Madam Mao (2014)
Produced by
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 |
