In the local theatre scene, there is perhaps no production as historically significant and well-loved in equal measure as Toy Factory’s Titoudao, a love letter to the time-honoured practice of wayang (Chinese street opera) set amid a time of great upheaval in Singapore’s history.
It is an incredibly personal story birthed from the mind of distinguished Singaporean playwright and director Goh Boon Teck, drawn from the life story of his mother, Oon Ah Chiam, as she navigated a Singapore far-flung from the sensibilities of the modern era.
Goh, who is chief artistic director of bilingual theatre company Toy Factory Productions, says, “My mother’s personal experiences and struggles have inspired many aspects of Titoudao, particularly the themes of familial bonds and perseverance. Her life was fraught with poverty, inequality and other struggles and I want to convey her story to our audience.”
Well, it seems the playwright succeeded – and then some. The original production premiered in 1994 to wide acclaim. In the years that followed, it has been re-staged seven times, touring the faraway lands of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing and Cairo before being adapted into an internationally acclaimed TV series in 2021, where it was made available on Netflix and HBO Go.
“I am incredibly proud of Titoudao‘s enduring popularity and its impact on audiences both locally and internationally. It is heartening to see how the story resonates with people from diverse backgrounds, highlighting universal themes of family, tradition, and resilience,” says Goh.
“The continued appreciation for Titoudao underscores the timelessness of its narrative and the importance of cultural preservation, and reaffirms our belief in the power of storytelling to bridge cultural divides and inspire meaningful reflection on our shared human experiences.”
Now, on the cusp of its 30th anniversary, the production will come back home to the historic Victoria Theatre with an all-new cast, costumes and staging in a move its returning director calls “very deliberate”.
Goh explains, “We wanted to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a fresh perspective while preserving the essence of the story that has resonated with audiences for so long. Updating these elements allows us to bring new energy and creativity to the production, ensuring it remains relevant and captivating for both new and returning audiences.”
He adds, “It also provides an opportunity for us to reinterpret the narrative and characters in a way that reflects the evolving cultural and artistic landscape.”
Novel touches for the new staging range from the presence of musician Zhuang Hai Ning, who will be providing live chords throughout the production, to script updates that “retain the essence of the original” for better engagement with contemporary audiences.
There’ll even be a “new, bigger tiger played by two actors” to recreate a popular tiger fighting scene in the play. “It must have been well-fed since 2015,” says Goh with a laugh.
Nevertheless, he admits that a huge aspect of Titoudao’s re-staging remains authenticity, down to building a wayang stage on top of Victoria Theatre’s pre-existing stage in an effort to recreate a “temple festival mood… where hawkers, actors and the audience will be able to interact and mingle with each other”.
The refreshed cast – which includes Tan Rui Shan (Mrs Lee Kuan Yew in Toy Factory’s Kwa Geok Choo) as the star character – have also been brushing up on their opera skills with Gwee Lay Hwa, a veteran of the Sin Sai Hong Hokkien opera company.
It’s a fittingly poignant collaboration, given that the opera company, too, became a part of Singapore’s disappearing wayang heritage when it ceased performances permanently in 2013 after entertaining crowds for more than a century.
“Through Titoudao, we aim to convey themes of family, tradition, and the resilience of the human spirit. The story explores the sacrifices made by individuals for their passion and the importance of preserving cultural heritage in a rapidly changing world. Singapore street wayang is rapidly disappearing; we must act now to preserve it,” says Goh.
Titoudao runs from Jul 5 to 28 at the Victoria Theatre. Tickets are available at Sistic.
