Opening ‘The Secret Drawer’ to hidden stories of the past

The Secret Drawer, an original Malaysian documentary theatre piece, uncovers hidden stories from the lives of two local performers. Co-written and directed by Jo Kukathas, the play draws on personal experiences and real-life documents to tell a compelling narrative about secrets, family, and memory. Ling Tang and Tiong Wooi, the performers behind the story, shared their own family histories with the creators, revealing tales of activism and imprisonment.

Tiong Wooi, returning to the stage after a decade, takes on a role that requires her to revisit her deeply personal past. The production aims to inspire audiences to explore their own family histories, as the creators believe that true stories can be just as powerful as fictional ones.