You’re Pretty Hot… for an Asian! *

You’re Pretty Hot… for an Asian! *

Q Theatre and Proudly Asian Theatre presents
ORIENTATION
Written and directed by Chye-Ling Huang.
Part of MATCHBOX 2018, Q Theatre’s creative development programme.

Watch the playful, sexy and thought-provoking spectacle unfold when race, love and lust collide in ORIENTATION, a work that follows a young Chinese-Pākehā woman in a brazen ‘sexploration’ of Asian love and sexuality in modern-day New Zealand. Written by ground-breaking young playwright and finalist for the 2018 Adam NZ Play Awards Chye-Ling Huang, this is the third work in Q Theatre’s MATCHBOX 2018 Season, playing in Q’s Loft from 5 – 15 September.

What do Jackie Chan, Steven Yuen, and Raybon Kan have in common? They’re all on Mei’s list of eligible men to tap, gap, or tie down. No Asian man is left un-turned in Mei’s quest to root herself back to her roots. When a shock event leaves her questioning everything about love, Chinese-Pakeha Mei dives ferociously back into the dating game. An ensemble of the sexiest storytellers from the Asian diaspora play out your wildest dreams and cringiest tropes as Mei learns that love is simple but race is not.

Presented by an all-Asian cast, ORIENTATION offers a challenging, satirical and sometimes grotesque dig at our society’s attitudes towards Asian people as lovers. The work questions whether race factors into decisions made around love and sex, and how we might be socialised into these choices, even though they might seem to be inherent, chemical decisions based on instinct. “Orientation was my way of unfolding a bunch of awkward questions around race, sex and love. It's such a blast making satire about something so taboo and vulnerable. I'm hoping to open a can of worms for whoever comes to see it.” says, Chye-Ling.

Writer, director and actor Chye-Ling Huang was selected for Playmarket’s Asian Ink Workshop in 2017 and was shortlisted for the Adam NZ Play Award with ORIENTATION in 2018. With a robust collection of works to her name, Huang continues to unpack topics relating to issues faced by the Asian community in New Zealand and pours her personal experiences as a Chinese-Pākehā woman in the world of sex and dating into ORIENTATION.

“This beautiful, thought-provoking new show from Chinese-Pākehā writer/actor Chye-Ling Huang and Proudly Asian Theatre is exquisitely staged and marvellously theatrical.”
Call of the Sparrows, NZ Herald

"A company that isn’t afraid to make work that can affect real social change."
Roots, Amy Weng

"Huang derails the expected hero’s journey...even more surprising than the sudden injection of socio-political commentary is the even-handed way its explored. This isn’t simply a fight between good versus evil, this is a complex clash of ideologies. Huang’s strongest asset is her exemplary imagination."
Call of the Sparrows, Theatrescenes

ORIENTATION is presented by Proudly Asian Theatre, a company co-founded in 2013 by Huang with fellow director, writer and comedian James Roque. The kaupapa of Proudly Asian Theatre is to is support Asian artists to create the work they want to make - challenging stereotypes, creating community and moving Asian voices into the mainstream. ORIENTATION will join the collection of works in Proudly Asian Theatre’s canon, including Call of the Sparrows, Roots, Lantern, and F.O.B.

In ORIENTATION Chye-Ling Huang directs an all-Asian ensemble cast including Becky Kuek (James’s Patternson’s Murder is Forever and AO-TERROR-OA), Eugene Yao (/Detective Dee), Marwin Silerio (Nigel), Kyle Chuen (Jesus Christ Superstar) and Mayen Mehta (Tea).

*remark said to writer Chye-Ling Huang on too many dates.

Orientation is proudly supported by Q Theatre, The Auckland Diversity Fund; Creative New Zealand and Foundation North, The Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust and Unitec.

ORIENTATION plays:
September 5 to 15
Loft, Q Theatre
Times: 7.45pm
Prices $18- $30 *plus booking fees
www.qtheatre.co.nz/orientation

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