… I’m not even properly Chinese I’m only half and half so that makes me feel all wrong and I just want to blend out and fit in and not stand out and with you I stand out

We

Stand Out

There’s no safety in numbers

Sorry

The ‘British Chinese’. So often regarded as a ‘model minority’. Quiet, high-achieving, polite, invisible…

But when someone who is ‘British Chinese’ spends their life taking drugs, getting thrown out of school, claiming benefits, being chased in stolen cars, getting locked up, then rehabilitating onto the stage, where do they fit in? Oh, and they’re not quite ‘Chinese’ enough anyway.

Semi-autobiographical, free-form and explosive, Daniel York Loh’s psychedelic gig-theatrical punk pop rap rock riff The Dao of Unrepresentative British Chinese Experience (Butterfly Dream) asks what path to choose, which identity politics to embrace or whether it’s just easier to follow the ‘Dao’ of ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi and dream you’re a butterfly. Or, be a butterfly dreaming of being ‘Chinese’….

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere Kakilang production at London's Soho Theatre in June 2024.