De bananengeneratie

Theater Oostpool / Char Li Chung

Sparkling theatrical portrait of the East Asian Dutchman

Director Char Li Chung brings Pete Wu's book The Banana Generation to the theatre. With five talented actors in the lead role, Chung creates a theatrical narrative based on personal stories that are as recognisable as they are urgent. Taking Pete Wu's bestseller as their starting point, they form the portrait of a diverse community. The embodiment of a generation that is at the centre of Dutch society, but as East-Asian Dutchmen are still constantly reminded of their otherness. A community that finally gets a face in this urgent performance.

Run time 1 hour and 40 minutes
Genre theatre
Language Dutch

De Bananengeneratie

With the bestseller The Banana Generation, Pete Wu wrote the first book of its kind. For the first time, a journalist recorded the story of a young generation of East Asians. Through the stories of others, writer Pete Wu also tells his own story. The story of the 'only' Chinese family in the village, the clash of Chinese and Dutch customs, life as a catering child between school and cooker, coming out of the closet to your Chinese mother.
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Similar stories can be found all over the villages and cities. Now, for the first time, these stories are also finding their way to the stage. It is time for the next step.

About Char Li Chung

Dutch director Char Li Chung has both Italian and Chinese roots. His great-grandparents were among the first Chinese labour migrants in the Netherlands and started their first Chinese restaurant 'Nan King' in Amsterdam in 1933. Chung: "With The Banana Generation, I want to celebrate the diversity of the East Asian community in the Netherlands and the rich culture they have brought here."

Credits

director Char Li Chung
actors Nhung Dam, Yuwi, Kok-Hwa Lie, Qiqi van Boheemen and Keanu Visscher
dramaturgy Madelon Kooijman
costume design Patricia Lim
costume workshop Femke van Neerven
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stage design Yannick Verweij
technique Wiel Coopmans
production manager Jeroen Heinen
marketing Daniel Jaspers, Thijs Toonen and Femke Krijntjes
campaign image Marijke de Gruyter and Nicolien de Jong