Directed by Kimmy Kiew

Featuring Dawn Cheong, Prisca Florence Wong, Helena Foo, Mien Ly, Nicole Fuchs & Ben Tan

Lighting Designer Tan Eng Heng

Set & Costume Designer Eugene Ng

Soundscape Design & Composer Melvin Ho

Executive Producer Dato’ Faridah Merican

Cleopatra. Joan of Arc. Nefertiti. Somehow we have always associated strong, courageous women with other parts of the world. This February, klpac’s latest addition Kimmy Kimmy takes a look at the lives of the unassuming Amahs in Malaysia.

Long before the influx of Indonesian and Filipino helpers, there were the Amahs from China. These women, often from poor families, were brought over to work as maids and were instantly recognisable by their white top and black bottom ’sam fu’attire and neatly plaited or bunned hair.

Women of Silk River takes a look at these invisible women who were employed to serve the household and make it run as smoothly and comfortably as possible. And yet there is so little that is known about their lives, their traditions, their beliefs and, most importantly, the sacrifices they have made to serve the household.
The devised play opens with the “sor hei” ceremony where their hair is combed into a bun and this signifies their new life as an Amah. Then, the tale of four Amahs, a British woman and a Japanese man unfolds…
(Performed in English)