ANCIENT HISTORY SHOW PROGRAM

The show is approx. 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.

Content warnings: Mentions of homophobia and violence, references to infertility

Note from the Playwright:

ANCIENT HISTORY is a project that has changed and taken many forms throughout the past few years. But in a way, I think it mirrors Asian Queer love throughout history. In how both are ever changing in constant flow and always hungry for growth. Yet both honoring tradition and the past.

I created this project for a multitude of reasons. Including having the first full Asian cast/team in BFA Drama history. Creating a piece that overall showcases Asian Queer love in non-Western pre-conceived notions and embrace Asian love in these current times of hate and fear.

But perhaps the most important reason was because I wanted to unearth these stories of real life Queer Asian people and give them space to be remembered. It is uncertain if Sun-bin actually liked fruit jelly or if Nobuko played with flower swords. Many things about these past peoples have been either lost through history or erased by others. Thus has been the fate of many Queer people throughout history.

But what we do know is that they were in love and were loved. And nothing could ever take that away from them. 

I’m sure Emperor Ai and Dǒng Xián stayed awake at night for as long as possible because they didn’t want be without each other until the last second. That Sun-bin and So-ssang kissed before nightfall and after sunrise. That Nobuko and Chiyo dreamed about seeing the world together in bed. This I’m sure of, I know it.

I wanted to tell these stories to celebrate their love, in a time where they might feel better welcomed. To tell these stories in rhapsody, rather than in requiem.

Sometimes I think that we forget to appreciate the people that came before us. But also forget to appreciate them, just for living and loving. So to these past people-

Thank you for existing.

Take action by donating and learning more about the programs offered through:

American Indian Community House - aich.org
Manna-hatta Fund - mannahattafund.org/give
The Lenape Center - thelenapecenter.com
Native Governance Center - nativegov.org