How to Throw a Chinese Funeral

The room was infused with Tiger Balm and incense. 🐅 Two days ago, I was lucky enough to see Jill Kwan’s ‘How to throw a Chinese Funeral’ 🫖

It was the story of four chinese women – a mother (Yoong Ru Heng), her two daughters (Ann An & Lisa Zhang) and her older sister (Janet Tan), who return home to Malaysia for the funeral of their Poopoo (grandmother).🙎🙇🙇🙎This production was the winner of the 2021 Asian Ink Award and shortlisted for the 2022 Adam NZ Play Award. 🏅

It is an intergenerational story of a chinese family with the rules and roles of women in the household – eldest daughter, youngest daughter, immigrant daughter, matriarchal daughter, married daughter, mother daughter.

Many of the Chinese traditions overlapped with Indian traditions, such as offering food, helping the spirit pass on by remaining with it, and prayers. For many young people of colour, like myself, these traditions are familiar but unidentifiable. I couldn’t tell you what any of the rituals mean.

It was comforting to see the ways our inherited ethnicity and immigration stories are woven into the way we hold ourselves and handle auspicious days. Family is unavoidable the story of life and death. It is the basis for how we dictate ourselves. I feel blessed to have attended a chinese funeral and be given a spot at the table to experience this personal story.

I would especially like to thank Renee for encouraging me to find a way to attend this production. I would have so much regret if i hadn’t seen it.

I would also like to thank Jill Kwan for creating this story and pushing yourself to get this piece of art into the world. You made me cry.