THE KING OF HELL'S PALACE
BY FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BOYD
5 SEPTEMBER - 12 OCTOBER
A HAMPSTEAD THEATRE WORLD PREMIERE
THE KING OF HELL'S PALACE
By FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG
Directed by MICHAEL BOYD
Running time: 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES INCLUDING AN INTERVAL
It doesn’t matter if the cat is white or black. As long as it catches mice, it is a very good cat
Main Stage
5 Sep - 12 Oct 2019
Box Office: 020 7722 9301
'A medical-scandal drama that we can't afford to ignore' | ★★★★ Telegraph
‘Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s ambitious new play… opens one's eyes... An epic story' | The Guardian
‘A gripping and sobering story’ | Financial Times
'Spellbinding' | Time Out
'Roxana Silbert begins her artistic directorship in an adventurous fashion' | The Stage
'A modern parable' | WhatsOnStage
Henan Province, 1992. China is laying the foundations for global wealth and power - business is booming. Yin-Yin, a young Ministry of Health official, finds herself recruited into a new and unusual trade that boasts infinite stock and infinite demand. But amidst the hype and the soaring profits, she rapidly uncovers an unimaginable secret that will test to the limit her loyalties to her profession, to her family and to her country…
Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s blazing new thriller is based on the true story of a whistleblowing heroine and her extraordinary mission to expose a cover-up of epic proportions. Her previous plays include Lidless (Trafalgar Studios), The World of Extreme Happiness (National Theatre) and Snow in Midsummer (RSC).
Michael Boyd, former Artistic Director of the RSC, makes a highly anticipated return to Hampstead Theatre following the acclaimed 2016 hit, The Intelligent Homosexuals Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Tony Kushner.
The cast includes Aidan Cheng, Celeste Den, Tuyen Do, Christopher Goh, Togo Igawa, Vincent Lai, Kok-Hwa Lie and Millicent Wong.
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The Telegraph
The King of Hell’s Palace, Hampstead Theatre, review: a medical-scandal drama that we can't afford to ignore'Roxana Silbert inaugurates her reign as the artistic director of Hampstead Theatre with a hot potato. According to recent newspaper reports, the Chinese authorities don’t want The King of Hell’s Palace to go ahead. The reason? American-born Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig has dramatised the story of a doctor who tried to expose an emerging Chinese health crisis in the Nineties...'
'In Michael Boyd’s busy production, presented against a range of brick walls with a moving walkway extending from the stage into the stalls, conveying a sense of irresistible forces at work... an East Asian cast of eight tackle 22 characters. We get introduced to two migrant worker brothers (Kuan and Wen), seeking new means of making money, flower-growing to the fore; then another set of siblings, health officials Wang Wei and Shen, who spy gold in the prospect of “harvesting” plasma, and build up a rapacious company, tapping the life-force and compromising the life chances of the willing poor for a few quick yuan.'
'... foregrounding the battles and personal anguish of infectious disease specialist Yin-Yin (played... by the American actress Celeste Den) grips and appals in equal measure as rural dupes succumb to fatal illness and the suits close ranks. We can’t afford to be smug here – we’ve had our own terrible health scandals. But as global power continues to shift to Beijing, we ignore this parable at our peril.'
To read the full review visit The Telegraph online here.
Dominic Cavendish, 13 September, 2019
Artistic team
writer
FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG
DIRECTOR
MICHAEL BOYD
Designer
TOM PIPER
LIGHTING
COLIN GRENFELL
Sound and ComposER
NICOLA CHANG
Assistant Director & Dramaturg
MINGYU LIN
voice and dialect coach
REBECCA CUTHBERTSON
MOVEMENT
LIZ RANKEN
FIGHT DIRECTOR
RACHEL BOWN-WILLIAMS & RUTH COOPER-BROWN OF RC-ANNIE LTD
casting
GINNY SCHILLER CDG
Cast
LITTLE YI / PETER
AIDAN CHENG
YIN YIN / LUO NA
CELESTE DEN
LILI / AN MEI / RUZHEN
TUYEN DO
SHEN / HAN HAN
CHRISTOPHER GOH
OLD YANG / MINISTER LI
TOGO IGAWA
WEN / JOHNNY
VINCENT LAI
KUAN / WANG WEI
KOK-HWA LIE
JASMINE / PEI-PEI
MILLICENT WONG
WOMAN'S HOUR INTERVIEWS DR SHUPING WANG AND FRANCES YA-CHU COWHIG
On Thursday 9 May playwright Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig and Dr Shuping Wang, the real-life whistleblower who inspired 'spellbinding' (Time Out) new thriller The King of Hell's Palace, appeared on Woman's Hour (BBC Radio 4).
THE KING OF HELL'S PALACE: PRESS NIGHT PHOTOS
Thursday 12 September brought Press Night for Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's epic new play The King of Hell's Palace and marked Roxana Silbert's first Main Stage Press Night as Artistic Director.
THE KING OF HELL'S PALACE: ★★★★ FROM THE TELEGRAPH
Dominic Cavendish awards Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's new thriller four stars.
From Beijing to Hampstead: How tale of HIV Whistleblower is rattling the Chinese State
Chinese security officials have been accused of targeting a whistleblower’s family and friends in a campaign to force Hampstead Theatre to abandon a play based on her case.
MICHAEL BOYD: OUR FAVOURITE PRODUCTIONS SO FAR
With The King of Hell's Palace just around the corner, we took a look back at just some of Director Michael Boyd's epic career highlights to date.
Meet the whistleblowing heroine who inspired The King of Hell’s Palace: Dr Shuping Wang
Dr Shuping Wang, the real life whistleblower who inspired our next Main Stage production The King of Hell's Palace, talks to Hampstead in this extraordinary Q&A about her motivations for speaking out and her emotions ahead of seeing the play for the first time.
FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE KING OF HELL'S PALACE
The cast for Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's blazing thriller includes Aidan Cheng, Celeste Den, Tuyen Do, Christopher Goh, Togo Igawa, Vincent Lai, Kok-Hwa Lie and Millicent Wong.
NEW SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
Ahead of its 60th Birthday, Hampstead Theatre announces Roxana Silbert’s inaugural season as Artistic Director
2019 New Season Offer
For a limited time only, you can see all four new Main Stage productions in Roxana Silbert's debut season for the price of three - yes, see one show entirely for free!
Roxana Silbert's Debut Season: Statement
‘I am excited to introduce my debut season as Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre.
Previews, Mondays and matinees
Full price: £30/£27/£18
Under 30s/Students: £15/£10
Seniors* (matinees only): £25/£20
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free
Access: £16
*Ages 60+
Tuesday – Saturday evenings
Full price: £37/£32/£25
Under 30s/Students: £15/£10
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free
Access: £16
All prices are subject to change. Book early for the best price.
Video and Image Gallery
KEEPING YOU SAFE AT HAMPSTEAD
RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE
FACE MASKS ENCOURAGED
STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION
ENHANCED CLEANING
CONTACTLESS TICKETS
HAND SANITISING STATIONS
CASHLESS PAYMENT
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