I have been cast in a very challenging role as 'Woman' in Gao Xianjing's 'Dialogue & Rebuttal'. There are a lot of things going on in my head as I prepare for this character, I am having to go to some very dark places. Sexual politics, sex is just the half of it, it is ultimately about the destructive and redemptive powers of love. Yes L-O-V-E.... to what lengths will we try and define it. We go through lives trying to find the answers and the most passionate way is to be intimate, but once that's gone, how do we come back out again? Do we always come back to where we started from anyway?
Winter makes teapot makes winter makes teapot..... a crack....
One of my old acting teachers Chris Leaver (what a legend!) used to say 'Death or Orgasm', that's all life is all about, the stakes are that high. This play really is all about 'Death or Orgasm'
Greenwich Theatre, 21st-25th June, 7:30pm.
Saturday 20 June 2009
Sunday 17 May 2009
Donald Tsang 見利忘義
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAzTV9qhr5o
Donald Tsang is not representative of HK if he can't even bare the responsibility of answering a question. No Mr. Tsang, we didn't vote for you, so you CAN't represent our views. It wasn't a question of economic growth, the question asked was how do YOU feel about June 4th.
My mother called him 見利忘義.
It's not that HKnees are not appreciative of the economic support from China, but just because of that we turn our backs on thousands (and not hundreds according to Government reports) who lost their lives in the fight for democracy? No, we won't forget, we can't forget, we don't dare to forget.
Please tune into BBC radio 4 on June 4th for 'Avenue of Eternal Peace', an afternoon play commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Tianemman Square Massacre, in which I play student political leader Xie Huan Yue.
Donald Tsang is not representative of HK if he can't even bare the responsibility of answering a question. No Mr. Tsang, we didn't vote for you, so you CAN't represent our views. It wasn't a question of economic growth, the question asked was how do YOU feel about June 4th.
My mother called him 見利忘義.
It's not that HKnees are not appreciative of the economic support from China, but just because of that we turn our backs on thousands (and not hundreds according to Government reports) who lost their lives in the fight for democracy? No, we won't forget, we can't forget, we don't dare to forget.
Please tune into BBC radio 4 on June 4th for 'Avenue of Eternal Peace', an afternoon play commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Tianemman Square Massacre, in which I play student political leader Xie Huan Yue.
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Seven Jewish Children
BBC has vetoed to broadcast a radio version of Caryl Churchill's 'Seven Jewish Children' which was a response (and fundraiser) to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza and again impartiality was their raison d'etre. A cry of echo I hear of BBC also pulling the plug for the Gaza appeal.
The play centres around dialogues between parents and custodians of seven Jewish children through the ages of Holocaust leading to the invasion of Gaza. There is a strong suggestion that after historic traumas suffered under the hands of the Nazi's they have started to wave their own 'superiority'
'Tell her we are better haters. Tell her we're the chosen people. Tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her I feel happy that it is not her' ends the play.
It is not so much a psychoanalysis of Israeli Jews as an outrage of what is happening in Gaza. Churchill never claims that this is the absolute psychological effects of WWII reflected in Gaza, she is simply drawing parallels as she sees them. Nor is it a definitive version of these parallels, there are many more. A counter argument/play could be produced.
I am not Jewish and cannot account for it on their behalf but after watching a presentation of this 10 minute piece I was shocked to hear some other Jewish friends of mine call it 'anti-semetic'. I feel that it is the 'anti-semetism' label has become red card, wave it and you're out. Surely, holding Israel accountable for what is a humanitarian wrong-doing and Zionism is anything but anti-semetic. If this is braodcasted then BBC would have the responsibility for those who can give a counter argument. And what is the BBC so afraid of? A bit of discussion? Well facilitate and chair it!
The play centres around dialogues between parents and custodians of seven Jewish children through the ages of Holocaust leading to the invasion of Gaza. There is a strong suggestion that after historic traumas suffered under the hands of the Nazi's they have started to wave their own 'superiority'
'Tell her we are better haters. Tell her we're the chosen people. Tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her I feel happy that it is not her' ends the play.
It is not so much a psychoanalysis of Israeli Jews as an outrage of what is happening in Gaza. Churchill never claims that this is the absolute psychological effects of WWII reflected in Gaza, she is simply drawing parallels as she sees them. Nor is it a definitive version of these parallels, there are many more. A counter argument/play could be produced.
I am not Jewish and cannot account for it on their behalf but after watching a presentation of this 10 minute piece I was shocked to hear some other Jewish friends of mine call it 'anti-semetic'. I feel that it is the 'anti-semetism' label has become red card, wave it and you're out. Surely, holding Israel accountable for what is a humanitarian wrong-doing and Zionism is anything but anti-semetic. If this is braodcasted then BBC would have the responsibility for those who can give a counter argument. And what is the BBC so afraid of? A bit of discussion? Well facilitate and chair it!
Thursday 5 March 2009
香港的位置 HK-a mere cameo in China.
