How To Throw A Chinese Funeral
By Jill Kwan
Photography: John Rata // Poster Design: John Rata, Jill Kwan, Jennifer Chuek
When Lily and Anna’s grandmother passes away, they must reunite with their family in Malaysia to orchestrate her Taoist funeral - a custom lost even to their headstrong mum and outrageous Auntie. With old tensions bursting and new revelations challenging all they thought was true, the family must ask themselves: When the past is forgotten, are we next?
How To Throw A Chinese Funeral follows three generations of women through Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, and Auckland, tracing their lives and relationships across history toward a heart-wrenching and hilarious family reunion.
“it is the ability to recreate the complex dynamics of intergenerational misunderstanding and perhaps even deceit, tinged with an unique Malaysian flavour, that gives this production its edge...How to Throw a Chinese Funeral is lovingly, beautifully crafted and produced…”
“The key details in set design, music and lighting, character physicality, and puppetry transported me into the shoes of several Chinese immigrants, into timelines that span decades, and into cultural narratives that hold immense significance.”
“Loved the story and the characters. A beautiful moving show, love this script. Some surprising and wonderful performances from the actors. A brilliant combination of drama and comedy. This is an exciting new work and I would love to see future iterations of it.”
- Review by: Anonymous Audience Member
CAST
Janet Tan as Yi
Yoong Ru Heng as Mei
Lisa Zhang as Lily
Ann An as Anna
Mustaq Missouri as Lishanth
Charles Chan as Monk
Enchante Chen - Voice Cast (Thug)
Hweiling Ow - Voice Cast (Ming)
Tess Liew - Voice Cast (Wing Ji)
CREW
Jill Kwan- Writer/Director
John Rata & Natalya Mandich-Dohnt -Producers
Rae Longshaw-Park - Lighting/Scent Designer & Operator
Talia Pua - Set Designer
Darryl Chin - Shadow Puppetry & Projections Designer
Fiona Chua - musci & SFX Designer
Lisa Joe - Stage Manager
Renee Liang - Dramaturg
Ahi Karunaharan - Directing Mentor
Marianne Infante - Producer Mentor & ACting Coach
Jennifer Cheuk - Marketing Manager
Cinta Damerell - Props Designer
JingCheng Zhao - Props Assistant
John Verryt - Set Design Mentor
John Rata - Photographer & Videographer
Audrey Chan - Cantonese Language Coach
Yin-Chi Lee - Shadow Puppet Assistant
Tema Pua - Set Assistant
How To Throw A Chinese Funeral was proudly supported by:
The Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust Fund
Ethnic Communities Development Fund
Waitemata Local Board Grant
Boosted donations from our generous donors