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The Poison of Polygamy

8 May – 8 Jul 2023

A timeless tale of morality, murder, blackmail and betrayal, The Poison of Polygamy is the page-to-stage adaptation of Wong Shee Ping’s trailblazing novella.

From the opium dens of 19th Century China to the harsh, rugged goldfields of colonial Australia, this production offers an illuminating insight into the early Chinese-Australian experience and puts a human face on the issue of migration.

Sleep-Sick is an ambitious young man from southern China who sets sail for the Victorian goldfields to make his fortune.

We bear witness to Ma, the long-suffering wife he leaves behind, Tsiu Hei, the seductive and cunning temptation he encounters, the choices he makes and the consequences they reap.

The world premiere of The Poison of Polygamy present the classic text through a contemporary lens with a dynamic collective of artists and creatives.

Thai-Australian playwright Anchuli Felicia King’s English-language adaptation poses intriguing questions on moral issues and is directed by La Boite Artistic Director Courtney Stewart.