Terrapin

The Story of Chi

Background image: A person in the bottom left of the image holds their hands up touching the face of a dragon coming from the bottom right. The dragon is purple, with red parts coming from it's neck, blue scales around it's mouth and orange eyelids. This two are in front of a orangey/yellow backdrop.
By Terrapin and Contemporary Asian Australian Performance Co-commissioned by Terrapin, Contemporary Asian Australian Performance and OzAsia

When and What

  • Now
  • Theatre

Summary

  • A young girl and a dragon navigate intergenerational tension and tradition in an Asian-Australian family
  • Premiering at OzAsia Festival, October 2024
  • A new collaboration with Contemporary Asian Australian Performance
  • Suitable for children 8+ and their families.

Impact

  • Employing more than 14 artists from across Australia
Three performers portraying the grandmother, mother, and daughter kneel at an altar holding incense sticks. Behind them, a shadow of the father is cast on the curtain, in a scene from The Story of Chi, performed at Adelaide Festival Centre as part of OzAsia Festival 2024.
The Story of Chi at OzAsia Festival, 2024. Image: Sia Duff

Description

The Story of Chi is a new work of magic realism that follows the journey of a young girl and a teenage dragon. Chi, caught between her Japanese and Vietnamese heritage, finds herself at a crossroads during an unexpectedly turbulent time for her family.

Torn between cultures and traditions, Chi’s world takes a fantastical turn when she meets Mizu, a risk-taking teenage dragon who has been separated from his family.

Three performers dressed in soft, flowing robes hold up three dragon puppets. The trio represent a grandmother, mother, and daughter in The Story of Chi, performed at Adelaide Festival Centre as part of OzAsia Festival 2024.
The Story of Chi at OzAsia Festival, 2024. Image: Sia Duff

Interested in The Story of Chi

Get in touch

  • Chi sits on the floor smiling, holding a drink, beside dragon puppet Mizu, whose head is large and bright with red horns. The moment, from The Story of Chi performed at Adelaide Festival Centre as part of OzAsia Festival 2024
    The Story of Chi at OzAsia Festival, 2024. Image: Sia Duff
  • A performer dressed in a flowing robe holds a red dragon puppet under stage lights. She represents the mother in The Story of Chi, performed at Adelaide Festival Centre as part of OzAsia Festival 2024.
    The Story of Chi at OzAsia Festival, 2024. Image: Sia Duff
  • A performer dressed in purple overalls stands under stage lighting, holding a small yellow plush toy. She represents the daughter, Chi, in The Story of Chi, performed at Adelaide Festival Centre as part of OzAsia Festival 2024.
    The Story of Chi at OzAsia Festival, 2024. Image: Sia Duff

Partners

  • Presenting partners
  • Supported by
  • Development partner

Terrapin

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