DOUBLE DELICIOUS Announced At Abbotsford Convent

Double Delicious is a sumptuous storytelling and culinary experience from the creators of the critically acclaimed The Serpent's Table (2014). Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP) brings together five storytellers to share the secrets behind the dishes that have proved significant in their lives.

The cast includes Chinese Australian cooking legend Elizabeth Chong, writer and media personality Benjamin Law, preeminent Korean cooking instructor Heather Jeong, performing artist Valerie Berry, and performer Raghav Handa.

In Double Delicious audiences will have the unique opportunity to taste the story. Bitter and sweet, each story culminates in an authentic recreation of the storyteller's chosen dish. As a child of restaurateurs, storyteller Benjamin Law has spent a much of his life at the intersection of food and family. From his debut novel and television series The Family Law, to his documentary series Waltzing the Dragon, his work orbits around this constant. Double Delicious seems a natural progression.

"One of the things I've loved is that despite very few of the storytellers having known each other beforehand, we already feel like family. Though I also suspect storytelling and food - both ancient, primal and human needs - bonds us all very quickly."

In Double Delicious, Benjamin's riff on culture and authenticity leads to a topical exploration of identity in Hong Kong. Performance artist Valerie Berry's story challenges all the stereotypical expectations of the relationship between her Filipina mother and white Australian stepfather living in Ceduna, South Australia from the 1980s. "It's a privilege to be able to share your personal stories publicly but a vulnerable place to be in," says Berry, "I'm excited by this polarity."

For Elizabeth Chong, recently honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to hospitality and promotion of Chinese cooking in Australia, Double Delicious marks her theatre debut. Elizabeth shares the story of her rise to celebrity
chef stardom, long before the current fascination for TV food shows, and the surprising origins of one of her most iconic dishes. Fans of Australian food culture won't want to miss this first-hand account of the defining decades of Chinese
Australian cooking from the figure at the centre of it all.

Double Delicious is directed by Darren Yap, co-director of The Serpent's Table, who relishes the opportunity to further explore and expand the possibilities of this enduring food and theatre concept. Audiences can expect a memorable experience that truly engages all the senses, with lighting and projection designs by the award-winning designer Verity Hampson, music and sound design by Nicholas Ng, and set and costume designs by Hong Kong's Leocampo Yuen Hon-Wai.

The project is the brainchild of CAAP's Executive Producer, Annette Shun Wah. "The Serpent's Table was such a success, many people missed out. So I'm thrilled to bring a new version of the show that not only accommodates more audience members but also delves deeper into a fresh batch of truly surprising stories. With national and international partners we're looking forward to serving Double Delicious to audiences near and far."

As for last words, Elizabeth says it best, "Food expresses love. In Double Delicious, food is the common language that will be the bond between audience and the performers - and coupled with heart-warming stories, who could resist?"

Abbotsford Convent (27 Feb - 1 Mar, 2020) , Geelong Arts Centre (19-22 Feb, 2020) and Carriageworks (8-12 Jan, 2020) present Double Delicious by Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP) as part of Asia TOPA: Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts 2020.

Catch Double Delicious at Abbotsford Convent from 27 Feb - 1 March 2020. Tickets are on sale now via the Asia TOPA and Abbotsford Convent websites.

Abbotsford Convent is excited to partner with Asia TOPA on an electrifying program celebrating the creative imagination of artists and cultures in the Asia-Pacific region from January - March 2020.

HuRU-hARa is a dive bar that will showcase avant-garde artists from across South East Asia from 20 February - 1 March. The hub will unfold to create an ever-evolving artwork, a perpetual performance and a non-stop party. Follow the Facebook event for performer announcements.

When It Rains (I feel like eating Jeon) is an installation inspired by the story of a Korean elder in Ansan, who takes a walk every day to the place where the sea used to be. Open from 20 February - 1 March, the work considers the connections between site, sensation and memory.

What Happened in Shanghai? by Victoria Chiu and Collaborators, from 21 - 24 February. Drawing on her family roots in Shanghai, choreographer Victoria Chui interrogates how the contemporary body can illuminate different attitudes towards family - and why families make the often difficult decision to move their home across borders. Four dancers explore the spaces between death and new life, accompanied by Guzheng player Mindy Meng Wang and Chinese electronic artist MHP (aka Ma Hai Ping).

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