Opium At Closing Time Exploring Malaysian History Through Alzheimer S

---

Amberjade Arts is proud to present OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME, an original Malaysian work written and directed by Tarrant Kwok. It is set to premiere on the 20th of October 2022, and will play 9 shows till the 30th of October 2022, at Black Box, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Based on oral histories, secondary research and archived interviews, OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME stars Alexis Wong, Samuel Low, Grace Ng, Hannan Barakbah and Brendan Vinsent, as well as featuring music by Yanwen.

Yen, a woman of many triumphs - is starting to forget. Or has she already forgotten? Her son Chai is trying to help her, but what can Chai do when his Ma is stuck in the past? Did she actually go and see Sudirman’s concert, or was that his funeral?

An exploration of a disquieting human condition - OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME is an unflinching dive into the often disjointed experiences of those suffering with Alzheimer’s and those who care for them. It’s also a story of Malaysia, of pivotal history experienced on the personal scale. Of the choices that were made, and the consequences we must suffer.

This is a play that is meant to challenge the audience's perception of time, memory and the meaning of family. OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME seeks to also preserve the stories passed down only through hushed word of mouth. Drawing from these real vignettes and historical documentation, this play brings historicity down to the eye-level, in the hopes we can break our generational traumas.

Auteur Tarrant Kwok, who has adapted The Fall of The House of Usher for Theatrethreesixty in 2018 adds: “This production has been a very vulnerable experience – sharing my own personal experience and also sharing with the cast a rich view of a Malaysian past that we gloss over in the history books. Working with my stellar cast as they bring their own refinements to my script makes it greater than the sum of its parts. Such a rewarding open process makes this show even more compelling than I could have initially thought.”

Amberjade Arts presents OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME, to be staged at Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) in Empire Damansara, from October 20 to 22 and 26 to 29 at 8.30pm, and the 23rd and 30th at 3pm. Ticket prices are 49 MYR. Concession prices are available for students, senior citizens and differently abled at 39 MYR. Group booking promotion – Buy 9 Free 1, and Buy 17 Free 3. Free Seating. Content Warning: Abuse, War Crimes, Sexual Assault, Graphic Language, Flashing Lights and Loud Sounds. To purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/OACTKL. For group bookings and enquiries, please e-mail:[email protected].

---