The Funeral (2019)

A devised dark comedy with secrets, dances, and lip-syncs.

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The Funeral was a dark comedy created by director Davina Cooke of Treasure Chest Theatre and 9 performers over a span of 2 months. It debuted on 15 December 2019 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm at the McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre. Drawing from Meisner technique and improvisation games, the players devised scenes based on their characters’ quirks and their relationship to each other, developing the back story that would inspire the unscripted dialogue in the show. The result is an at-home funeral officiated by an obscure humanist, lip-syncing to Nina Simone, and an explosive confession that would change everything.

Synopsis:

10 years after graduating from Fairfield High, former classmates are reunited at the funeral of their beloved friend Katie after she perished in a car accident. Saddened by the loss, but also carrying the unspoken secrets from their school days, can these individuals learn to overcome their differences and move forward from the past?

Creative Team

Directed and produced by Davina Cooke

Devising cast: Stephanie Renae Lau, Shravya Agarwal, Chris Carmon Jr, Lauren Berning, Candace Job, Jemima Gdabgo, Natasha Jain, Chloe Grimmett, Namrata Bindra

Choreography & Lighting Design: Marek Steenkamp

Stage Assistant: Tatiana Fernandez