Yong

Mixing historical fact and narrative fiction, Yong takes us on a journey across land and sea, from China to the goldfields of Australia. Set against the backdrop of the Australian Goldrush of 1857, Yong is a new Australian play by Jenevieve Chang. Yong and his father leave their small village and travel across the seas hoping to strike gold and find their fortune in the goldfields of Ballarat. However, despite his family's desperate need for money, Yong does not want to be on this journey. On the surface, he is an honourable son, but bubbling below is a deepening resentment for his father and a longing for home. Faced with momentous change, Yong's courage and inner strength are tested, and in overcoming difficult challenges, he discovers a resilience in himself that he never knew he had. Monkey Baa's Artistic Director Eva Di Cesare has assembled an extraordinary creative team to translate the semi-fictional, historically significant story to the stage. Much more than a period piece, Yong has been created with the sensibilities of a contemporary young audience at its heart. The production of Yong is based on 'Yong: the journey of an unworthy son' by Janeen Brian, published by Walker Books Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney.