WRITTEN BY
LEOW PUAY TIN

DIRECTED BY
KRISHEN ]IT &
WONG HOY CHEONG

8 - 22 April 1998
KUALA LUMPUR

13 - 14 August 1999
FESTIVAL DER GEISTER
KUNSTHAUS TACHELES
BERLIN
 

FAMILY is inspired by the Chinese classic story of The Yang Women Warriors. The text traces the struggles, aspirations and rise of a Chinese immigrant family in Malaysia from the early 1900s until the present day. The play explores the complex relationships among three generations in the family - Mrs. Yang and her seven sons, one daughter, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. Their fears, dreams and desires are revealed through the episodes performed and the images integrated into the performance.
With the support of:

 

We would like to thank The Edge, John Holland, Centre for Advanced Design, Manja Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar who were among the main sponsors for the original performance of FAMILY iin Kuala Lumpur, in April 1998.

SET
CAROLYN LAU
AND NG SEK SAN
LIGHTS
BERNARD CHAULY
COSTUMES
VICTOR GOH
MUSIC
HALO PRODUCTIONS
PRODUCTION MANAGER
SIMON YAP
TOUR MANAGER
JUNE TAN
PRODUCER
MARION D'CRUZ

PERFORMERS
(Kuala Lumpur)

ANN JAMES
CHEE SEK THIM
CHEW KIN WAH
JACQUELINE ANN SURIN
LEE SWEE KEONG
LENNARD GUI
LOH KOK MAN
PETRA ELAINE PEDLEY
SUE-ANN GOOI
LEOW PUAY TIN

 PERFORMERS
(Berlin)

CHEE SEK THIM
DIONG CHAE LIAN
JACQUELINE ANN SURIN
JUDIMAR MONFILS
LEE SWEE KEONG
LENNARD GUI
LOH KOK MAN
PETRA ELAINE PEDLEY
SUE-ANN GOOI
LEOW PUAY TIN


Leow Puay Tin is one of Malaysia's finest theatre practitioners. As a writer, performer and director she is constantly studying and developing ways and means of creating new voices in theatre. She has written and performed 5 monologues - in Malaysia as well as in Egypt and Australia. She has also written a number of plays which have been performed in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. Puay Tin obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre (Playwriting) at the University of Hawaii and an Advanced Diploma in Voice Studies at the Central School in London. In Berlin: A parallel performance made up of excerpts from Ang Tau Mui - A Modem Woman, written and performed by Leow Puay Tin, will intersect with the staging of FAMILY.

Krishen Jit is a founder member of Five Arts Centre and well-known theatre director who has been influential in the development of the contemporary theatre scene in Malaysia. His writings about theatre can be found in newspapers, culture magazines and academic journals. His directorial achievements cover a span of over 30 years and include works by Usman Awang, Syed Alwi, Dinsman, K.S. Maniam, Kee Thuan Chye, Leow Puay Tin, David Hwang and Dick Lee. Krishen is known for his experimental style of theatre, fusing traditional with contemporary forms. He has been a pioneer in forging a Malaysian identity for theatre and continues to create works that reflect a fast changing psyche, particularly in urban contexts.

Wong Hoy Cheong is one of Malaysia's most acclaimed artists. He has had solo exhibitions in New York, Massachusetts, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. He has also exhibited in Japan, Australia, Austria, France, England and Denmark. He is currently part of an international exhibition called Cities on the Move which has shown in London and will show in Helsinki and Bangkok. Hoy Cheong graduated from Brandeis University and Harvard University in art, literature and education. He is known for his mu lti-d iscipli nary approach in art, using video, installations and performance in his work and for his strong socio-political commentary.

FIVE ARTS CENTRE is a performing and visual arts collective of artists and producers dedicated to generating alternative art forms and images in the Malaysian creative environment. Contemporary social and cultural issues impinging on Malaysian life are precipitated by the Centre by way of exhibitions and creative and research workshops. The Centre's activities include drama, dance, music, young people's theatre (including Teater Muda and Theatre-in-Education, TIE) and the visual arts.


FAMILY premiered at TheatreWorks, Singapore
in April 1992, directed by Ong Keng Sen.