Contemporary Asian Australian Performance and Arts on Tour share a common goal: to enrich our regional stages with diverse stories and artists, engaging audiences, and communities alike. The Engage! Report and Toolkit, a collaboration between CAAP and AOT, distills insights from the 2022 Double Delicious tour into practical steps for touring presenters and venues across Australia.
Drawing from community engagement activities at The Art House Wyong, Bunjil Place, Merrigong Theatre Company and Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, these resources explore everything from effective community engagement strategies to making foyers more welcoming. Dive into the 'Engage! Report' for real-world case studies and insights from our findings, then explore the 'Engage! Toolkit' for practical steps further reading to inspire continued action.
This initiative represents a significant shift towards meaningful connections with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse* communities and beyond. It's more than just filling seats—it's about creating lasting connections and welcoming spaces for all! Join us in making the performing arts landscape more inclusive and vibrant for everyone.
DEVELOPED BY Contemporary Asian Australian Performance and Arts on Tour SUPPORTED BY Creative Australia through the Re-Imagine Sector Recovery Fund WRITTEN BY Phillip Mar, Haneen Mahmood Martin and Sandi Woo
*Yes, we know this term is complicated - read the report for more!
“The story that’s haunted me and that I keep coming back to is much closer to home.” - Jane Hutcheon
Throughout her adventurous journalism career, one story has intrigued Jane Hutcheon more than any other: the story of her mother Beatrice’s turbulent childhood in pre-Communist Shanghai. It’s the tale of an ordinary Eurasian family in extraordinary times, set against a backdrop of fading colonial opulence and looming war.
After visiting Shanghai in 2018, Jane began to search for the truth of her mother’s difficult beginnings. Lost in Shanghai is her family’s story of survival. Beatrice becomes a journalist at the South China Morning Post in the 1950’s, perhaps setting a precedent for her daughter. Using projected images from the family archive curated by renowned photographer William Yang and music composed and performed by Dr Terumi Narushima, Jane narrates the moving story of Lost in Shanghai in her own words.
Co-Directed by William Yang and Tasnim Hossain, Lost in Shanghai adds to the rich collection of theatrical storytelling works from Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP), such as Double Delicious, The Backstories, In Between Two, Who Speaks for Me and Stories Then and Now.
"A tantalising insight into the breadth and bravery she displayed across her career." - The Sydney Morning Herald
“I challenge anyone not to be moved by this beautiful and moving tribute.” - Theatre Travels
“Lost in Shanghai is a very moving night at the theatre...It is storytelling at its best...” - Glam Adelaide
Key Creatives
Writer/Performer Jane Hutcheon Co-Director William Yang Co-Director/Dramaturg Tasnim Hossain Composer/Musician Terumi Narushima Lighting Designer Susan Grey Gardner Stage Manager Jen Jackson Production Manager Sam Read Tour Manager Michelle St Anne Tour Partner:Arts on Tour
Tickets and Performances
The Concourse presented by Willoughby City Council Fri 16 Feb, 7PM TICKETS
Darwin Entertaiment Centre Fri 23 Feb,10:30AM & 7:30PM Sat 24 Feb, 7:30PM TICKETS
Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre Tue 27 Feb, 8PM TICKETS
The West Australian theatre industry is witnessing a surging demand for diverse voices and stories. During this time of change, how can we best nurture and cultivate these stories, weaving the vibrant tapestry of diverse communities into our narratives? What support systems must be forged to ensure these artists receive not just the attention and opportunity but resources to go with it?
Join Encounter and Contemporary Asian Australian Performance at The Blue Room Theatre for an invigorating artist-led discussion, that delves deep into the significance of robust support systems and the art of intercultural storytelling. Come along to assess the essential components, available resources, and further development required to ensure the sector’s future resilience with us.
The conversation will feature panelists Laura Liu, Min Zhu, Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa and Jay Emmanuel.
Join us afterwards, for drinks and nibbles in true Longhouse style!
Date: 28 November Time: 6pm Location: The Blue Room Theatre
A sumptuous audio-visual experience and song cycle by award-winning vocalist, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Rainbow Chan 陳雋然.
Drawing on her Weitou ancestry (first settlers of Hong Kong), Chan reimagines a Weitou ritual known as the bridal lament, a public performance of grief in which a bride wept and sang in front of family and friends. In this liminal space, brides expressed bitterness towards their arranged marriages and the prevailing patriarchal rule.
Conceived and structured as a song cycle, The Bridal Lament brings to life intergenerational and cross-cultural perspectives on diasporic experiences and the complex history of Hong Kong. With a new suite of songs by Chan and direction from Tessa Leong, this lush and lavish work pays homage to ritual in a vibrant and dynamic world of projection, movement and colour.
Rainbow Chan’s music and shows have been hailed as ‘genre-bending art pop’ (NME) and ‘bewitchingly elfin in the exactly the same way that those words have been used to describe Bjork.’ (The Music).
“A striking and unique homage to heritage and sisterhood that could only be led by an artist such as Rainbow Chan.”
“A welcome return and uncompromising slice of art-pop.”
“unmistakeably poetic in nature…The Bridal Lament 哭嫁歌 is tender yet intense.” – Suzy Goes See
Performances
Wednesday 8 – Sunday 19 May 2024 Preview: Wed 8 May, 7.30pm Wed – Sat, 7.30pm Sun 19 May, 5pm 70 mins
Standard $35 Reduced $20 BLAKTIX $10 A small transaction fee will be charged per order.
Post-show Artist Talk Thu 16 May for all ticket holders
Auslan Performance Thu 16 May, 7.30pm
Key Creatives
Lead Artist and Performer Rainbow Chan陳雋然 Director Tessa Leong Choreographic Consultants Amrita Hepi & Victoria Hunt Video Design Rel Pham Set Design Al Joel & Emily Borghi Costume Design Al Joel Lighting Concept Govin Ruben Lighting Realisers Susie Henderson and Sam Read Cultural Consultant and Narrator Irene Cheung 張翠屏 Video Programmer Daniel Herten
Produced by Contemporary Asian Australian Performance.
Co-commissioned by Performance Space and OzAsia Festival as part of Liveworks Festival 2023 and OzAsia 2023.
Supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, the NSW Government through Create NSW, the Besen Foundation, Playking Foundation, the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, and West Kowloon Cultural District.
With commissioning support from City of Melbourne through Arts House, and Carriageworks. Generously supported by George Paramananthan and ParamCo.
Warnings
The Bridal Lament contains haze, loud sounds, low lighting, lights that change in colours and intensity, black out and flashing moving imagery.
Performance includes translation of Weitou dialect into English through open captioning.
Detailed access information is available to download below PDF | Word Doc
Check out Seven Sisters written, performed, produced and recorded by Rainbow Chan,
Previous Seasons
Liveworks Festival 19–22 Oct Bay 20, Carriageworks
OzAsia Festival 1–2 Nov 2023 Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre Theatre
