Gunong Sayang Association (GSA) – an organisation dedicated to promoting Peranakan culture through plays and poetry – is returning after a five-year hiatus with a comeback play in Ada Kerak Ada Nasi. There will be three performances at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre across two days on Sep 27 and 28.
The family-centric drama gets its name from a Malay proverb meaning “burnt crust is the result of cooking rice”, referring to the consequences of one’s actions, and revolves around the tensions that a wedding – and the unexpected return of a family member – brings to a close-knit Peranakan family in modern-day Singapore.
Special effort will be made to present the play to younger audience members who might not be as fluent in Baba Malay or Hokkien, with a glossary printed in the programme and live subtitles projected on a screen alongside the play.
The GSA’s 30th play since it began staging Wayang Peranakan productions in 1985 will also introduce a new generation of actors, including Kristel Soh (daughter of Frederick Soh, playwright for Ada Kerak Ada Nasi), Andrew Ding and Justin Wong (who together run a Peranakan kueh business). A live cello performance by Alexi Thomas, daughter of Helen Thomas (who plays one of the Peranakan family members) will also be featured.
Ada Kerak Ada Nasi marks a significant return not just for the GSA after its protracted hiatus – during which it was recognised with the Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award in 2022 – but also its artistic director Tony Quek, who returns after being wheelchair-bound for over five years due to a spinal cord injury.
Ada Kerak Ada Nasi will run on Sep 27 and 28 (there are a total of three performances, with two on Sep 28) at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Tickets are available here.
