First produced as a live-streamed digital production for the Festival of Women N.O.W. in 2020, Jo Tan’s one-woman show King returns this National Day week for a live presentation. Presented by T:>Works, this new production of King will now be directed by Irfan Kasban, and will once again star writer Jo Tan, and delivers a tour de force performance playing multiple characters, navigating expertly through a host of social stereotypes.

King follows Geok Yen, a public relations executive who seemingly has it all – a stable job and a boyfriend who is about to propose. But one fateful office party, her safe, stable life gets upturned when on impulse, she attends the party in the guise of a man, Stirling da Silva. Emboldened by the alter ego, Yen discovers a newfound confidence to speak her truth, and be whatever she could be without self-judgement.

First conceptualised in 2020, Jo Tan proposed the production for T:>Works’ Festival of Women N.O.W. – a festival dedicated to championing women creatives and thought leaders and their work. But the fever pitch COVID-19 tsunami saw Singapore in its first lock-down resulting in a nationwide closure of live shows. King, like all the productions in N.O.W. affected by social distancing, was re-conceived as a digital performance. In its initial live-streamed performance during the pandemic, King reached over 3000 online viewers both in and beyond Singapore.

While the investment as a digital production paid off, there was always the desire to mount the work in its intended form. As such, given the chance to finally do that, T:>Works is thrilled to revisit King with new collaborator Irfan Kasban, who will also be helming production design, which includes set, lighting and sound. Melding video, dance and sound, Irfan’s treatment of King is set to highlight Jo’s nuanced writing and critical exploration of performativity and construction of gender identities and stereotypes.

Says Jo: “We ‘perform’ gender every day. Depending on who we are with and what we need them to do (or not do), we dial up and down on ‘femininity’ or ‘masculinity’ in what we wear, how we stand, how we speak…. Sometimes, we push like mad against stereotypes, and sometimes we lean into it just to make things not just easier for other people, but for ourselves. And is it always bad, or good, to do that? I wanted to examine different gender expectations and how we all respond to them in different ways – hence the eight characters.”

As a playwright, Jo is intrigued by the slippages of non-conforming behaviours and how they affect relationships and negotiate social norms. This results in King becoming a highly layered piece of theatre examining stereotypes, sexism, discrimination and privilege with complexity, humour and sensitivity. For the 2023 live edition, expect new elements including additional musical numbers and dialogue not seen in the digital version. Journeying with the titular character Geok Yen, King invites us to consider ways in which we negotiate our discomforts and blindspots, and what it takes to feel comfortable in our skin sans judgement and ridicule.

Joining this National Day week celebration is White Rabbit by Hao Food SG. In a synergistic collaboration, T:>Works and Hao Food SG celebrates local brands and homegrown stories. White Rabbit, remembered as a childhood candy, makes a delightful appearance as ice-cream at 72-13. Generously sponsored by Hao Food SG, proceeds from purchases of ice-cream at King will be donated to T:>Works to sustain its creative endeavours.

King plays from 10th to 13th August 2023 at 72-13. Tickets available from Peatix King’s Opening Night Party on 10th August at S$88, includes a ticket to King + free flow drinks & cocktail reception.