Embark on an emotional journey with AI May, , a compelling theatrical creation by Meanjin (Brisbane) playwright Amy Chien-Yu Wang.
This poignant exploration delves into themes of love, belongingness, cultural identity, the meaning of life, and grief, unfolding through the eyes of an Asian migrant mother who experiences the sudden and tragic loss of her only daughter, May.
As Mother grapples with grief and shattered dreams for May's once-promising future, the narrative takes a fascinating turn when May's Anglo-Australian lover, Jeremy, a brilliant robotics engineer, offers a grieving bot as a surrogate for May. In a tale of cultural complexities, Mother confronts her own prejudices against Jeremy while he navigates the challenges of connecting with his deceased lover's grieving and hostile mother.
AI May raises compelling questions: How will Mother navigate her cultural dilemma, mend the wounds between mother and daughter, and find solace through an artificially intelligent robot? Will Jeremy learn to let go, and what role will love play in this intricate web of emotions and relationships?
Notably, the 10-minute version of AI May garnered recognition at the 2021 Wheaton 10-Minute Play Festival, captivating an American audience through a pre-recorded short film. Our play has also resonated with diverse audiences in Brisbane, where both English and Mandarin versions were showcased at Sunnybank Hall in Dec 2022.
The inspiration for AI May stems from Amy Chien-Yu Wang's personal journey through post-natal depression, intergenerational trauma, and the profound grief of losing a dear friend prematurely. Amy, a former SBS journalist passionate about mental health, witnessed the stigma surrounding mental health discussions hindering individuals from overcoming life challenges.
Driven by resilience and a desire to facilitate transformative conversations, Amy self-funded and crowdfunded AI May.
.The production includes a 10-minute performance involving mental health professionals in a panel discussion, as well as a 90-minute work-in-progress performance that resonated with multicultural and migrant audiences often underrepresented in Australian theatre.
Amy's dedication led to the establishment of Embodi Theatre, with AI May serving as a catalyst for healing conversations. We invite like-minded partners, sponsors, donors, and volunteers to join us in elevating AI May in 2024. By supporting us, you contribute to fostering healing discussions, particularly through mental health seminars.
《愛能…》(AI May)是布里斯本編劇王千毓的第一部雙語話劇作品。
愛,能造成難以抹滅的傷痛也能創造無限的奇蹟。
該故事探討一對華裔母女在澳洲尋找價值感及歸屬感的衝突。
當劇中的女兒May因一場意外猝逝後,母親如何面對白髮人送黑髮人的傷痛以及一輩子的夢想驟然消失的迷惘。她與從沒接受過的May的洋人男友Jeremy如何克服失去May的傷痛,學會放手,從而學習開始過自己的人生。
2021年該劇的第一幕有幸獲選為美國Wheaton 10-Minute Play Festival的12部參展作品之一,並已於11月22日(澳洲東部標準時間)在美國以事先錄制的網劇形式展出,獲得熱烈的迴響。一位美國觀眾對該劇的反應是:
“我非常喜歡這部充滿張力,表演傑出,編劇與導演皆優秀的舞台劇。”
《愛能...》舞台劇於2021年·11月27日在布里斯本Sunnybank已演出英文與中文版的兩場秀。觀眾包括華裔社區的移民以及來自主流社會和其他族裔的觀眾。
《愛.能...》的概念是在王千毓經歷產後抑鬱、代際創傷和失去一位過早離世的摯友之後誕生的。
Amy曾經多年在SBS擔任記者,經常需要報導有關心理健康的故事。她注意到許多人因外界看法而不願討論心理健康。這實際上阻礙了人們克服包括悲傷和代際創傷在內的重大生活挑戰。
在新冠疫情期間因過勞而身心陷入谷底後,Amy發現戲劇成為最適合她療癒的表達方式。此後,她自資和眾籌製作了《愛.能...》的十分鐘公開表演,她很幸運獲得志工演員及藝術家的協助,並邀請心理健康專業人士進行座談會,討論劇作中探討的主題,之後又推出一個90分鐘的成果發表演出。
《愛.能...》獲得了多元族群和移民觀眾的支持,這些觀眾通常在澳洲舞台上缺乏以飽滿、有尊嚴的形象被代表的機會。
Amy因而創立了Embodi Theatre體現劇團,決心利用《愛.能...》這部劇作為製造改變及療癒對話的窗口,針對那些對於悲傷、失落和代際創傷主題有共鳴的觀眾。在這個正經歷高速高科技變化的世界,許多老年人,包括移民,經常難以找到自己在這個新世界中的定位。我們希望透過這部有意義的科幻療癒舞台劇強化我們的移民社區、心理健康、老齡生活及發展更美好的家庭關係。
體現劇團正尋找志同道合的合作夥伴、贊助商、贊助人和志願者,以幫助我們在2024年將《愛.能...》提升到更高層次,創造更多心理健康研討會以促成更多的療癒對話。
ANNA YEN
MOTHER
CLARISE OOI
ROBOT / MAY
JUSTIN RYAN
JEREMY
KEZHEN YI
MRS LIN / DR TUNG
AMY CHIEN-YU WANG
PRODUCER / PLAYWRIGHT / DIRECTOR
HELEN STRUBE
DRAMATURG / CREATIVE PRODUCER
DEIDRE GRACE
CO-PRODUCER
BILL HAYCOCK
SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
Amy Chien-Yu Wang
王千毓
The Creative Sparks Program is an initiative of Brisbane City Council in partnership with the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
AI May is supported through the Australian Cultural Fund.
Embodi Theatre wishes to acknowledge that we work & create on Meanjin, where Traditional Custodians of this Sacred Land have been telling stories for countless generations. We’d also like to pay our sincere respects to Elders in spirit and in flesh. We recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and that this was, is and always will be First Nations Land.
Copyright © 2024 Amy Chien-Yu Wang