Kate Carl, an American artist, is invited to paint the portrait of the Empress of China, Cixi. When she arrives in China she hears many rumours about the Empress. She also meets George Morrison, an English journalist. He tells her not to be intimidated. Kate begins the portrait and while she paints, the Empress tells her about her life ...
The Empress, known as Yehenara as a young girl, was a concubine in the Forbidden City. She desperately wanted to be chosen by the Emperor to be his escort. And she was, indeed, chosen. After three months she became pregnant. She was then taken to the Summer Palace where she gave birth to a son, Tung Chih. This was the Emperor's first son and very important to the dynasty. However, as was the custom, the baby was taken away from Yehenara to be brought up by the court.
Prince Tun, the Emperor's brother, was devasted by the birth of Tung Chih as he had plans to take the throne for himself. The Royal Party fled to the Winter Palace after the British attacked and destroyed the Summer Palace. But the Emperor was much weakened and lay dying. Yehenara knew that if he died without naming Tung Chih as his heir, Prince Tun would claim the throne and her son's life and her own life would be in grave danger. She found her son and rushed to the Emperor's chamber. No one could stop her while she was carrying the Emperor's son. With his last breath the Emperor named Tung Chih as his successor and Yehenara as Regent.
But Tung Chih grew up to be a rebellious young man. He was tempted by Prince Tuan, the song of Prince Tun, to go to the brothels. Indulging his new-found freedom he became ill with syphilis. Yehenara was helpless to do anything but wipe his feverish brow with her handkerchief as he died. Again Prince Tun saw a chance for power but again was thwarted as Yehenara quickly named her nephew, Kuang Hsu, as the next Emperor.
All this time Kate has been writing to Morrison about these events. He is amazed that the Empress has told Kate contradict all the rumours he has heard. The Empress continues her story ...
She tells Kate that Kuang Hsu became an ambitious Emperor, determined to reform China. But this lead to the Boxer rebellion and China was crippled by the internal conflict. Despite everything Yehenara has tried to do, she is surrounded by loss and failure.
Kate meets with Morrison. She is falling in love and Morrison continues to be fascinated by everything she tells him about the Empress the completed portrait. But the Empress is furious...
What has happened? What has become of her story? Where will it end? And is this the end of China itself?
Music by: Dick Lee
Book by: Stephen Clark and Dick Lee
Lyrics by: Stephen Clark
Idea developed by: Stephen Clark, Dick Lee and Steven Dexter
Director: Steven Dexter
Musical Director: Sydney Tan
Music Arranger: Bang Wenfu
Choreographer: George Chan
Set Designer: Francis O' Connor
Costume Designer: Yang Derong
Lighting Designer: Chris Ellis
Sound Designer: Mike Walker
Choral Director: Ashley Lim
Hair and Accessories Designer: Ashley Lim
Stage Manager: Anna K. Jordahl
Cast:
Leigh McDonald
Amy Cheng
Andrew Halliday
Blossom Lam
Richard Chia
Kit Chan
Oliver Pang
Hossan Leong
Sebastian Tan
George Chan
Robin Goh
Isaac Tan
Gerald Ng
Darren Seah
Elias Tiong
Fraser Tiong
Sng Tiak
Ho Wen Long
Dwayne Tan
Emma Yong
Sheila Francisco
Ensemble:
Amy Cheng
Daniela Edward
Sheila Francisco
Rommel S Gerona
Karen Goh
Juwanda Hassim
Cynthia Lee
David Lee
Jasmine Liew
Andy Joshua Lim
Jonathan Lum
Valerie Oh
Jacqueline Pereira
Skye
Celine Rosa Tan
Band:
Tony Ang Ting Leong
Bang Wenfu
Vickneskumar
Linus Lee
Damien Lim Yong Seng
Ethan Tan
Darrel Xin
Stephen Yun
Conductor: Sydney Tan
Production Advisor: Tracie Pang
Production Manager: Paul Tan
Asst Production Manager: Anand Balan
Asst Stage Managers: Lin Shiyun, Woo Hsia Ling
Asst Choreographer/Dance Captain: Richard Chua
Rehearsal Pianist: Bang Wenfu
Chinese Translator: Lee Chee Keng
Set Construction: Arina-Hogan Builders
Props Master: Steven Wang
Lighting Programmer: Ben Davies
Sound Engineer: Eddie Teo
Sound Operator: Alan Wareham
Radio Microphone Engineer: Lau Sook Fong
Head of Wardrobe: Moira Coops
Wardrobe Manager: Vivianne Koh
Asst Wardrobe Manager: Pauline Tan
Hair & Accessories Asst: Leong Kwong Kay
Make-up Artists: Cindy Goh, Peter Khor, Sam Ong, Melissa Yeo
Tailor: Andrew Oei
Musical Instruments Supplier: BMC
Newsprint Paper Supplier: Singapore Press Holdings
(Source: Singapore Repertory Theatre Programme)