2024
Dream of the Red Chamber
Award-winning playwright and director Chong Tze Chien’s reinterpretation of one of the four greatest Chinese classical literature novels
Synopsis
A celestial stone reincarnates as the scion of a wealthy aristocratic family. Baoyu, born with a jade in his mouth, is raised as the heir and Precious Jade of the clan. The heir takes centre stage in a love rivalry between his two cousins – Daiyu and Baochai, amidst the backdrop of the family’s slow financial collapse.
Presented by The Finger Players, Dream of the Red Chamber is award-winning playwright and director Chong Tze Chien’s reinterpretation of one of the four greatest Chinese classical literature novels. With delicate mask work and a riveting moving set, this stage adaption delivers visual poetry that pays homage to the beauty and grandeur of the novel. Weaving an intricate tapestry of dreams, desires, duty, and destiny, the play dances between reality and illusions, creating a microcosm of secrets, political intrigue, and social complexities within the mansion.
There will be a 20 minute post-show discussion for all evening performances.
DATE & TIME
20–22 Jun 2024 | 8PM
22-23 Jun 2024 | 3PM
VENUE
Drama Centre Black Box
Find on map 🌐
DURATION
2h (No intermission)
LANGUAGE
English (with no surtitles)
ADVISORY
Advisory (Some Mature Content)
AWARDS
The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2025
Best Set – Chong Tze Chien and Grace Lin
Best Costume – Max Tan and Loo An Ni
Best Sound – Ng Jing
REVIEWS
Theatre review: Dream Of The Red Chamber re-enacts Chinese classic with masks and puppetry
Clement Yong, The Straits Times
The Finger Players’ Dream of the Red Chamber: The Love of Craft and the Craft of Love
Ang Kia Yee, Popspoken
[Theatre Review] Dream of the Red Chamber by The Finger Players—Beautiful Fuzzy Dream
Isaac Tan, isaactanbr
Review: Xu Caifang on Dream Of The Red Chamber by Chong Tze Chien (The Finger Players)
Xu Caifang, Critics Circle Blog
‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ review: An exploration of love, morality and family
Beverly Anne Devakishen, SG Magazine
Review: Idelle Yee on Dream of the Red Chamber by Chong Tze Chien (The Finger Players)
Idelle Yee, Critics Circle Blog
Seng Jing Fei 孙靖斐, Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报
Teo Eng Hao 张英豪, thea.preter 剧读
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Supported by
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Playwright, Director and Set Conceptualiser
Chong Tze Chien
Puppet & Props Designer
Daniel Sim
Assistant Puppet & Props Designer and Makers
Ling Jia Le
Shawne Kho Yzelman
Costume Designer
Max Tan
Lighting Designer
Faith Liu Yong Huay
Mask Designer & Maker
Loo An Ni
Set Realisation
Grace Lin
Sound Designer
Ng Jing
Performers and Puppeteers
Ashie Singh
Ellison Tan
Jamil Schulze
Joshua Lim
Tan Guo Lian Sutton
Tan Wan Sze
Production Manager
Lam Dan Fong
(The Backstage Affair)
Technical Manager
Peter Chi
Stage Manager
Tennie Su
Assistant Stage Manager
Cheow Jiong Ling
(The Backstage Affair)
Puppeteer & Crew
Tanya Ang
Production Coordinator
Georgia Sim
(The Backstage Affair)
Wardrobe Mistress
Lim Zhi Ying
Sound Assistant and Operator
Leeyau Shi Min
Key Visual Photographer
Crispian Chan
Key Visual Digital Imaging Artist
Ang Lee Cheng
(iimaging LLP)
Key Visual Designer
Oliver Chong
Photo Archival
Poh Yu Khing
Video Archival
Amos Poh
Hair & Make-up Artist (Key Visual)
Cherylynn
(Cat Scratch SFX)
Hair & Make-up Assistant (Key Visual)
Hanani
Special Thanks
Ashley Fong
Chan Silei
Geralyn Toh
Hairi Cromo
Jobina Tan
Sharlene Lim
Tan Beng Tian
GALLERY
