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Digital Programme: When the cloud catches colours

A person performs underneath a large piece of white draping fabric, they hold their arms out wide.

Welcome

Welcome to The Pit for the UK premiere of When the cloud catches colours.

We are delighted this year marks an exciting new chapter, as the Barbican collaborates with Queer East Festival on a live performance for the first time following several years of successful Queer East film screenings in the cinema. The festival showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities.

The Pit is the Barbican’s intimate and unique studio space that brings audiences closer to artists who are experimenting with fresh ideas and developing new ways of storytelling.

Written and directed by Singaporean theatre-maker Chng Yi Kai and inspired by real accounts, When the cloud catches colours explores the lives and identities of two queer Singaporeans as they grow older, told amongst a colourful set design.

We are very pleased to be able to platform innovative and thought-provoking theatre from around the world such as this, that has the potential to resonate and connect with our audiences.

Thank you for joining us and we hope you enjoy the show.

Toni Racklin, Barbican Head of Theatre & Dance

 

When the cloud catches colours is inspired by a story I heard about a gay man in his sixties who had recently lost his long-time partner to cancer. He had little-to-no support network when grieving over this immense loss, having never fully come out to those around him. I imagined his devastation to be complex and challenging, and this got me thinking about queer individuals ageing in Asian societies. I started research on queer ageing and, from the numerous interviews conducted, I realised many older queer individuals in Singapore feel that safe spaces for them are fundamentally fragile and transient. In one moment, they appear to be an oasis, but in the next they are mere mirages.

But this was in Singapore. When Queer East Festival invited me to bring our play to the UK, I wondered if the same concerns about ageing and safety were just as relevant for British audiences.

Staging a Singaporean queer story in the UK is extremely timely. Singapore’s queer community was very much affected by Section 377A of the Singapore Penal Code which criminalised sex between two men. Many people are unaware that this law was introduced under British colonial rule in 1938. After 84 years, the law was finally repealed in 2022. At the same time, however, the repeal was accompanied by a constitutional amendment which protected the heterosexual definition of marriage. To bring these stories to the UK now feels as though the community is making a comeback.

But how does this repeal truly relate to a sense of safety for the queer community? Do we even know what safety looks like? Is that different for queer Asians? As we traverse through this play that reveals layers of past memories, I invite you to consider the possibilities of ‘queering’ our future too.

I would like to thank the people who helped make When the cloud catches colours possible. Firstly, to Qing and E, for generously sharing your stories with all of us. Secondly, to Queer East Festival and the Barbican for providing a platform for us to tell a uniquely Singaporean queer story. Lastly, to Sarah Tang and Celestine Wong for supporting me in premiering this production in the UK. To everyone involved in When the cloud catches colours, thank you.

Chng Yi Kai, playwright and director

Details

Event date —
Running time
approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes
There won't be an interval
All timings are approximate and subject to change

The Company

Cast
E Judy Ngo
Qing Julius Foo

Creative team
Playwright and Director Chng Yi Kai
Executive Producer Sarah Tang
Dramaturg Kok Heng Leun
Set Designer Lim Wei Ling
Lighting Designer Genevieve Peck
Sound Designer Hee Su Hui
Production Stage Manager Celestine Wong
Stage Assistant Ho Yan Xi
Surtitles Operator Lynn Chia
Transcriber (Interviews) Cheng Xin Rui
Surtitles Translator Hang Qian Chou
Fundraising Assistant Lye Wai Leng
Publicity Assistant Claire Lee Hui Min
Admin Assistant Ling Lin
 

Event Information

Running time: approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes (there is no interval)

Age guidance: 14+

Performed in English, Mandarin and Singaporean Hokkien, with English surtitles.

Post-show talk, Fri 25 Apr 
Free to same-day ticket holders.

Presented by the Barbican.

Photo courtesy of Drama Box. The production was first staged in 2023 by Drama Box in Singapore.

Glossary of terms and resources

377A
Section 377A of the Singapore Penal Code criminalised sex between two men, and was introduced under British colonial rule in 1938. It was repealed recently – in 2022 – after years of advocacy, but the repeal also came with an amendment of the Constitution to protect the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. This definition cannot be challenged constitutionally in the courts.

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner
A culturally significant meal that brings Chinese families together on New Year’s Eve. For many queer individuals, the occasion is often a mix of familial connections and unspoken tensions and expectations – especially for those navigating tradition and identity.

HDB
Housing & Development Board – Singapore’s public housing authority. Over 80% of residents live in HDB flats. HDB policies in Singapore primarily cater to legally recognised heterosexual marriages, making it difficult for queer individuals and couples – whose relationships aren't recognised by the law – to qualify for most housing schemes until they turn 35, when they can apply as singles.

National Service
National Service (NS) in Singapore is a mandatory conscription programme where male citizens and permanent residents serve in the military, police or civil defence for about two years. Because of the male-centric, heterosexual environment, this period can potentially be a time of discomfort or struggles for many LGBTQ+ individuals.

Pelangi Pride Centre
Pelangi Pride Centre is a Singapore LGBTQ+ community space, library and resource centre since 2003. Pelangi means ‘rainbow’ in Malay, the rainbow being a symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and more (LGBTQ+) community. 

https://www.pelangipridecentre.org/

Pink Dot (Pink Dot SG)
Pink Dot Sg is a non-profit movement started by a group of individuals who care deeply about the place that LGBTQ Singaporeans call home. Every year, participants gather in pink to form a ‘pink dot’ as a visual symbol of solidarity. 

https://pinkdot.sg/

RedQuEEn!
Singapore’s largest queer women’s moderated mailing list for issues and general information which started in the 1990s.

