THE CHRONICLES OF XIAO MING | by Miriam Cheong

Synopsis

It’s been day 4XX since graduating school and this girl still hasn’t used a chengyu in her life. Or much Chinese at all. However, years later, perhaps it’s finally time to try. The Chronicles of Xiao Ming is a recollection of one individual’s journey through Singapore’s Chinese Language syllabus, documenting the tribulations faced along the way. From a primary school child knowing barely five words in Chinese to an adult struggling to order food, The Chronicles of Xiao Ming is a humourous and poignant observation of the education system and its impact on one’s sense of self growing up.

Artist’s Statement/Inquiry

Using the autobiographical journey of the writer through the Chinese syllabus, this piece aims to address the absurdity of the education system and the image of success it paints. Through this, the piece thus asks the audience to reflect on their own experiences with the education system and consequently, the image of success they have placed upon themselves and others as a result.

For this phase of the play-development, Miriam hopes to test and gather audience feedback on the following:

1.  How relatable is the play for audience who did not go through the typical Singaporean schooling? Or for those who took a different mother tongue?

2.  Does the work speak or resonate to audiences who do not know the writer, thus contesting the autobiographical form?

3.  How do elements involved in the staging of the piece, ie. props and spoken word, effectively bring out the piece’s thesis in highlighting absurdity of the education system?

Audience’s input at the read-presentation will help the playwright and creative team to develop the script further. There are plans to independently produce and stage the play in 2020.

Writer and Performer: Miriam Cheong

Miriam Cheong is an actor, writer and singer. Her recent theatre credits include Female in RS, directed by Fareed Mohammad and Poh Suan in The Moon is Less Bright, directed by Adeeb Fazah. She also played Liz in the dramatised reading of Auderia Tan’s Touch Wood, directed by A Yagnya and presented at First Act(s), Part Two as part of Centre 42’s Guest Room programme. She will be making a reappearance in First Act(s), Part Three as Tina in Ivy Chen’s A Midsummer White Dream.

Director: Cheryl Tan

Cheryl Tan Yun Xin is a bilingual actor, theatre maker and host based in Singapore. Her notable acting credits include The Insiders directed by Jo Kukathas, Pistachios & Whipped Cream directed by A Yagnya and Animal Farm by Act 3 International. As a theatre maker, her interests lie in experimenting with immersive and interactive theatre, as well as making theatre as accessible as possible to the public. Her ultimate goal is to mash theatre, cartoons, games and pop culture together into an ice cream sundae.

Producer: Adeeb Fazah