Co-created by the multi-talented duo Joe Paradise Lui and Merlynn Tong, LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) is a bold and imaginative production that hurls audiences headfirst into the raucous realm of the Chinese afterlife. Now playing with Melbourne Theatre Company until June 28 at Southbank Theatre’s The Lawler.
LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) vaults across genres, realities and theatrical convention. Drawing deeply from their own family experiences and rituals, Joe and Merlynn have crafted a story that is as funny as it is heartfelt. This is a rip-roaring ride plunging two best friends into the depths of the Chinese afterlife.
With a striking blend of simplicity and imagination, LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) invites audiences to strap in for a theatrical ride like no other. Through shifting projections, electric bursts of neon, and a soundscape that hums with memory and myth, the show moves from bustling Singapore to the blazing depths of Chinese Hell, in a riot of colour and light.
Joe and Merlynn — friends in real life and used to fiery clashes — find themselves in a spiritual showdown while keeping vigil for their deceased grandfathers. Merlynn wants to preserve the rites of her forebears, while Joe thinks it’s all a load of superstition. But the lords of the Underworld have their own thoughts on all of this. What follows is a hilarious plunge into the underworld, where friendship is tested, family bonds are honoured, and ancestral spirits aren’t the only ones with strong opinions.
At its core, LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) is a deeply personal exploration of cultural identity and connection. With infectious zest and sharp humour, it deftly navigates the intersections of modern life and age-old ritual.
Joe Paradise Lui and Merlynn Tong are longtime creative collaborators known for their bold, genre-defying work. Together, they fuse Merlynn’s award-winning playwriting and performance with Joe’s experimental theatrical style and multidisciplinary approach. Their partnership has produced fiercely original work that straddles the personal and the fantastical.
“LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) will have audiences laughing their way into the underworld. Beneath the neon lights, family rituals, and fiery friendships, this show is surprisingly heartfelt and undeniably hilarious. Melbourne Theatre Company is especially thrilled to be welcoming Merlynn Tong back to our stage after the success of her work Golden Blood as part of our 2024 season” says Melbourne Theatre Company’s Artistic Director & Co-CEO Anne Louise Sarks.
Co-created, co-written, co-directed and starring Joe Paradise Lui, Merlynn Tong, LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) creative team includes Set Designer Cherish Marrington, Costume Designer Nicole Marrington, Lighting Designer Kate Baldwin, Composer Joe Paradise Lui, Video Artist & AV Designer Wendy Yu, Outside Eye & Rehearsal Director Marcel Dorney and Associate Lighting Designer and Head Technician Matthew Erren.
Produced by Performing Lines and presented as part of RISING, LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) is playing at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler until 28 June. Tickets via mtc.com.au.
