It has been a long while since I’ve last posted. The last year or so has been tough for all of us, and have fallen behind a little with the website. For more recently personal posts, please go to my Twitter and Instagram handle which is @ruthchanmusic for both.

It has been an interesting 2022 so far. Earlier in June, I has the privilege to work on one of the official Jubilee pageant ‘shows’ which was on The Hatchling (premiered in 2021); involving a giant dragon puppet, a dancer and recording a beautiful soprano (Angela Hicks).

Then in August, after a 2 year delay due to you know what…, Doncastrian Chalk Circle, a new musical theatre adaptation of Brecht’s classic play, a National Theatre Public Acts productions with Cast from Doncaster, was performed for the Bank holiday weekend with a community and professional cast of over a hundred, along with local performing groups: CARLTON MAIN FRICKLEY COLLIERY BAND, All That Jazz, South Yorkshire’s Drag queen Miss Smoochie and members of Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus. It was an absolute joy and privilege to work on; an experience I’ll never forget.

I have various things brewing and developing in my creative pot atm. But my next show will be Further than the Furthest Thing by Zinnie Harris at the Young Vic in spring 2023: https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/further-than-the-furthest-thing I can’t wait! x

Hello world

I thought I’d give a little update of what I’ve been up to since before and during lockdown.
So all my upcoming shows have been postponed to 2021 – no surprises there. The international tour of ‘Taming of the Shrew’ (RSC) had to be cancelled and the plans to tour ‘Madam Butterfly’ (Opera Up Close) again for later this year/early 2021 were stopped which is all rather sad.

But I have been continuing to develop various projects, for theatre and for film. Hopefully I can share some good news soon but in the meantime, I’m staying fairly quiet from social media due to my current situation (sad personal reasons) and to protect my health; but I have been digesting the recent campaign of #BlackLivesMatter, educating myself further to become a better advocate in the future.

Here is a ‘Artist in Quarantine’ blog I wrote for Genesis Foundation a while back (but only coming out now) who kindly supported me when I was on the National Theatre’s Music Theatre Group back in 2018/19:

Genesis Foundation – Artists in Quarantine – Ruth Chan

Please take care of yourselves in these unprecedented worryingly times and stay safe

Bye for now

Ruth

#BlackLivesMatter
#AsiansForBlackLives

Hello!

A little quick update that I’m currently composing a little musical for 4-7 year olds as part of the Aesop Fables production at Unicorn Theatre. I’m working on the story called Frankie and the Crow by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig. Do come and join us. It opens from 16th June until August.

https://www.unicorntheatre.com/AesopsFables4-7

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Taming of the Shrew has recently done their live screening which was an amazing experience. It’ll now continue to perform at Stratford until end of August which is then tour in the UK

Bye for now!

x

Hello!

I’ve been a little behind in updating my website the past few months, there’s been a period of developing some exciting projects.

Most recently, I have been working on a new production of Taming of the Shrew with the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). We are in tech at the moment- it really has been a very exciting and fun production on work on. It opens on Fri 8th March at Stratford Upon Avon for a few months then tours in the UK, including at the Barbican in London: https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-taming-of-the-shrew/

I’ve also written a little blog about female Italian Renaissance composers and my process of composing for this production:

https://www.rsc.org.uk/blogs/international-womens-day/what-would-music-be-like-if-it-was-dominated-by-female-composers

Hopefully more news soon. Bye for now!

x

Hi all!

It’s been a fantastic few months. First I was selected as one of the three semi-finalist composers for Pittsburgh Opera Festival’s Fight for the Right project – a global commissioning competition for female composer and librettist teams to create original music dramas inspired by themes of girls and women transforming their lives through education. My piece is called Between Constellations, and fingers crossed on getting selected!

