White Pearl

A Bold Debut Work From A New Voice In Theatre

With her pen focused on feminist stage works featuring leading roles for non-native English speakers, New York-based Thai-Australian playwright Anchuli Felicia King represents the new guard in theatre. Shining a light on cultural and social issues of national and international urgency, the up and coming young dramatist looks to the controversy surrounding cultural appropriation, race and advertising for her international debut run of White Pearl at London's Royal Court Theatre in the Summer of 2019. 

King's story begins on a seemingly normal day in the offices of Singaporean cosmetics company Clearday, an organization perpetuating the racial bias that is overwhelmingly in favour of lighter skin (as reflected in caste systems in many Asian countries today, as well as the idolisation of Western beauty standards). Clearday are about to launch a brand new skin lightening cream, but find themselves in a whole lot of hot water when a TV advert for the product leaks and goes viral, but not in a good way. Weaving together ideas that question the very foundations of corporate culture in the age of the millennials, the relationship between the internet and shame, racial prejudice within cultures and communication, King marks herself as a dynamic playwright to watch.