SiGNeL
SiGNeL (Singapore Gay News List) was a pioneering email list and discussion forum for the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore during the 1990s.

Singapore Powers
Singapore Powers typically refers to the SP Group, a state-owned utilities company in Singapore responsible for electricity and gas transmission and distribution.

Tanjong Rhu (Fort Road Incident)
The Fort Road Incident refers to a 1993 police operation in Tanjong Rhu where 12 men were arrested for alleged homosexual acts, sparking fear and silence within the queer community during the 1990s.

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Biographies

Special Thanks

Special thanks from the company
We would like to take this chance to thank the following people and organisations who have contributed to the production.

Thank you to all our unsung heroes who have generously donated to our production, and Eileena Lee, for rallying LGBTQ+ allies and donors in the community to come together and fundraise for this production:

Anthony JX Huang
Bozy Lu
FB Queers
Izzie Ali
Julia Lau and Juliet Chia
Ong Su-Chzeng
Vicky and Calsia
And the other 87 donors who have given in one way or another. 

 

Thank you to the following partners, supporters and volunteers:

Claire Tan, Chong Shen Hao, Joanne Chen, Kok Heng Leun, Leow Yangfa, Megan Poetry, Santoso, Nadya Maharani Larissa Putri, Pelangi Pride Centre, Proud Spaces, Ryan Tan, Yeira Cendana Elim

Special thanks to Drama Box and the original production team, for their continuing belief, support and trust in the production since 2023.

From the Barbican

Barbican Centre Board
Chair
Sir William Russell
Deputy Chair
Tijs Broeke
Deputy Chair
Tobi Ruth Adebekun

 

Board Members
Randall Anderson, Munsur Ali, Michael Asante MBE, Stephen Bediako OBE, Farmida Bi CBE, Zulum Elumogo, Jaspreet Hodgson, Nicholas Lyons, Mark Page, Anett Rideg, Jens Riegelsberger, Jane Roscoe, Despina Tsatsas, Irem Yerdelen

 

Clerk to the Board
John Cater and Kate Doidge
Barbican Centre Trust Chair
Farmida Bi CBE
Vice Chair
Robert Glick OBE

 

Trustees
Stephanie Camu, Tony Chambers, Cas Donald, David Kapur, Ann Kenrick, Kendall Langford, Sir William Russell, Sian Westerman

 

Directors
Chief Executive Officer (Interim)
David Farnsworth
Deputy CEO (Interim)
Ali Mirza
Director of Development
Natasha Harris
Head of Finance & Business Administration
Sarah Wall
Director for Buildings & Renewal
Dr Philippa Simpson
Director of Commercial
Jackie Boughton
Director for Audiences
Beau Vigushin
Director for Arts and Participation
Devyani Saltzman
Executive Assistant to CEO
Hannah Hoban

 

Theatre Department
Head of Theatre and Dance
Toni Racklin
Senior Production Manager
Simon Bourne
Producers
Liz Eddy, Jill Shelley, Fiona Stewart
Assistant Producers
Mrinmoyee Roy, Mali Siloko, Tom Titherington
Production Managers
Jamie Maisey, Lee Tasker
Technical Managers
Steve Daly, Jane Dickerson, Nik Kennedy, Martin Morgan, Stevie Porter
Stage Managers
Lucinda Hamlin, Charlotte Oliver 
Technical Supervisors
James Breedon, Charlie Mann, Josh Massey, Matt Nelson, Adam Parrott, Lawrence Sills, Chris Wilby
Technicians
Kendell Foster, David Kennard, Burcham Johnson, Bart Kuta, Christian Lyons, Kieran Poynter, Fred Riding, Fede Spada, Matt Turnbull
PA to Head of Theatre
David Green
Production Administrator
Caroline Hall
Production Assistant
Ashley Panton
Stage Door
Julian Fox, aLbi Gravener

Creative Collaboration
Head of Creative Collaboration
Karena Johnson 
Senior Producer for Learning and Participation
Oluwatoyin Odunsi
Senior Manager
Sarah Mangan
Producer
Josie Dick
Assistant Producer
Carmen Okome

 

Marketing Department
Head of Marketing
Jackie Ellis
Deputy Head of Marketing
Ben Jefferies
Senior Marketing Manager
Kyle Bradshaw
Marketing Manager
Rebecca Moore
Marketing Assistants
Antonia Georgieva, Ossama Nizami

 

Communications Department 
Head of Communications
James Tringham 
Senior Communications Manager
Ariane Oiticica  
Communications Manager 
HBL 
Communications Officer
Sumayyah Sheikh
Communications Assistant
Andrea Laing

 

Audience Experience
Senior Audience Experience Managers
Oliver Robinson, Liz Davies-Sadd, Ben Skinner
Ticket Sales Managers
Jane Thomas, Bradley Thompson, Lucy Allen
Ticket Sales Team Leaders
Molly Barber, Alex Steggles, Máire Vallely, Nicola Watkinson, Charlotte Day
Operations Managers
Tabitha Fourie, Aksel Nichols, Ben Raynor, Samantha Teatheredge, Hayley Zwolinska
Operations Manager (Health & Safety)
Mo Reideman 
Audience Event & Planning Manager
Freda Pouflis
Venue Managers
Catherine Campion, Scott Davies, Maria Pateli, Lotty Reeve, Shabana Zaman
Assistant Venue Managers
Sam Hind, Bronagh Leneghan, Melissa Olcese, Daniel Young
Young Crew Management
Dave Magwood, Rob Magwood, James Towell
Access and Licensing Manager    
Rebecca Oliver  

 

Security
Operations Manager
Naqash Sheikh
Audience Experience Coordinator
Ayelen Fananas