OTHER [chinese] is a live, documentary theatre show.
The purpose of the show is to create a space for multiple voices to arise – because being Chinese is not one, singular thing.
This large-scale community engagement project invites interested participants from a variety of backgrounds to investigate the complexity of Chinese identity in contemporary New Zealand, examining the everyday lives, rituals, historical events, and memories of Chinese in Aotearoa.
Volunteers participate in a series of weekly workshops, creating opportunities 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 their community, here and now.
Audiences experienced the realisation of these stories and conversations in OTHER [chinese] where up to 100 people are invited to participate in the show, as themselves. Not characters of fiction, but real life people.
COLLABORATORS
Director and Creator: Alice Canton
Producer: Julie Zhu & Sherry Zhang
Lighting and Production Design: Brad Gledhill and Rachel Marlow
Technical Manager (Tour): Pete Davison
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES
Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Dumont4040, Buenos Aires
March 2023
Christchurch (New Zealand) cancelled due to Covid-19
The Court Theatre
Sept 20 – 22, 2021
Dunedin Arts Festival (Dunedin, New Zealand)
Glenroy Auditorium
April 15 – 16, 2021
Festival of Colour (Wanaka, New Zealand)
Lake Wanaka Centre
April 13, 2021
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Q Theatre, Auckland New Zealand
6 – 16 September 2017
“Billed as a “live documentary theatre show”, OTHER [chinese] is educational, gentle and filled with off-the-cuff humour.” – NZ Herald
AWARDS
Best Show of 2017 – Metro Magazine
Excellence Award for Overall Production – Auckland Theatre Awards, 2017
Hackman Cup for Most Original Production – Auckland Theatre Awards, 2017
“OTHER [chinese] is something that New Zealand needs. It’s a testament to Canton’s skill as a storyteller and facilitator that the show, and its accompanying workshops, convey a strong sense of empowerment through the affirmation of personal experiences. And this is something that we have been waiting a long time to see.” – The Pantograph Punch
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