February 2012 - EMILY OF EMERALD HILL, SYDNEY

BACKGROUND

Chin San Sooi has commissioned TCS to produce the dramatic monologue, Emily of Emerald Hill at the Phoenix Theatre, Wollongong in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area, in February 2012.

Emily of Emerald Hill, by well known Singaporean playwright Stella Kon has been staged extensively within Peninsular Malaysia at prestigious performing venues such as Istana Budaya, Panggung Bandaraya, Shangrila Kuala Lumpur and at international hotels as well as theatres in Singapore, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Edinburgh and Vancouver BC. Emily of Emerald Hill first took the stage 27 years ago and since then it has become an English literature text and a cult classic and been continuously staged, at the request of leading hotels, restaurants and charities/non-governmental organisations, as a benefit performance or fund raiser. in 1995, Istana Budaya, our national theatre, commissioned Emily of Emerald Hill to celebrate the opening of its ancillary theatre space Lambang Sari. Veteran actress Pearlly Chua who currently plays Emily, first stepped into Emily's beaded slippers in 1990 and has played the role more than 140 times.

The story has captured the imagination of thousands, drawn irrevocably into the wealthy Singaporean family, with Emily who is all manner of women rolled into one. They smile with indulgent amusement as Emily takes them through the triumphs of the early years of her marriage, insinuating herself into the good books of her parents-in-law as a teenaged bride, coming up as winner in her many one-upwomanship battles with sister-in-law Susie, establishing herself as society belle and finally becoming respected matron.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

The newly refurbished Phoenix Theatre in the suburb of Wollongong within the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area, has invited us to stage Emily of Emerald Hill for a total of 24 performances during the entire month of February 2012. Apart from the performances, there will be drama workshops and talks on the nyonya culture for educational institutions and community groups.

The performances will be staged on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning with the first performance on Wed 1 February 2012. Sundays will be rest days while on Mondays and Tuesdays, will be used for a series of drama workshops talks on the uniqueness of the baba and nyonya culture in Singapore.

SPONSORSHIP & SUPPORT

Carol Selvarajah, a well known Malaysian gourmet chef, now resident in Sydney, will be catering an exclusive nyonya dinner for 100 guests at the premiere performance.

This production enjoys the support of