A bright and high octane coming-of-age drama by one of Australian theatre’s most exciting voices, writer and actor Merlynn Tong, is set to make her playwriting debut at Sydney Theatre Company with Golden Blood at the Wharf 1 Theatre from 13 September, before heading to Arts Centre Melbourne from 25 October 2024.
This electric two-hander, partly inspired by events in Tong’s own life, sees Tong and Charles Wu (The Importance of Being Earnest) star as recently orphaned siblings finding their way into adulthood amongst the steamy, tropical backstreets of Singapore’s criminal underworld.
Expertly directed by Tessa Leong, Golden Blood premiered to widespread acclaim at Griffin Theatre Company in 2022, captivating critics and audiences alike with its crackling, mile-a-minute dialogue and sharply drawn characters.
Known for her screen roles in Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake and ABC’s In Our Blood, Tong’s previous original works for the stage, in which she also starred, include the blistering one-woman shows, Ma Ma Ma Mad, the true story of her mother’s suicide, and Blue Bones, a semi-autobiography of teenage romance.
Golden Blood, with its intoxicating interrogation of power, money and familial relationships, cements Tong as a major force in the Australian playwriting landscape. Tong paints a moving portrait of an estranged 14-year-old Girl and 21-year-old Boy, thrown together after the unexpected death of their mother.
The naïve but headstrong Girl elects Boy as her legal guardian, unaware that Boy is a fledgling gangster. As this unconventional family grows up, the audience is taken on a thrilling journey into the darkly glamorous world of crime and luxury.
“Tong’s penetrating play reflects a welcome shift to bring to the forefront stories by and featuring Asian-Australians.”– Sydney Morning Herald
Director: Tessa Leong | Featuring: Merlynn Tong, Charles Wu | Designer: Michael Hankin | Lighting Designer: Fausto Brusamolino | Composer & Sound Designer: Rainbow Chan
Golden Blood
Wharf 1 Theatre, 15 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay (Sydney)
Season: 13 September – 13 October 2024
Information and Bookings: www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Fairfax Studio – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 25 October – 30 November 2024
Information and Bookings: www.mtc.com.au
Image: Charles Wu and Merlynn Tong star in Golden Blood – photo by Rene Vaile