There are locally-inspired shows and cultural exhibitions aplenty to attend this month. But the more the merrier, and a much-welcomed production joining the to-watch list is playwright Zenda Tan’s new debut play entitled Eat Duck, happening Aug 29-Sep 8.
Presented by Checkpoint Theatre and directed by the theatre’s co-founder, and joint artistic director and producer Claire Wong, Eat Duck, is without a doubt, in good hands.
In this show, an extended family holds a seven-day Taoist wake at a void deck for their grandmother, having recently passed. Together, the family deals with unfamiliar, religious rites and rituals. Delving into sensitive topics about conducting religious wakes in Singapore as well as paying respect to the dead, Eat Duck spotlights the struggles and familial issues faced during the most depressing of times.
Photo courtesy of Checkpoint Theatre. Photo Credit: Joel Lim @ Calibre Pictures
Titled after the playwright’s own grandmother’s many requests to have roast duck while receiving home-based palliative care despite her inability to eat, which is likely due to her fond memory of having roast duck with her family during the annual Chinese New Year celebrations, the play was also written shortly after the passing of Tan’s beloved grandparent, making it that much more real.
The playwright’s personal experience and connection to the play is apparent in this production, and it’ll be an interesting show as well as an insightful one, given the raw, honest depiction of events.
Eat Duck runs from Aug 29-Sep 8, at SOTA (School of the Arts) Studio Theatre. Tickets are priced at $45 and are available here.
