bound feet blues

Meet Papergang Theatre, Bound Feet Blues partner at Tristan Bates Theatre as part of the South East Asian Arts Festival

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

We have invited Papergang Theatre to share our theatre space at Tristan Bates Theatre as both Bound Feet Blues and Papergang are taking part in the South East Asian Arts Festival (SEA Arts Fest). Papergang will be producing three Papergang matinees of play readings by East Asian playwrights during the Bound Feet Blues run – the Bound Feet Blues team are delighted to be able to support new East Asian writing in this way.

Papergang Theatre

Papergang webpage - screenshot

Papergang Theatre was formed by graduates of the Royal Court Unheard Voices programme, which develops writers from ethnic minorities. “Our mission is to create theatre work that reflects the multi-cultural society we live in, bringing contemporary voices from our community into the mainstream.

At Papergang, we know that a writer can only realise their full potential if their work is produced and has a life beyond the page. We are a theatre company led by a diverse range of Continue reading →

Keep pushing your comfort zone creatively, Bound Feet Blues writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi advises storytellers [audio interview for The Story Party]

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

In this audio interview with Beverley Glick for The Story Pary, writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi advises storytellers that the key to creative development is to keep pushing your comfort zone.

She talks about experimentation as the starting point for her remarkable theatre piece Bound Feet Blues, which is a mix of storytelling and performance. And she urges anyone who would like to have a go at storytelling to go for it and contact The Story Party, where she will be joining Beverley Glick next year to offer coaching to would-be storytellers.

You can read Beverley’s intro and listen to the audio interview by clicking on the image below:

storyparty screenshot

OR

You can listen to the full audio interview via the player below:

[audio http://www.thestoryparty.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Yang-May-interview-1.mp3]

~~

The Story Party is a regular storytelling soiree in central London co-founded by Beverley Glick and Mary Ann Mhina. As speakers, writers and advocates of the power of story, we set up The Story Party to create a safe space in which to share personal stories that can deepen our connection to each other – stories that are personal but also universal; stories that speak volumes about what it means to be human. Go to http://www.thestoryparty.co.uk/ to find out more.

~~

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.

 

Meet Jessica Higgs, director of Bound Feet Blues

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Jessica Higgs was the first of the creative team to come on board the production after writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi, directing the showcase performance of Bound Feet Blues in Oct 2014. She is at the helm again taking the show to the next level for the 3 week run of the full production in a few weeks time, opening on 24 November.

JESSICA HIGGS – Director

Jessica Higgs was the founder and Artistic Director of In Tandem TC (2000-08) whose worked focused on difference and integration of difference in society, creating platforms for culturally diverse and unheard voices. For the company she directed an acclaimed Pinter double bill ofLandscape and Mountain Language, translated and performed entirely in British Sign Language by Deaf and hearing actors, and the British Premier of Canadian, Alex Blumer’s Smudge, both at Ovalhouse. Other directing work includes: Julie McNamara’sPigtales and Pig’s Sister (Jackson’s Lane, Ovalhouse, Theatre Workshop Edinburgh and internationally); Will Eno’s Lady Grey (Soho Theatre); Wesker’s Four Portraits – of Mothers(Bridewell Theatre). Jessica is also a voice coach working regularly at Central School of Speech & Drama, British-American Continue reading →

Introducing the landscape of Bound Feet Blues: The Inner Chamber of a Bound Foot Mother

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

In Bound Feet Blues, writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi takes us to a a diverse range of settings and times – from Oxford in England to the Australian Outback, and also the landscape of ancient China. We are giving you a glimpse into these different places here on this blog over the next few weeks.

In a central scene in Bound Feet Blues, Yang-May demonstrates on stage the gruelling process of footbinding on a little girl.  So, today, we introduce you to the inner chamber of a mother with bound feet where such a process would have most likely taken place.

The home was a woman’s domain in ancient China. Within that was the inner chamber, a private space for the women of the household only. There the women would sew and read and tell stories. And  also probably carry out the ritual of footbinding on the daughters of the family.

Women at home – thanks http://depts.washington.edu/

Woman, Qing Dynasty – thanks to http://www.elegantstory.com/, via Pinterest

Women with bound feet via Pinterest

~~

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.

 

Meet Carol Alayne, costume designer for Bound Feet Blues

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Savile Row tailor Carol Alayne has designed a sleek tunic for writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi, picking up the Chinese theme of the show while creating a timeless feminine shape to sit on top a pair of rugged jeans. The simplicity of the design belies the powerful impact of the costume, in keeping with the minimalist principles underlying the creative vision for Bound Feet Blues.

