‘Opium At Closing Time’: A Malaysian Play On People Struggling With Alzheimer’s

Written by Wendy Wong

‘Opium At Closing Time’: A Malaysian Play On People Struggling With Alzheimer’s

Amberjade Arts is proud to present OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME, an original Malaysian work written and directed by Tarrant Kwok.

It is set to premiere on the 20th of October 2022 and will play 9 shows till the 30th of October 2022, at Black Box, Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Based on oral histories, secondary research, and archived interviews, OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME stars Alexis Wong, Samuel Low, Grace Ng, Hannan Barakbah, and Brendan Vinsent. It also features music from Yanwen.

Alexis Wong Opium at closing time — *Alexis Wong plays Yen who struggles with Alzheimers. Image supplied by Amberjade Arts.*

Yen, a woman of many triumphs – is starting to forget. Or has she already forgotten? Her son Chai is trying to help her, but what can Chai do when his Ma is stuck in the past? Did she actually go and see Sudirman’s concert, or was that his funeral?

An exploration of a disquieting human condition – OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME is an unflinching dive into the often disjointed experiences of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and those who care for them.

It’s also a story of Malaysia, of pivotal history experienced on a personal scale. Of the choices that were made, and the consequences we must suffer.

Opium at closing time full cast — *The cast of ‘OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME’ (from left): Samuel Low, Brendan Vinsent, Alexis Wong, Hannan Barakbah, Grace Ng. Image supplied by Amberjade Arts.*

This play is meant to challenge the audience’s perception of time, memory, and the meaning of family. OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME also seeks to preserve the stories passed down only through hushed word of mouth.

Drawing from these authentic vignettes and historical documentation, this play brings historicity down to the eye level, hoping we can break our generational traumas.

Auteur Tarrant Kwok, who has adapted The Fall of The House of Usher for Theatrethreesixty in 2018 adds: “This production has been a very vulnerable experience – sharing my own personal experience and also sharing with the cast a rich view of a Malaysian past that we gloss over in the history books. Working with my stellar cast as they bring their own refinements to my script makes it greater than the sum of its parts. Such a rewarding open process makes this show even more compelling than I could have initially thought.”

Purchase tickets to watch OPIUM AT CLOSING TIME here.