Propaganda is rife in Hong Kong but what is so great is that these government romanticisms (even more so since 97) are open for debate and challenges, if only the people in HK dare. Do we question central government's decisions? Are we in any way influential in that process? How much power does Legco really have? And who is fighting for our right to elect our own head of state? And, in the end, are we asking for independence even tho nationalism is still a mother's milk to HK? How can we assert ourselves in the ever-advancing Republic that is China?
Been checking out http://www.plastichk.blogspot.com/
Come on Kongers don't limit these debates to radio airwaves and the internet. We only have another 38 years left until Central governemnt can say 'One country, two systems' is not working. The democratic party's absence from LegCo. for those 5-6 years after handover has already done irrepairable damage. The people who, in my mother's opinion, were pioneers of social democracy in her student days are now mostly slated, redcued to players of tabloid scandals or anti-governmental pests... sigh.
Dream. Think. Speak. Act.
Been checking out http://www.plastichk.blogspot.com/
Come on Kongers don't limit these debates to radio airwaves and the internet. We only have another 38 years left until Central governemnt can say 'One country, two systems' is not working. The democratic party's absence from LegCo. for those 5-6 years after handover has already done irrepairable damage. The people who, in my mother's opinion, were pioneers of social democracy in her student days are now mostly slated, redcued to players of tabloid scandals or anti-governmental pests... sigh.
Dream. Think. Speak. Act.
Wednesday 4 March 2009
EFL
'Are you waiting for the 11C?' asked a lady in her mid-40s in Chinese, leaning slightly too close to me. And for a split second I hesitated, not because I wasn't sure which bus I was waiting for but because I wasn't sure which language to reply in. After 15 years in the UK, I often find myself more comfortable expressing myself in English than in Cantonese, which in a sense is my first language. But at that precise moment, to answer in English to another Chinese seemed unnatural, if not a little arrogant. Most Chinese people I know over here, seem to go through the same thing, as well as the fact that I am always a bit unsure as to which dialect they would speak in, they are from Shanghai, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and HK, clumped together in the British dispora. I glanced around, as if checking to see if she was really talking to me, and having ascertained that 'yes Gabby, it's you she's talking to', I finally answered, in Chinese, 'I'm waiting for the 11A, 11C is on the other side of the road.'
Chinglish!
Chinglish!
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Just received a txt from my sister who is in India at the moment- I miss it so much.
You read the thrill of it all in 'Shantaram', the heartaches in 'God of Small Things', the wit in 'White Tiger'... all of which are essential backpacking reading materials. Any pale skinned foreigner on a sleeper class train, whether to Ahmedebad on the Gujurat Express or all the way south to Kochin, would be engrossed in one of these Booker Prize winning novels. Afterall, it is about India. But all of this wonderful literature doesn't half prepare you for the gratuitous businessman, greed-ridden half cousin, the nurturing mother, the smiling babas, the bad-mouth rickshaw drivers, the dirt covered slum dwellers and the middle-class children in their pretty frocks that live in the vast country of India.
It's a delisciously potent cocktail of chaos and order, a living, breathing monste
r with the biggest of hearts. No matter how much of the wallahs and vendors are about business, they never fails to be human- to totally excite, disappoint, amuse, frustrate and ultimately welcome you with open arms in every sense. The stench, you get used to; the filth, you'll wash off but the heart beats in time with the pace of your walk, the wonder in your eyes and the chai-wallahs rhythmic chant. The people make the country and the country holds all its secrets and intrigues, and these make up its history. Small Pleasures
Having MY side of the bed.
Seeing a vintage Shelby drive past.
Losing an argument to a worthy opponent.
Writing, scribbling, doodling.
Letting the wind dry my hair.
Falling in love in an instance.
Laughing so hard that I snort.
Washing up.
Amalgamating 2 juxtaposing words and making up my very own vocab, 'troublem', 'belecgonise' and 'houdinius'.
Finding my emergency cigarette, proving that I have good cigarette karma.
Walking on crumbly russly fallen leaves.
The sound of raindrops hitting my umbrella.
Waking up at 4 in the morning, sometimes the silence is wasted.
Having the window wide open so I curl up into a ball under my duvet.
Turning round to the phantom smell of loved and lost ones.
Seeing a vintage Shelby drive past.
Losing an argument to a worthy opponent.
Writing, scribbling, doodling.
Letting the wind dry my hair.
Falling in love in an instance.
Laughing so hard that I snort.
Washing up.
Amalgamating 2 juxtaposing words and making up my very own vocab, 'troublem', 'belecgonise' and 'houdinius'.
Finding my emergency cigarette, proving that I have good cigarette karma.
Walking on crumbly russly fallen leaves.
The sound of raindrops hitting my umbrella.
Waking up at 4 in the morning, sometimes the silence is wasted.
Having the window wide open so I curl up into a ball under my duvet.
Turning round to the phantom smell of loved and lost ones.
Monday 23 February 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
I went to see the film (as with the rest of the world) as soon as it came out in cinemas, partly because I wanted to see what the fuss was about, but mostly because I was hoping to extend my own Bombay Dreams having just returned from India when 'Slumdog' hit the UK screens. Yes yes ok, it's won the oscars. Personally I thought it was a very good film but perhaps not Best Picture material, more derserving winner would have been Wall-E or Dark Knight which weren't even nominated.
