Meet Eldarin Yeong, producer of Bound Feet Blues

Eldarin Yeong produced the showcase of Bound Feet Blues in Oct last year and is now working on the full production of the show for its 3 week run in Nov/ Dec this year. She brings her calm, efficient energy to the administrative, logistical and business side of the production, pulling it all together to make sure everything goes smoothly.

ELDARIN YEONG – Producer

Eldarin Yeong - Producer, Bound Feet BluesEldarin is a theatre producer and director, and the columnist on Theatre and Arts for UK Chinese Times newspaper. Her producing credits include: The Rites of Spring/ Romeo and Juliet (Concert Theatre National Tour),  Normal Love (Lilian Bailey, Sadler’s Wells),  Thor of the Common Man The Cockpit London), Aquatic The Cockpit London), film Atalantas (British Film Institute),The Monster in the Hall National Theatre of Scotland & Shanghai Grand Theatre) and Continue reading

Meet the Sponsors of Bound Feet Blues

To put one person on stage for a solo theatre show like Bound Feet Blues, you need a team of other talented professionals working behind the scenes to make sure a range of components are all in place – from the creative vision, to production and business matters, set and lighting design, costume and the running of the show every night. There is also of course the theatre space that is the foundation of the whole project.

Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to the creative team here on this blog. Today, we would like to introduce to you – and thank – our supporters and sponsors without whom this 3 week production of Bound Feet Blues would not be possible.

Arts Council, England

This production of Bound Feet Blues – as well as research and development for the showcase performance in Oct last year – is generously supported by funding from Arts Council, England. We are grateful for their support.

Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. We believe that art and culture make life better, helps to build diverse communities and improves our quality of life.  Great art and culture can inspire our education system, boost our economy and give our nation international standing.   – See more at: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/#sthash.VUv8wa3X.dpuf

The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC)

We are indebted to The Housing Finance Corporation, which is match-funding this production of Bound Feet Blues.

Piers Williamson, Chief Executive, says: “THFC is proud to sponsor this intriguing piece of theatre. Bound Feet Blues is a show with an impassioned message about personal empowerment, acceptance of diversity and the relationship of an individual within her community. These themes are consistent with our corporate values as an independent mutually owned finance company and our core business of funding affordable housing in diverse communities. We hope that you will enjoy this innovative and thought-provoking theatre piece.”

 

THFC is an independent, specialist, not-for-profit organisation that makes loans to regulated Housing Associations, that Continue reading

Tickets now available for Bound Feet Blues full production – Nov/ Dec 2015

 

I am pleased to announce that tickets are now available for the full production of Bound Feet Blues which will return to the Tristan Bates Theatre in the heart of the West End in Nov/ Dec this year.

The showcase performance last year was sold out two months in advance. For the upcoming full production run, there are only 12 public performances so please do get your tickets soon to avoid missing out again.

What the critics said:

Everything Theatre Everything Theatre, UK

This theatre review site which bills itself as the  “honest and unpretentious guide to the London theatre scene”, gave Bound Feet Blues a 4 star review (out of 5). It described the show as “Engaging, eye-opening, funny and moving” and summed it up in one word: “Excellent” Read Hanna Gilbert’s review: Bound Feet Blues – A Life Told in Shoes, Tristan Bates Theatre. (16 Oct 2014)

 

The Public Reviews  The Public Reviews, UK

The theatre review online magazine The Public Reviews gave Bound Feet Blues a 4.5 star rating (out of 5 stars) and described the show as “powerful” and “beautifully performed and directed”. Read the review by Nichola Daunton:  “Bound Feet Blues – A Life Told in Shoes – Tristan Bates Theatre” (14 Oct 2014).

 

BUY TICKETS NOW

Tue 24 Nov – Sat 12 Dec, Tue – Sat at 7.30pm.
Tickets £16 / £12 concessions.
Q&As post-show, 27 Nov & 4 Dec.

Tristan Bates Theatre – 1A Tower St, Covent Garden WC2H 9NP
Box Office 020 7240 6283
boxoffice@tristanbatestheatre.co.uk

 

Watch Highlights of Bound Feet Blues -the Showcase Performance [Video]

If you missed the sellout showcase performance of Bound Feet Blues in October, you can watch a selection of highlights in this short video (under 2 mins):

The show received 4+Star reviews and we are planning a 3 week run back in London’s West End in Nov/ Dec 2015 – more details to be announced shortly.

