Beginners’ Call – Episode 5: Anna Yen, Writer Slow Boat

Beginners’ Call

“Ten years ago, I read in a book that 580 Chinese indentured labourers had been evacuated from Nauru during World War Two by the allies to Brisbane... They landed on 8 March 1942.”

A compelling discovery about her father’s life sparked a decade-long search for answers for Chinese-Australian Anna Yen – theatre maker, performer and writer of Slow Boat, which receives its world premiere at Brisbane Festival 2022.

Blending vaudeville, circus, Cantonese Opera and martial arts, Slow Boat is a play within a play, inspired by the unexpected arrival in Australia of Anna’s father during WWII, along with hundreds of other Chinese men.

At its heart is a powerful question: How can we survive and thrive when so much is out of our control?

In this episode, Anna retraces the serendipitous chain of events that allowed her to piece together her family’s fascinating history, reflects on the power of brotherhood, and contemplates what her arts-loving father would have thought of this remarkable new Australian work.

“This show is actually Australian history that we don’t really know. Even though this story has a particular setting – WWII, Chinese Heritage Men, Australia – it’s actually a universal story about, when times are really, really tough, how do we treat each other?”

Brisbane Festival returns to fill the city with three weeks of wonder, delight and celebration from 2 – 24 September 2022. For information and tickets, visit brisbanefestival.com.au

Beginners’ Call records on Turrbal and Yugerra country in Meanjin, Brisbane. Brisbane Festival recognises the integral role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples play in our creative, artistic and celebration spaces and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

Podcast Curator: Louise Bezzina (Brisbane Festival)

Podcast Guest: Anna Yen (Slow Boat)

Podcast Host: Adam Brunes (Aruga)

Podcast Producer: Gilberto Castillo (The Podcast Boss)