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Madam Mao ()

Produced by

Azure River

Presented by

The SummerWorks Performance Festival

Creators: Paul Thompson and Janet Lo and Samantha Wan and Severn Thompson
Director: Severn Thompson

Venue

The Theatre Centre – BMO Incubator

Run

August 7th, 2014 – August 17th, 2014

Awards & Nominations

Original Concept by Paul Thompson and Janet Lo

Synopsis

“There is no such thing as Art for Art’s sake” – Mao Zedong.

In a Bejing jail cell, a young Official is drawn into the telling of Madam Mao’s story. The widow of Chairman Mao, who was once the most powerful and feared woman in the world, now a political prisoner, relives her life, replete with idealism and contradictions.

Born into poverty, Madam Mao rose to power and then used propaganda art as the means of controlling a nation. With her sights set on becoming the next ruler of China, her quest for power led her to destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of her real and perceived enemies. Was she driven by revenge and ambition? Or was she been vilified?

Incorporating Revolutionary music and choreography, Madam Mao exposes the life of a woman who World History is eager to forget and who North Americans never really knew.  (summerworks.ca)


Cast

Janet Lo Jiang Qing
Samantha Wan Sergeant / Trickster
Heidi Chan Musician
Amanda Zhou Guard

Creative Team

Paul Thompson Creator
Janet Lo Creator
Samantha Wan Creator
Severn Thompson Creator
Severn Thompson Director
Jeffrey Chan Choreographer
Heidi Chan Composer
Heidi Chan Sound Designer
Amanda Wong Set Designer
Amanda Wong Costume Designer
Cassandra Brennan Design Assistant

Production

Kyra Ritchie Stage Manager
Lacey Juk Stage Manager
Ryan Fisher Photography
Norman Yeung Graphic Designer

Staff

Courtney Pyke Festival Lighting Designer
Heather Richards Venue Technician
Remington North Venue Technician