Today the complete forged for Kimber Lee’s untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play directed by Royal Exchange Joint Artistic Director Roy Alexander Weise has been introduced by Royal Exchange Theatre, Factory International on behalf of Manchester International Festival, Young Vic Theatre and Headlong.
Winner of the inaugural Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2019, International Award, this highly effective manufacturing will obtain its world premiere on the Royal Exchange Theatre as a part of MIF23 (24 June – 22 July 2023), earlier than transferring to the Young Vic Theatre in London (18 September – 4 November 2023). Tickets are on sale now.
Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac (My Neighbour Totoro) leads an ensemble forged as Kim, with Lourdes Faberes (Boiling Point) as Rosie / Cio-Cio, Jennifer Kirby (Call the Midwife) as Evelyn / Richards, Tom Weston-Jones (Sanditon) as Clark, Rochelle Rose (Rockets and Blue Lights) because the Narrator / Brenda and Jeff D’Sangalang (The Ocean At The End Of The Lane) as Afi/Goro.
‘Very well. I will do what I must do, Mother.’
Kim (Mei Mac) is having a type of days. A horrible, very dangerous, no-good sort of day, and the worst half is…all of it feels so acquainted. Caught up in a endless cycle of occasions, she appears to be like for the exit however the tougher she tries, the more severe it will get and she or he begins to surprise: who’s scripting this story? She makes a break for it, smashing by 100 years of bloody narratives that each one finish the identical means. Can she discover a means out earlier than it’s too late?
With breathless hilarity untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play jumps by time – wriggling within after which exploding lifetimes of repeating Asian stereotypes, wrestling historical past for the appropriate to regulate your individual narrative in a world that thinks it will possibly inform you who you’re.
untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play is designed by Khadija Raza with costume design by Loren Elstein, lighting design by Josh Pharo, composition by Ruth Chan, sound design by Giles Thomas, motion by Shelley Maxwell, battle and intimacy path by Haruka Kuroda, Jerwood Assistant Director is Caroline Yu and casting by Helena Palmer CDG.
Mei Mac says: “I’m thrilled to be bringing Kimber Lee’s play to life. It’s a bold and delicious opportunity to reclaim the narrative of East and South East Asian women in the diaspora, from years of dehumanisation and denied agency. It’s empowering to explore the conversations I’ve had with my sisters and in my communities with a wider audience in such a fun, spicy, theatrical way. A genre, timeline defying way. Because that’s what’s so exciting about this play; its refusal to be reduced by the patriarchy and its determination to take full autonomy.”
Kimber Lee says: “I can not wait to get within the rehearsal room with this glorious forged! A play craves embodiment, and I’m wanting ahead to attending to know these extremely gifted actors, and seeing how every individual brings their humor, intelligence and keenness to the method.“
Roy Alexander Weise says: “When I first read Kimber’s play it blew me away and I knew we had to programme it. We received it on the first day of our tenure so it’s serendipitous that it’s my last production as Artistic Director. It’s the greatest privilege to be asked to direct this brilliantly funny, uniquely voiced and skilfully crafted masterpiece. We’ve pulled together an amazing team to shape the story ready for the stage. The cast are fantastic and I can’t wait to get into a rehearsal room and to show the world how f*cking funny Kimber’s play is. I can’t wait!”