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Two final performances of Bound Feet Blues tonight Fri 11 Dec and tomorrow Sat 12 Dec

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

The two final performances of Bound Feet Blues EVER are tonight Fri 11 December and tomorrow Sat 12 December. Writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi looks back on her amazing debut on the London stage over the last three weeks as she considers these last two nights when she will be performing Bound Feet Blues for the last time.

Yang-May writes:

Performing Bound Feet Blues has been challenging, terrifying and exhilirating all at the same time.  As a first time performer with no formal drama training, taking to the stage five nights a week for three weeks has been a huge test of my stamina and everything I’ve worked for with director Jessica HIggs in terms of my dramatic abilities. To have pulled it off with 5 star feedback from audiences and terrific reviews in the press has been amazing for me!

** Bound Feet Blues is NOW ON  at the Tristan Bates Theatre until Sat 12 December 2015. Don’t miss this “mesmerising” and “powerful” show – buy tickets below or via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

In every performance, when we get to the footbinding scene, it is electrifying in the theatre. From the stage, I can sense the utter stillness in the audience as if they are all holding their breath, totally riveted to every word and gesture. There are occasional gasps and winces as the process of the footbinding becomes more and more intense.

I’ve also appreciated the warmth of the audiences as they laugh during the lighter scenes of me as a child and with my family. Their generosity and engagement spur me on each night to give my best performance for them.

As a performer, each night has been special with each different audience and I will always cherish this unique experience of performing in my own show in the heart of London’s West End. As a writer, it has been immensely rewarding to see audiences respond to my words and the drama that I have created for the stage.

I am looking forward to these last two performances which will have a very special meaning for me as the show comes to an end. I will savour each moment even more!

~~

BUY TICKETS

**You can buy tickets for Bound Feet Blues via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

DETAILS

Tristan Bates Theatre
1A Tower St, Covent Garden WC2H 9NP

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

**BUY ONLINE via: bit.ly/bfbtickets **

More high praise from audiences who have seen Bound Feet Blues

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Audiences who have seen Bound Feet Blues have praised the show in the highest terms. We are delighted to share with you some of their terrific feedback for writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi’s debut solo show:

“Go and see this challenging, affirming and funny one-woman show. One woman .but many characters, all drawn with moving insight”

“Amazing performance”

** Bound Feet Blues is NOW ON  at the Tristan Bates Theatre until Sat 12 December 2015. Don’t miss this “mesmerising” and “powerful” show – buy tickets below or via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

“Wonderful, so moving and thought provoking and the message is so powerful. I love the way everyone can take it and apply it to some part of their life. I can’t wait to read the book! .. Truly inspiring.”

“Beautifully woven stories” – Kumiko Mendl, Yellow Earth Theatre

“You were absolutely amazing! What a brilliant, powerful performance and such a moving story.”

“It was genuinely one of the most moving, engaging and intimate shows I’ve ever seen in a theatre. By coincidence, the previous evening, my wife and I went to see The Winter’s Tale, with Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench; but of the two, Bound Feet Blues was by far the more rewarding and memorable experience!”

“Fabulous”

“It was a tour de force of your creative spirit, pleasure to witness.”

“I loved it when I saw it on the first night & it was even better this time. I was able to appreciate the richness & depth of your story telling even more.”

“Your story resonated with me & your talent was truly inspiring. Thank you.”

~~

BUY TICKETS

**You can buy tickets for Bound Feet Blues via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

DETAILS

Tristan Bates Theatre
1A Tower St, Covent Garden WC2H 9NP

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

**BUY ONLINE via: bit.ly/bfbtickets **

“I love being able to wiggle my toes!” – 2015 Production Performance Photo, Bound Feet Blues

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Following on from Jo Good’s amazement at writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi’s versatile toes during the BBC London interview the other day, we thought we’d share a performance photo from Bound Feet Blues featuring these star quality toes!