After workshopping this in July, we are now bringing this particular piece to Grimeborn Opera Festival as part of the Mosaic Opera Collective Showcase!  My other opera piece ‘Rain’ will also be included. Do come along to any of the performances between 16-19th August at Arcola Theatre:

https://www.arcolatheatre.com/event/mosaic-grimeborn/

More exciting news to come soon! 🙂

Bye for now!

x

Ruth

Hi all

As ‘Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok’ completes its run at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, I can only say, do not fret! The production is now transferring to Stratford Circus performing 18-21 April
Mountains: Stratford Circus

Afterwards, it’ll tour nationally to the following venues:
Tues 24 to Wed 25 April 7.30pm, Wed matinee 2pm
THEATRE ROYAL BURY ST EDMUNDS
Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1QR
Box Office: 01284 769505

Fri 27 to Sat 28 April 7.45pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
LIGHTHOUSE
21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG
Box Office: 01202 280 000

Tues 1 to Wed 2 May, 7.30pm
KEY THEATRE
Embankment Road, Peterborough, PE1 1EF
Box Office: 01733 207 239

Sat 5 May 7.30pm
THEATRE ROYAL MARGATE
Addington Street, Margate, CT9 1PW
Box Office: 01843 292 795

Thurs 10 to Sat 12 May 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
DERBY THEATRE
15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF
Box Office: 01332 59 39 39

Wed 16 to Sat 19 May 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
WATFORD PALACE THEATRE
20 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JZ
Box Office: 01923 225 671

Mon 21 to Wed 23 May 7.45pm,
SHEFFIELD CRUCIBLE THEATRE
55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA
Box Office: 0114 249 6000

Thurs 24 to Fri 25 May 7.330pm
QUEEN’S HALL ARTS CENTRE
Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3LS
Box Office: 01434 652 477

Wed 30 May to Sat 2 June
BELGRADE THEATRE
Belgrade Square, Coventry, CV1 1GS
Box Office: 024 7655 3055

Hope to see you there!

Ruth x

I am delighted to announce that I have recently been selected as a semi-finalist composer for Pittsburgh Opera Festival’s new opera competition ‘Fight for the Right’ focusing on themes of women’s education. I will be presenting an extract of my opera ‘Three’ in July at Pittsburgh Opera Festival. I am incredibly excited about this and can’t wait to update you more soon!

Bye for now!

Ruth x

Hello!

I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be composing new music for theatre production ‘Mountains: The Dreams of Lily Kwok’, a Royal Exchange Theatre, Yellow Earth and Black Theatre Live co-production. It’s based on the memoir ‘Sweet Mandarin’ by Helen Tse and a story that resonates within the British Chinese community.

It’ll be performing 22 Mar – 7 April at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, then touring nationally.
To book tickets, please go to:

https://www.royalexchange.co.uk/whats-on-and-tickets/mountains

For further into on dates of the tour, please go to:

http://yellowearth.org/mountains-dreams-lily-kwok/

It’s all really exciting! Do check on my twitter account for more updates: @RuthChanMusic

Hope to see you there! 🙂

Bye for now!

Ruth

Hello all!

It’s been a while, but it has been a very exciting time for me! Having finished RSC’s -Snow in Midsummer, I received some fantastic reviews and feedback on the music.

I’ve now also completed the Circulo Trio’s commission of ‘Shakespeare 400’ where I wrote an adaption of The Winter’s Tale for Clarinet Trio and actor. Here is one of the first performances where it was streamed live on facebook (please go 17 mins into the video):

The Triumph of Time

Circulo and Tommy Gomez (actor) will be performing the piece again on:

June 23, 2017 3:00 PM
Shakespearean Theatre Conference | Stratford, Canada
​Presentation of The Triumph of Time
Location: University of Waterloo
https://uwaterloo.ca/english/shakespeare
​
June 25, 2017 7:00 PM
Pianoforte Studio | Chicago, Illinois
Performance of The Triumph of Time
Address: 1335 South Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605
​
Do have a look at their website, they are an exceptionally talented bunch of musicians!
https://www.circulotrio.com/

I’m now working on some new developments for other project, and hope I can update you more soon enough!

Bye for now!

Ruth x

Hello all!

Been a while, but catching up with all my blogs!

After a successful sell out of BFI – Around China with a Movie Camera performance in July, there are plans to perform this outside of London, to other venues in the UK and Asia- fingers crossed we can make it happen!

Other exciting news is that I’m finishing a project with long time collaborators Chinese Arts Space. It’s called Project New Earth and the project is to raise awareness of the Chinese Labour Corp who took part in World War 1 for help the British and French win the war. As part of the commemorations for WW1, Project New Earth celebrates the Chinese Labour Corp’s memory within the context of British Chinese communities living in the UK today. I’m one of the commissioned artists working on the piece ‘Lunar Corp’ is a film (& music) piece.

For more information please go to: Chinese Art Space

And please support our crowdfunding which would help further raise awareness of this project and subject: Crowdfunder – Project New Earth

Bye for now!