Message from the EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

A Young Director Makes His Mark

Five Arts Centre is proud to present The Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral. A play written by Kuo Pao Kun and directed by Chee Sek Thim.

Kuo Pao Kun is probably the most celebrated playwright in Singapore. In June this year, as part of the Singapore Arts Festival, there was a festival of plays by Kuo Pao Kun in four languages. The English versions of The Coffin Is Too Big For The Hole and No Parking on Odd Days were directed by well known Malaysian director Krishen Jit (also of Five Arts Centre).

The Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral tells the story of Zheng He or Cheng Ho, the famed eunuch admiral of the Ming Dynasty. Part fact, part fiction, the play is a patchwork of episodes from Zheng He's life, interwoven with descriptions of the eunuch hierarchy of ancient China and historical castration methods. A narrator unfolds the play, alternating between storytelling and ruminations which attempt to explore the psychology of the central character. The Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral, a play at once dark and humorous, is a tale of alienation, dislocation and a search for missing parts.

Chee Sek Thim is a new, young director on the vibrant KL theatre scene. Sek Thim, a potter by profession, began his performance career dancing with Marion D’Cruz and Dancers in 1994 and then went on to act in Trees (The Actors Studio, 1997), Mergers and Accusations (Five Arts Centre, 1998) and Family (Five Arts Centre, 1998 in KL and 1999 in Berlin). He also performed in two gamelan concerts - Rhythm In Bronze and Rhythm In Bronze 99. (Five Arts Centre, 1997 and 1999). Last year, Sek Thim tried his hand in directing when he was part of Five Arts Centre’s directors’ workshop - a training workshop for new directors. Under the guidance of experienced directors Krishen Jit and Joe Hasham, Sek Thim directed Leow Puay Tin’s Ang Tau Mui. THe productioni was a runaway success and played to packed houses and rave reviews in February this year.

The Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral is Sek Thim’s second directorial effort. From the success of his first effort, we have no doubt that this play will be exciting and entertaining. More importantly, we are pleased to be supporting a new, young director in the KL theatre scene.

We would be grateful if you could assist us in reaching as many Malaysians as possible with the details of the performance schedule as well as information on the production as attached below.

We thank you in advance and should you have any queries at all please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,
Marion D'Cruz
Executive Producer
October 2, 2000

For further information please call Five Arts Centre – 7725 4858; Simon Yap – 012-238 6096; or e-mail us at fivearts@tm.net.my.