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Yang-May Ooi on BBC London Live

I went in to the BBC London Live studios on 16 Oct to chat with the delightful Jo Good about my novels The Flame Tree and Mindgame and also Bound Feet Blues.

In case you missed it, here is the interview again. It runs for about 20 mins. Click on the image below and an audio player will open up.

 

Or, you can click on this link – https://app.box.com/s/n5kxj3szaric1d03r8qi

 

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4+ Stars! Rave Reviews for Bound Feet Blues Showcase

The reviews are out for the Bound Feet Blues showcase performance on Monday night – and the show has been given 4+ Stars. As you can imagine, I am delighted!

Bound feet blues

 

The Public Reviews

The Public Reviews, UK

The theatre review online magazine The Public Reviews gave Bound Feet Blues a 4.5 star rating (out of 5 stars) and described the show as “powerful” and “beautifully performed and directed”. Read the review by Nichola Daunton:  “Bound Feet Blues – A Life Told in Shoes – Tristan Bates Theatre” (14 Oct 2014).

“With a tiny three inch foot being the ideal size and the process of binding and bone breaking beginning at the age of four, Yang-May’s performance as the mother of a small child who is just beginning the process is very powerful. The fact that Yang-May performs bare foot throughout the piece is also an interesting choice and is used to good effect to highlight both her restriction and her freedom as she discovers the person she is meant to be.”

Credit: Eldarin Yeong

 

Everything Theatre

Everything Theatre, UK

This theatre review site which bills itself as the  “honest and unpretentious guide to the London theatre scene”, gave Bound Feet Blues a 4 star review (out of 5). It described the show as “Engaging, eye-opening, funny and moving” and summed it up in one word: “Excellent” Read Hanna Gilbert’s review: Bound Feet Blues – A Life Told in Shoes, Tristan Bates Theatre. (16 Oct 2014)

“Ooi gives a truly fantastic performance, taking on Continue reading

Bound Feet Blues Rehearsal Photos – with writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi and director Jessica Higgs

These photos were taken at a rehearsal the week before the Bound Feet Blues showcase performance. They show me in various scenes from the show, and discussing the script with director Jessica Higgs.

The photos were taken by the brilliant Claudia Rocha

The iconic pose showing my left hand as a bound foot “The Golden Lotus”

 

Discussing the script with director Jessica Higgs

Two more photos below –  Continue reading

Yang-May Ooi talking about Bound Feet Blues at SEA Arts Festival 2014 [video]

Here’s a short video interview of me talking about the inspirations behind Bound Feet Blues and the challenges of bringing it to the stage.

It was filmed just after the Heritage Panel that I took part in, discussing the role of heritage in South East Asian Performance with Anna Nguyen of Trikhon Theatre and Elaine Foo of TrueHeart Theatre.

There’s also a short snippet of me performing a scene from the show for the audience at the Heritage Panel.

Enjoy!

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Bound Feet Blues Programme for the Showcase Performance at Tristan Bates Theatre on Mon 13 Oct at 8pm

We have just finalised the programme for the upcoming showcase performance on Mon and I thought I’d share it with you. Click on the image below and the programme will open up in a reading pane.

prog-snapshot

 

The direct link to the programme is at https://app.box.com/s/uyt1pds75o3dapi6zuam

For those of you who are coming to the show – see you there!

For those who were too late to buy tickets – we hope to bring a full production to fruition in 2015 with a 2-3 week run so stay tuned…!

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Award-winning speaker and “story archaelogist” Beverley Glick to chair Bound Feet Blues Q&A

I am thrilled that the brilliant Beverley Glick has agreed to chair the Q&A after the showcase performance of Bound Feet Blues on Mon 13 Oct at the Tristan Bates Theatre.

Beverley is an award-winning speaker and “story archaeologist” who works with individuals and businesses to find their authentic stories. She is the co-founder of the cult storytelling club The Story Party where I started my storytelling adventure that led me to create Bound Feet Blues.

 

Photo by Rita Abreu www.araphotography.co.uk

 

I got to know Beverley a couple of years ago from a public speaking course we both took part in and since then, I’ve seen her working with Continue reading