Our 2019 production of Amy Ng's Under the Umbrella premieres online from 22-29 May
Following the success of the recent streaming of our production Crongton Knights, we’re delighted to announce our very first full show streaming via our own YouTube Channel.
First staged at the Belgrade Theatre in Spring 2019, Amy Ng’s Under the Umbrella will have its online premiere from 22-29 May.
Click play below to watch the full playlist including introductions from playwright Amy Ng and director Justine Themen, plus recordings of of our post-show discussion and a special panel event about East Asian representation on stage. Turn on subtitles for the main film by clicking the cog icon in the corner for Settings, then Subtitles / CC.
Produced by the Belgrade Theatre in association with Yellow Earth Theatre and Tamasha, Under the Umbrella tells the story of Wei, a young Chinese woman living and studying in Coventry. As the single Wei approaches her 27th birthday, her grandmother begins to worry that she will be labelled a “shengnu” or “leftover woman”, and decides to intervene.
Unbeknownst to Wei, her grandmother persuades her mother to start searching for a suitable husband. Affixing Wei’s profile onto an umbrella, she joins the hundreds of parents gathering at the Guangzhou Marriage Market, where the only successful transaction is a first date for your child.
Torn between the conflicting expectations of her family and her life in the UK, can Wei navigate a path between them without losing sight of her own hopes and ambitions?
Based on an original idea by Creative Producer Lian Wilkinson, Under the Umbrella is written by Amy Ng, and was directed for the Belgrade Theatre by Justine Themen. During its initial run, the show was featured on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, and was described by The Stage as, “full of hope and light”.
The play sets out to shine a light on British East Asian stories, some of the least represented on UK stages. It was produced by Lian Wilkinson during her attachment to the Belgrade Theatre as part of IGNITE, a collection of projects curated by the Sustained Theatre Regional Associate Producer Programme (STRAPP). Supported by Arts Council England’s Sustained Theatre Fund, the programme was led by Tamasha with seven regional theatres.
Charlotte Chiew and Mei Mac in Under the Umbrella, - credit Robert Day
Under the Umbrella Creative Producer Lian Wilkinson said: “This recording of Under the Umbrella was originally shot for archive purposes rather than public broadcast, but faced with such extraordinary circumstances, we are exploring new ways of continuing to share stories and connect with audiences.
“We’re delighted to have the support of the full cast and creative team to share the show online, and we hope that you’ll enjoy revisiting the production as much as we have. If you enjoy it, please do consider making a donation to help ensure that we are able to continue making exciting work like this in future.”
If you would like to support us to continue creating exciting shows like Under the Umbrella, you can make a donation to the Belgrade Theatre here.
Casting for the show includes Mei Mac (Wolf Totem, Handspring and National Theatre Studio; The Apology and Thatcher in China (Yellow Earth Theatre and National Theatre Studio) as Wei and Laura Tipper (City of the Unexpected, National Theatre Wales and Wales Millennium Centre; Tinned Goods, national tour) as her housemate and best friend, Lucy.
Charlotte Chiew (Love in Newsprint, Arcola Theatre; Random Acts, BBC Four) plays Wei’s mother, Dong, and Minhee Yeo (Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok, Royal Exchange Theatre and Yellow Earth Theatre; White Pearl, Royal Court Theatre) completes the cast as Wei’s grandmother and her PhD supervisor, Professor Zhang.
The production is designed by Moi Tran with lighting by Fridthjofur Thorsteinsson and sound and music by Arun Ghosh. Movement direction is by Chi-San Howard, and the dramaturg is Ola Animashawun.