YONG - A Monkey Baa Theatre Company Production

General public and school groups welcome

Recommended Ages: 10+
VCE Theatre Studies selected text for 2025
Content Warnings: Contains themes of parental death, racism, and simulated violence
Approximate Duration: 60 minutes – no interval

There will be a 10 minute Q&A with the cast after the performance

A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production

YONG

Written by Jenevieve Chang

Based on the book ‘Yong: The Journey of an Unworthy Son’ by Janeen Brian, published by Walker Books Australia Pty Ltd

Set against the backdrop of the Australian Goldrush of 1857, Yong is an Australian play by Jenevieve Chang. Mixing historical fact and narrative fiction, Yong takes us on a journey across land and sea, from China to the goldfields of Australia.

Yong and his father leave their small village and travel across the seas hoping to strike gold and find their fortune in the goldfields of Ballarat. However, despite his family’s desperate need for money, Yong does not want to be on this journey. On the surface, he is an honourable son, but bubbling below is deepening resentment for his father and a longing for home. Faced with momentous change, Yong’s courage and inner strength are tested, and in overcoming difficult challenges, he discovers a resilience in himself that he never knew he had.

Monkey Baa’s Artistic Director Eva Di Cesare has assembled an extraordinary creative team to translate the semifictional, historically significant story to the stage. Much more than a period piece, Monkey Baa’s latest offering has been created with the sensibilities of a contemporary young audience at its heart.

School Excursions

School booking pricing: $12 per student, with 1 Free Teacher/Assistant per 10 students or part thereof. All other adults $12.
We do participate in the Companion Card program.

To make a school booking to attend one of our performances, please complete the School Booking Form. Please note by submitting this form, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions for school bookings. 

Extend your students cultural experience by visiting Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum after attending the Yong performance. For $9 per student (and a free teacher ticket for every 10 students) your 60 mins tour will include entrance to the gallery spaces of the Museum, Guan Yin Temple and Chinese Classical Gardens. The Golden Dragon Museum is known as the Chinese Cultural Centre of Australia and documents, interprets and preserves Australia’s Chinese heritage. Sessions are available on the day of the performance (August 26) at 12.30pm and 2pm, with a maximum of 70 students per session, or at another time that can be arranged directly with the museum. Each student who visits as part of this special education program will receive a poster celebrating one of Bendigo’s famous dragons to take home. Please indicate your interest in booking a visit to the Museum when purchasing tickets for the performance and we’ll contact you with further information and next steps.

Please refer to the Yong Learning Pack and Yong Curriculum Links for curriculum information.

Image Credit: Photo by Tiffany Garvie, featuring Wern Mak

Created in collaboration with Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat and Bendigo Venues & Events.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body. Monkey Baa is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

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