Winner of Auckland Fringe 2019 “Auckland Live: Free Your Mind” and “Best Newcomer (Ensemble)” award
'I am Rachel Chu' show poster for Auckland Fringe 2019, photography and design by Ankita Singh
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE RACHEL CHU?
Constance Wu. NYU Economics Professor. Asian-American underdog. Model Minority. Romantic Lead. We are not Rachel Chu.
But what would Crazy Rich Asians look like if we were? Identity, identification and representation collide in this violent act of intercultural appropriation. I AM RACHEL CHU is an act of literary anarchism - watch and listen as we rewrite, rework and revitalise the best-selling book and box-office success with our own personal histories, superimposing ourselves over its so-called relatable protagonist.
“If the object of a stereotype acts out the stereotype, is it internalized self-hatred or is it subversive satire?”Surrounding the controversy regarding Crazy Rich Asians and its respective failure and success in representing the Asian diaspora in the media, we want to create a response text and performance to the book and film. Using a methodology inspired by cut-up techniques by experimental writers such as Kathy Acker, William Burroughs and Tristan Tzara, we will reconstruct the narrative of the book and insert our own personal narratives – as well as miscellaneous, unexpected narratives - that will result in a completely new piece of writing. The Rachel Chu of Crazy Rich Asians will morph and take the shape of our own desires – shapeshifting from the female, Asian-American economics professor into a Kiwi-Singaporean actress one minute or a queer Asian writer the next minute.
As a product of the Ghent Manifesto, we want to create viscerally politically-charged and deeply personal theatre. To, as the first Ghent Manifesto provocation states, “make the representation itself real”.
The process will involve an all-Asian cast to create a collaborative text, which will resemble something akin to a shared monologue, a funhouse mirror reflection of the original Crazy Rich Asians, defamiliarizing the familiar.
This team of talents will be led by Nathan Joe (Hippolytus Veiled, Like Sex), Amanda Grace Leo (Roots, Te Waka Huia), Ravikanth Gurunathan (The Mourning After, I Ain't Mad At Cha) and Angela Zhang (OTHER [Chinese]).
Amanda Grace Leo poses for 'I am Rachel Chu' publicity photo, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Ravikanth Gurunathan poses for 'I am Rachel Chu' publicity photo, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
MEDIA
STUFF
RNZ - KIM HILL
REVIEWS
NZ Herald
Tearaway
Nathan Joe poses for 'I am Rachel Chu' publicity photo, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Angela Zhang poses for 'I am Rachel Chu' publicity photo, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Theatre Scenes - Basement Season
The Pantograph Punch
The Pantograph Punch
SHOW PROGRAM - Auckland FRINGE 2019 Season
Auckland Fringe Season Show Program, 2019
SHOW PROGRAM - basement theatre Season
Basement Theatre Season Show Program, 2019
GALLERY
The IMRC cast posing for a photo, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 1, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 2, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 2, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
IMRC Season 2, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Back stage during season 2 of IMRC, from left to right: Ravikanth Gurunathan, Amanda Grace Leo, Angela Zhang,. Dione Joseph,. photo by Ankita Singh 2019
The IMRC cast receiving an award at Auckland Fringe Awards 2019, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
The IMRC cast receiving an award at Auckland Fringe Awards 2019, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
The IMRC cast receiving an award at Auckland Fringe Awards 2019, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
The IMRC cast receiving an award at Auckland Fringe Awards 2019, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Fringe Awards, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Fringe Awards, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Fringe Awards, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
Fringe Awards, photo by Ankita Singh 2019
To view a recording of the original Fringe season of the show, please contact Ankita
