Southeast Asian Plays

A collection of plays by eight playwrights, both new and established, from seven countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia. Though now in English, there is little in common in these eight plays from seven very different nations in a region connected mainly by geography. Covering topics as diverse as the global financial crisis, religious faith, the sex trade, corruption and exploitation, Southeast Asian Plays provides a fresh and unique snapshot of the rich variety of performance work that in many cases is only beginning to be written down, and insight into the differing concerns of those living in a part of the world which is experiencing profound change. Much of the new work in this region remains unknown beyond the borders of language; within countries, plays are not readily circulated, as they are not commonly published in their original (often local) language, and are further neglected in translation. This is the first volume of Southeast Asian play texts to prioritise material that other countries (including SEA) might be interested in performing. The aim is to introduce not only the writers but also the cultures that produced them. Theatre scripts are merely blueprints for productions, especially in this region. As elsewhere, second productions and revivals are rare, so publication is key to preserving some of this ephemeral art form and to allowing play texts to find a wider international readership. It is exciting to discover the other forms of play-making that exist in this region, and it is no accident that this collection includes many plays by women – a sign of the equity that has emerged as a feature of nations that are growing in pride, in industry, investment and in tourism, in innovation and in cultural originality.