MOUNTAINS: THE DREAMS OF LILY KWOK Brings a Turbulent Tale of Food and Family to the Belgrade

Three generations of women in one British Asian family will have their extraordinary story told on stage in Coventry this spring in a powerful new play by Yellow Earth Theatre and Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester. Adapted from the bestselling memoir by Helen Tse, Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok charts a multisensory journey from Hong Kong to Manchester, unfolding the remarkable history behind the founding of the famous Sweet Mandarin restaurant.

Brought up in the UK by her Chinese family, Helen has always felt that a part of her story was missing. Determining to fill in the gaps and discover who she really is, she heads out to Hong Kong to visit her mother's birthplace for the first time. There, amidst the bustling streets and skyscrapers, she steps inside her family's past, encountering her grandmother, Lily Kwok, and unearthing shocking secrets that will change her life forever.

First published in 2007, Helen Tse's critically acclaimed memoir Sweet Mandarin explores resonant themes of migration, identity and assimilation, colonial history, faith and superstition, and the roles and expectations society imposes upon women.

Now the story is vividly realised for the stage by an all-female creative team, in what marks the first major mid-scale tour of a British East Asian play. Live onstage cookery and a slippery, dreamlike narrative result in a richly evocative and fully immersive experience that has already attracted praise for its "broad, cinematic scope" (What's On Stage) and its "authenticity... warmth and conviction" (The Stage).

As an added extra, audiences can also book in for a pre-show cookery demonstration from Helen Tse and her sister Lisa on Thursday 31 May.

Director Jennifer Tang said: "I felt really drawn to the script because it tells the story of a woman from a community which I think is often overlooked in the UK. Stories about the Chinese are rare. Stories that recognise Chinese people in the UK - first, second or even third generation - who identify themselves as British, are even more rare. As a British-born Chinese woman myself, In-Sook's script felt like the chance to tell a story from a (usually) unheard voice, and that felt really exciting and important to me."

Playwright In-Sook Chappell added: "Lily is someone who has been overlooked all her life and people like Lily's voices aren't often heard. I hope people really empathise and identify with her and go away thinking about her extraordinary life."

Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok is presented by Yellow Earth Theatre and Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester in partnership with Black Theatre Live. The story has been adapted by playwright In-Sook Chappell (Tales of the Harrow Road, Soho Theatre; Absence, Young Vic; P'yongyang, Finborough Theatre) and is directed by Jennifer Tang (We Are You, Young Vic & British Museum; Clytemnestra, The Gate; WANTED, West Yorkshire Playhouse) with music by Ruth Chan (Snow in Midsummer, RSC; Shangri-La, Finborough Theatre; The Last Days of Limehouse, Yellow Earth Theatre).

The designer is Amelia Jane Hankin. Lighting design is by Amy Mae, sound design is by Elena Pena and movement direction is by Lucy Cullingford. Casting includes Siu-See Hang (Helen), Tina Chiang (Lily), Matthew Leonhart (Leung, Kwok Chan), Andy Kettu (Hideki, Japanese Soldier), Minhee Yeo (Kit Ye, Tai Po, Mrs Lee), Ruth Gibson (Mrs Woodman, Miss Price, Hostess) and Rina Takasaki (Gong, Waitress, Mabel).

Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok runs at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from Wednesday 30 May until Saturday 2 June. Tickets are available to book now by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055, or visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Keenan

To post a comment, you must register and login.