After captivating audiences in Singapore and Australia, the Dragon Lady returns to Esplanade for her debut in the Singtel Waterfront Theatre. Winner of the Best Work of the Year (Dramatic) in the Australian Art Music Awards 2021, Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep is a sonic portrait of new music icon Margaret Leng Tan—an evocative exploration of memory, time, control and loss that sweeps across the senses.
An autobiographical rumination on the renowned pianist’s personal and professional history, the work reveals the inner workings of a spellbinding performer and vital musical interpreter. It presents a riveting collage of the forces that have shaped Tan’s life and how music has been both her passion and her refuge. A compelling theatre of memory, the production combines spoken and recorded text, projected images and original music for prepared piano, toy piano, toys and percussion by Tan’s long-term collaborator Erik Griswold.
New York-based Singaporean pianist Tan forged a path as a major force within the American avant-garde, serving as muse to giants such as John Cage and George Crumb, and transforming the toy piano into a serious instrument. Her stellar career is a touchstone for the past 40 years of experimental musical innovation.
Performed by Tan, Dragon Ladies Don’t Weep is a cross-cultural collaboration created by a team of Singaporean and Australian artists led by Chamber Made director Tamara Saulwick and dramaturg Kok Heng Leun.
Musician/Performer: Margaret Leng Tan
Composer: Erik Griswold
Director: Tamara Saulwick
Dramaturg: Kok Heng Leun | Drama Box
Video Artist: Nick Roux
Lighting Design: Andy Lim
Costume Design: Yuan Zhiying
Co-Producers: Goh Ching Lee | CultureLink Singapore, Kylie McRae | Chamber Made
Technical Management: ARTFACTORY
Technical Stage Manager: Yap Seok Hui
Sound Engineer: Joel Fernandez
Video Engineer: Kailash
Lighting Engineer: Huang Xiangbin
Administration: Yati Yusof
(Source: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Programme)