Reason why I am talking about slumdog now, post-oscar, is actually a follow on from a conversation I had with my friend Pontus. Now I'd like to point out that this mate of mine is not shy to voice his opinion (bravo to that) and we locked in a discussion over monetary merits for an actors work, namely whether royalty should be paid out for the reusing of an artists' image after the work's been done. Put this in context with massive piracy downloads and shifting use of media, Pontus felt that he didn't need to give them anymore when it is much more beneficial for the artitst to been seen then to be paid. Granted I understand that if this was actually controlled or monitored in anyway by the film industry big cheese, their own profit-margin would shrink. I have a slight tic with piracy (partly because I don't like the cultural association with pirate DVDs) but more often it is about my work earning me a living. I was recently involved in a feature film, my image was never used but I got paid for the shoot anyway, but if my image was used royalties would have been part of my earnings... and if Pontus decided not watch that particular film in cinema but downloaded off piratebay, I may have lost out on a cut of my earnings. (And let me tell you, they don't call us starving artistes for nothing). Various analogies were made to gigging bands but over a few glasses of wine we came to an agreement that it is the 'business model' that needs changing, i.e. the Buyout of my image should be a lot higher and he will still pay to come and see me in a play.
The 'Slumdog' debate I'd like to encourage is the one about the young 'Salim' and young 'Latika' in the film were paid a certain amount of money for the 30 days shoot of their scenes. These two young actors absolutely shone in that film. They continue to live in the slums... now do you think that their work has been paid for even though people across the globe have seen their brilliant performances? If they are reaping the rewards AFTER the work's been done...
Pontus over to you.
Reason why I am talking about slumdog now, post-oscar, is actually a follow on from a conversation I had with my friend Pontus. Now I'd like to point out that this mate of mine is not shy to voice his opinion (bravo to that) and we locked in a discussion over monetary merits for an actors work, namely whether royalty should be paid out for the reusing of an artists' image after the work's been done. Put this in context with massive piracy downloads and shifting use of media, Pontus felt that he didn't need to give them anymore when it is much more beneficial for the artitst to been seen then to be paid. Granted I understand that if this was actually controlled or monitored in anyway by the film industry big cheese, their own profit-margin would shrink. I have a slight tic with piracy (partly because I don't like the cultural association with pirate DVDs) but more often it is about my work earning me a living. I was recently involved in a feature film, my image was never used but I got paid for the shoot anyway, but if my image was used royalties would have been part of my earnings... and if Pontus decided not watch that particular film in cinema but downloaded off piratebay, I may have lost out on a cut of my earnings. (And let me tell you, they don't call us starving artistes for nothing). Various analogies were made to gigging bands but over a few glasses of wine we came to an agreement that it is the 'business model' that needs changing, i.e. the Buyout of my image should be a lot higher and he will still pay to come and see me in a play.
The 'Slumdog' debate I'd like to encourage is the one about the young 'Salim' and young 'Latika' in the film were paid a certain amount of money for the 30 days shoot of their scenes. These two young actors absolutely shone in that film. They continue to live in the slums... now do you think that their work has been paid for even though people across the globe have seen their brilliant performances? If they are reaping the rewards AFTER the work's been done...
Pontus over to you.
Hotpot Politics
A few years ago, Edmond Leung and Miriam Yeung did a mini Pop-opera called 'Leave'. Another version of it has surfaced. I believe Jan Lamb and Miriam Yeung did this version @ a concert but not entirely which inspired which.
That aside I am now sharing a very socially apt satire about the 'Hotpot Politics', just as there would be 'Dim Sum Politics'. If you are Chinese, you will understand the set of rules and manouvers that happens at meal times, there is definitely a hierachy. Apologies to anyone who don't speak the language, don't know who the fore-mentioned personalities are or the original song, and if I were to explain to you the rules of 'Hotpot' I'd have to do it with a real time demonstration. But this is a brilliant piece of social commentary:
From an artistic point of view, the characteristaions of the pandas were so detailed, it is something I admire in any performance.
That aside I am now sharing a very socially apt satire about the 'Hotpot Politics', just as there would be 'Dim Sum Politics'. If you are Chinese, you will understand the set of rules and manouvers that happens at meal times, there is definitely a hierachy. Apologies to anyone who don't speak the language, don't know who the fore-mentioned personalities are or the original song, and if I were to explain to you the rules of 'Hotpot' I'd have to do it with a real time demonstration. But this is a brilliant piece of social commentary:
From an artistic point of view, the characteristaions of the pandas were so detailed, it is something I admire in any performance.
An old blogger resurfaces
A few years back I used to blog. It was quite a personal and emotional blog that I now reflect on it as my 'Heat' Magazine period where I flaunted every bit of me rather uneditedly to the whole of the cyber world. All my hurt and my pains poured out quite adolescently.... a bit too Tracy Emin.
This one will take on a much more mature tone but with the same passion.
This one will take on a much more mature tone but with the same passion.
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