The Beijing Broads: New Gals on the Block!
Dear reader, with Middle Kingdom Creatives still to draw the curtain on their delightful production, The Drowsy Chaperone, I don’t know about you but I am craving more theatre. Plus, with many of these events taking place nowadays at JinShang·Yuan (金尚源), you really get yourself the perfect plan: a show, a drink and a bite in downtown Beijing. So what’s the next date on the calendar?
Well, don’t say I didn’t tell you. Jun 1 is coming and you’d be well advised to snag your tickets for the newest Beijing Broads show: New Gals on the Block! taking place at 7.30pm at, you guessed where – JinShang·Yuan. Some things never change with these wonderful ladies: you’re always guaranteed a grand time and every RMB goes to charity. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look forward to some exciting news from Beijing’s beloved troupe of comediennes! Don’t take it from me; here’s my chat with broad and spokesperson Sai, for your joyful perusal…
Hey, Sai, so good to be in touch with you again with a new show on the horizon. And back at JinShang!
You know, we really couldn’t be more grateful to them. Beijing Broads is actually co-organized with JinShang. They are champions, providing us with a creative space for our shows to happen. Without JinShang, us Beijing Broads simply would not be able to bring the joy of storytelling to our community.
It is so good to see venues like these supporting the local arts. Back to your upcoming show, it has quite the foretelling name. Give us the basics on it, please?
Certainly! You guys already know us for our signature mashups of both playback and improv, right? And it’s also a fact that we have been around for a while now as the only female improv group in Beijing. The thing is, for the last little while we’ve mostly kept the same lineup. But now? Oh, boy, now that has changed! Not one, not two —but four brand new broads, each with a different style and background. Let me tell you, the way they sing, you’d think we’ve recruited Beyonce herself!
With this in mind, you’ll probably see the rationale behind our upcoming show’s name. We really did get ourselves some of the best girls on the block, and we’ve been practicing together for over two months to reach optimal sync. Brace yourselves for spades of refreshing talent, style, jokes and energy from the new members. Baby, we’re here!
Va-va-boom, girls! Pray tell, who are these new additions?!
Aaaah! Drum roll for these brave new seeds! We have Stephanie, with a killer voice, tiny but with a big personality. Next on the list is MJ, who has acted in various plays and really, she is a closeted stand-up comedian. She brings a new kick to the Broads with her magical voice and insanely creative, spark-of-the-moment ideas. Watch out for Feniá , known by many in Beijing as a fine poet. Well, she is also a seasoned actress —and she will break into the best dance moves at any given opportunity, too. And last but certainly not least is Lareina, bringing in those Mr. Bean personality vibes before she rocks your socks with the whole gamut of her emotions onstage, and that quiet voice that makes her scenes a freaking delight.
I would love to know more about the decision process in a troupe like yours, particularly every time you welcome new members. What is the flow for the Beijing Broads as they march about their business? How do you communicate?
We are relentlessly committed to ensuring our new additions have a smooth transition, as well as ensuring that our values align at all times. The Beijing Broads are a charitable group, so we do this for fun, but that doesn’t mean we don’t take things seriously. It’s a time commitment for sure. It is a non-negotiable for us to provide a safe and comfortable environment for all the women involved, so that they may explore avenues for their personal growth —just as we grow together. We held public auditions, and later on invited the girls to try out a one-day workshop dicing the basics. This was an opportunity for us to get to know them better, too. Lastly, we sat as a group to discuss candidates to jump onstage with us for a show. It’s after that trial show that we make a final decision: are we a good match? It’s a clear and thorough process where everyone involved gets a fair chance to feel each other out.
I can hardly wait to see you all on stage, girls. You mentioned that this took you over two months’ worth of rehearsals. Not that I want you to spill the magic behind the curtain, but I would be really interested in learning more about your methods and the philosophy that informs them.
Definitely. We waited to set the new members up for success. This means that it takes time for us all to feel comfortable with each other. Great improv must involve being in sync with yourself and others on the stage. To make that happen, we held more rehearsals than usual and went over many different forms of improv and playback. As we moved more into storytelling and long form, we waited to find a good fit of suitable scenes for the new members, allowing them to bring out their best selves.
It really is commendable to see such commitment and passion from a non-professional troupe, meaning that you don’t ever make a cent for yourselves out of all your hard work. On that note, tell us more about your chosen charity for this specific show.
Our chosen charity this round is Green Ivy, based in Shenzhen and started by female migrant workers. Much like us, they too have created a series of charitable art activities, including acting, aimed at helping fellow women explore their creativity and thrive. Truly, it is our honor to help them fulfill their mission. In our last show, we were able to donate RMB 1,094 to them!
Fun always feels even better when it has a good cause behind it. So! Back to the show, what can we expect to get from all of you broads, new and seasoned alike, on Jun 1?
We are focusing on new beginnings. This means you can expect a lot of stories about letting go, how to move forward and what it looks like to choose your happiness in a chaotic world!
And just a tiny reminder -- how can we stay updated about your shenanigans and news?
As always, scan the code below and stay in the loop!
And scan the code below to grab your early bird tickets, so that you can allot the rest of your hard-earned money on drinks!
The Beijing Broads' New Girls on the Block is taking place on Saturday, June 1 from 7.30-9.30pm at JinShang·Yuan. Tickets are RMB 78-108/person and can be booked via the QR code in the poster.
JinShang·Yuan 金尚源
20 Xinyuanli West, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新源里西20号
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Images courtesy of the Beijing Broads and Jens
