Audiences desire for work that fulfils this reflection of the diversity of the multi- cultural make up of New Zealand.
Katlyn explores the themes of time, delusions, dreams, by devising firstly in Cantonese. This contemporary work delves into the mainstream culture that has created the junk/s- upon which Chinese women are stereotyped. The benefit of developing her first solo work is she able to create a vehicle to express herself and reflect in a more comprehensive way exploring a wider range than the clichéd roles that exist in the mainstream at the moment for Asian actors.
This contemporary piece of theatre is for all kiwis, with its universal themes. Audiences can identify with and relate to her characters and their stories as we find commonalities and explore humorous and at other times difficult experiences. Katlyn’s graduate solo performance 2004 at Toi Whakaari – NZ Drama School was a bilingual devised work that shied way from cross-cultural cliché and easy exotification.
“I came away from her show convinced that I had witnessed the future of New Zealand Chinese Theatre. Challenging, effortlessly bilingual, and ardently embracing the contemporary disruptions of ever-multiplying identity-these are the real 21st century Chinese women that we need to see on stage.” Tze Ming Mok Auckland based writer recipient of Todd New Writer’s Bursary and Editor of Landfall.
Lighting by Martyn Roberts - Maui - one man against the Gods for Tanemauta Gray. Nominated 10 times at the prestigious Chapman Tripp Awards for his work, Martyn has built a reputation for innovation, latest design is for Dr Buller’s Birds for the 2006 Festival of the Arts.
AV and visuals by Bret Skinner
Produced by behind the nightlight
BATS Theatre season, 6 – 13 April, Time 9pm no show Sun/Mon
The story
The shaking of a stick to determine ones fate, not a word or an action wasted as Katlyn Wong’s imagination breaths life into detailing her characters and the world they inhabit. New Zealand’s the land of milk and honey; migration has always been based on this promise of a better life. From China to Hong Kong and a leap of faith to New Zealand. The story unfolds from the small beginnings of the family business as it expands, reflected by the family’s hopes and desires. This is the environment that mui is shaped a small girls dreams are punctuated by dramatic life changes and choices that that lead to a very different reality. As her treasures and culture are packed up in her toy box and she embarks on her journey. “Ever feel that your life is being played out like a movie watching the events unfold like a high speed crash towards its conclusion this is the story of Mui” Katlyn wong
Katlyn’s emotional integrity as a performer, engages with an audience in a unique culturally enlightening insight into the background of this Chinese New Zealander.
mui will be in Cantonese supported with subtitles and English, where language isn’t a barrier to a Chinese speaking audience, or an alienating experience for an English speaking audience. By putting the work in a mainstream theatre like Bats Theatre we will achieve this blending of our audiences. Bats mainstream audience can have the opportunity to see a multicultural show within Bats programme, and also provide an accessible performance for the Asian audiences. Audiences desire for work that fulfils this reflection of the diversity of the multi- cultural make up of New Zealand.
Katlyn explores the themes of time, delusions, dreams, by devising firstly in Cantonese. This contemporary work delves into the mainstream culture that has created the junk/s- upon which Chinese women are stereotyped. The benefit of developing her first solo work is she able to create a vehicle to express herself and reflect in a more comprehensive way exploring a wider range than the clichéd roles that exist in the mainstream at the moment for Asian actors.
This contemporary piece of theatre is for all kiwis, with its universal themes. Audiences can identify with and relate to her characters and their stories as we find commonalities and explore humorous and at other times difficult experiences. Katlyn’s graduate solo performance 2004 at Toi Whakaari – NZ Drama School was a bilingual devised work that shied way from cross-cultural cliché and easy exotification.
“I came away from her show convinced that I had witnessed the future of New Zealand Chinese Theatre. Challenging, effortlessly bilingual, and ardently embracing the contemporary disruptions of ever-multiplying identity-these are the real 21st century Chinese women that we need to see on stage.” Tze Ming Mok Auckland based writer recipient of Todd New Writer’s Bursary and Editor of Landfall.
Lighting by Martyn Roberts - Maui - one man against the Gods for Tanemauta Gray. Nominated 10 times at the prestigious Chapman Tripp Awards for his work, Martyn has built a reputation for innovation, latest design is for Dr Buller’s Birds for the 2006 Festival of the Arts.
AV and visuals by Bret Skinner
posted by Socket @ 9:48 pm
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