Public Theatre Workshops to Investigate Chinese/NZ Identity

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alice Canton/White_mess presents:

PUBLIC THEATRE WORKSHOPS TO INVESTIGATE CHINESE NEW ZEALAND IDENTITY

“What is Chinese? What is being Chinese? What is not Chinese?”

These are the questions performer and theatre-artist Alice Canton asks in preparation for her upcoming series of theatre workshops, starting in Auckland this month. Interested participants are invited to investigate the complexity of Chinese identity in contemporary New Zealand, examining the everyday lives, rituals, historical events, and memories of Chinese in Aotearoa.

The free workshops will be facilitated by Canton (ORANGUTAN; WHITE/OTHER; Dance Like Everybody’s Watching) in a fun, active, and creatively-led process. Canton, herself of Chinese descent, has a rich background in theatre education and community engagement, delivering a number of projects across a variety of spaces from schools to youth residencies, resettlement services to corporate training. Canton is calling for participants from a range of experiences, communities and backgrounds.

“The workshops are a chance to connect with people from a range of ages, genders, political leanings, education and locations who are interested in what it is to be Chinese in Auckland, here and now”.

Canton believes that creative expression can open up conversations and create meaningful change in the world, “providing a contained and safe space to bring different voices together, relate to each other, and hold the diverse perspectives within a group”.

Stories from these workshops will contribute to Canton’s new, large-scale documentary theatre show OTHER [chinese], which will invite up to 100 performers onstage every night, premiering at Q Theatre this September.

“The project is an effort to challenge the many forms of cultural mis-representation, discrimination and invisibility that exists around Chinese identity”, says Canton “we want to shape a new reality that acknowledges and celebrates our unique differences”.

Workshops will take place across Auckland, including Albany, Balmoral, and Central City. For more information and to register your interest, please visit www.whitemess.co.nz or www.fb.com/whitemesstheatre.

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