CAROL ALAYNE, costume designer

Carol Alayne is master tailor, haute couture specialist and mentor with over 30 years professional experience in Savile Row and at a number of leading fashion houses. Her commissions include individually crafted garments for fashion collections, technical wear for top level sports competitors, business and formal attire for prominent executives, traditional safari and field sport outfits, and special items for international artists and musicians. www.tailoringforwomen.com

~~

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.

Yang-May Ooi, writer and performer of Bound Feet Blues, talks about the power of storytelling and writing from personal experience [video]

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Yang-May Ooi, writer/ performer of Bound Feet Blues talks about the inspiration behind her extra-ordinary solo story performance and the memoir accompanying the theatre piece.

~~

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.

Meet Claudia Rocha, videographer for Bound Feet Blues

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Claudia Rocha filmed Yang-May’s TEDx talk in 2013 and went on to film the scratch night performance of Bound Feet Blues in March 2014 at Conway Hall. She has stayed with the team ever since, capturing the showcase performance in Oct 2014 and is now going to be filming the show for two nights of the Bound Feet Blues full production run in Nov/ Dec this year.

Claudia Rocha, videographer

Claudia Rocha

Claudia Rocha is a freelance photographer and cinematographer, originally from Portugal, now based in London. She has worked on documentary films as well as photo shoots for Vogue Portugal, NY Mag and other magazines. http://byclaudiarocha.com/ 

 

Here is her highlights edit of the showcase performance of Bound Feet Blues:

Continue reading →

Yang-May Ooi, writer and performer of Bound Feet Blues, reveals her secret to Fearless Public Speaking

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

How did an introverted writer who used to hate public speaking find the courage to take to the West End stage in her own solo theatre show? Yang-May Ooi, writer and performer of Bound Feet Blues – A Life Told in Shoes, reveals on the Ginger Public Speaking blog her fearlessness secret to supercharge your confidence as a public speaker.

Click on the image below to read the full article on the Ginger Public Speaking blog….

ginger screenshot

Ginger Public Speaking is a public speaking coaching company founded by Sarah Lloyd-Hughes, a popular speaker on confidence and inspiration and an award winning social entrepreneur, whom I am honoured to call a friend.

Featured in the TEDx series of public speeches, Sarah is an energetic, original and deeply authentic speaker who works with professionals and entrepreneurs to help them communicate with courage. She has successfully taught thousands of people across three continents. As a speaker on confidence, Sarah builds inspiration in her audiences, whatever their experience levels. She challenges and supports them on the journey to become passionate, authentic and inspiring communicators.

~~

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.

Bound Feet Blues is part of the South East Asian (SEA) Arts Festival 2015!

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

The SEA Arts Fest or South East Asian Arts Festival has been a key supporter of Bound Feet Blues from the very beginning. One of the festival’s producers Annie Kwan saw writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi’s scratch night performance of the draft work in March 2014 at Conway Hall and invited Yang-May to bring it to the festival later that year.

In October 2014, Yang-May showcased the completed version Bound Feet Blues for one night only as part of the SEA Arts Fest 2014 to a sold out audience and garnered 4+ star reviews.

This year SEA Arts Fest 2015 is championing Bound Feet Blues again, scheduling the full production as part of the festival.  We are grateful to festival director Hi Ching and his team for their ongoing support and enthusiasm for the show.

SEA Arts Fest 2015

SEA ArtsFest is the first Southeast Asian arts festival in the UK, championing and developing the work of the artists of Southeast Asia and those inspired by Southeast Asia. SEA ArtsFest brings together artists, practitioners, makers and thinkers to increase awareness of SEA Arts and its audience base, and is supported by Arts Council England.

The festival features an exciting range of work including film, theatre, music, traditional and heritage arts, outdoor performances, participatory workshops, digital media-based projects, roundtable discussions, and more, taking place across multiple locations in London and other parts of the UK. The inaugural festival took place between 1st October and 10th November 2013.

SEA ArtsFest 2015 will be taking place between 26th October and 13th December 2015.

 

~~

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.

Meet Kristian Morgan, personal trainer to Bound Feet Blues writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi

/ Yang-May Ooi / Leave a comment

Kristian Morgan is an unofficial member of the Bound Feet Blues team but he has the important role of working with writer/ performer Yang-May Ooi on her fitness and stamina for the challenging task of performing on stage for 5 nights a week over 3 weeks.

Kristian Morgan, personal trainer

Kristian is a freelance mobile personal trainer based in Dulwich, South London. He is a national ultra marathon 50k champion. He has completed over 50 marathons and ultra marathons (an Ultra is any distance greater than 26.2 miles). He is also an ironman triathlete but most of all he is a friendly approachable personal trainer.

He has been personal training in and around Dulwich since 2007 helping people achieve their goals, whether it’s been preparing for a marathon or just regular exercise. www.kristianmorgan.com Continue reading →