** Bound Feet Blues is NOW ON  at the Tristan Bates Theatre until Sat 12 December 2015. Don’t miss this “mesmerising” and “powerful” show – buy tickets below or via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

~~

BUY TICKETS

**You can buy tickets for Bound Feet Blues via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

DETAILS

Tristan Bates Theatre
1A Tower St, Covent Garden WC2H 9NP

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

**BUY ONLINE via: bit.ly/bfbtickets **

Yang-May Ooi talks toes, feet – and bras! – with Jo Good on BBC London #BoundFeetBlues

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi returned to the BBC London Studio again to talk with Jo Good, one year on from her previous appearance on Jo’s show. Their conversation takes in Yang-May’s versatile toes, bras and the psychology behind the brutal practice of footbinding as depicted in Bound Feet Blues.

** Bound Feet Blues is NOW ON  at the Tristan Bates Theatre until Sat 12 December 2015. Don’t miss this “mesmerising” and “powerful” show – buy tickets below or via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

You can listen again by clicking on the image below:

jogoodcomposite

OR via this link

Yang-May Ooi with Jo Good, BBC London 27 Nov 2015

~~

BUY TICKETS

**You can buy tickets for Bound Feet Blues via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

DETAILS

Tristan Bates Theatre
1A Tower St, Covent Garden WC2H 9NP

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

**BUY ONLINE via: bit.ly/bfbtickets **

 

The Stage describes Bound Feet Blues as a “warm, genuine narrative”

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

The Stage has called Bound Feet Blues a “warm, genuine narrative” in a terrific review of this solo show by writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi.

Some snippets from the review:

“very clever and subtle and captures the attention”

“Yang-May Ooi, barefoot and dressed in black, has a calming presence and tells her story – and that of her female ancestors – with animation and humour.”

** Bound Feet Blues is NOW ON  at the Tristan Bates Theatre until Sat 12 December 2015. Don’t miss this “mesmerising” and “powerful” show – buy tickets below or via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

You can read the full review of Bound Feet Blues by The Stage via the links below.

Review of Bound Feet Blues in The Stage – “a warm, genuine narrative”  ¦ 26 Nov 2015 ¦ download the pdf

~~

BUY TICKETS

**You can buy tickets for Bound Feet Blues via bit.ly/bfbtickets **

DETAILS

Tristan Bates Theatre
1A Tower St, Covent Garden WC2H 9NP

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

**BUY ONLINE via: bit.ly/bfbtickets **

Photos and Write Up from Papergang Theatre’s Echo Night at the Bush Theatre – incl Bound Feet Blues extract

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi was invited to perform an extract of Bound Feet Blues at the Echo event of East Asian performers at the Bush Theatre, hosted by Papergang Theatre back in October. Here are some photos from the night – and also a write up by Papergang on their blog.

Yang-May writes: “It was great fun – and also a privilege to be performing alongside so many talented East Asian artists. Thank you to Papergang Theatre for inviting me to show an extract from Bound Feet Blues. The audience were warm and enthusiastic – some of them said the character of my Mum that I played reminded them of their old aunties from Malaysia! I am delighted!”

With the other performers on the night, and Papergang Theatre founders Simon Ly and Clarissa Wylde (extreme left) Photo credit: Papergang Theatre

Performing “Some Enchanted Evening” extract from Bound Feet Blues

 

Team BFB L – R: producer Eldarin Yeong, director Jessica Higgs, writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi

For a write up of the evening, check out Papergang Theatre’s blog post “Echo at the Bush”:

“Tuesday 20th of October, saw our first collaboration with the Bush Theatre, a new writing and storytelling event ECHO. We showcased an evening with Continue reading →

In Memory of “Walter Plinge” – archive audio interview An Actor’s Life for the London Theatre Blog from 2006

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Yang-May Ooi writes:

My dear friend “Walter Plinge”,  a retired actor, passed away a few weeks ago.

I interviewed him in 2006 on my Fusion View podcast for the London Theatre Blog and in his memory, I am publishing again the podcast in its entirety below. He talks about his life as a repertory actor in the 1950s. It is a fascinating journey into history and into the craft of acting for anyone who is interested in theatre – and a lovely way for me to remember “Walter”, especially his warm, resonant voice that has a touch of Anthony Hopkins to it.

Click on the image below for the pop up player to listen to the interview. (To return to this page from the player, click the Back button on your browser)

walter plinge player