Dance performance 'TaTaTa' is a heartfelt ode to ageing and bridging generations

The Star

27-05-2025

Theatre director Lai Wen Xin returns to familiar ground with TaTaTa , a new dance performance set to take the stage at Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan in Selangor from June 13-15. The venue, far from conventional, is a gathering space for the local community – people Lai grew up with, roots she has never left behind.
Presented by performing arts outfit Kongsi Petak and the Seri Kembangan Artisan Community Space 1502A group, TaTaTa looks at the themes of what happens as our loved ones age and the gaps that exist between different generations through the naive lens of youth.
The 60-minute performance takes place in Seri Kembangan's Chinese new village, Lai's old neighbourhood, where she hopes to bring people of all ages together, creating space for connection and understanding across generations.
For Lai, 25, the question that shaped her directorial debut was simple yet profound: 'What does it mean to age?'
'TaTaTa', a dance theatre show mirroring life, explores how ageing inevitably changes and challenges our interpersonal relationships.
TaTaTa will be performed by veteran actor Anne James, 70, and contemporary dance artiste Audrey Chua, 25, who are supported by a creative team including set designer Liew Chee Heai, set/multimedia designer Wee Jia Foong, lighting designer Jackey Chan, sound designer Teo Wey Yinn, and dramaturg Loke Soh Kim.
A show like TaTaTa also offers a personal lens on a national reality – Malaysia is fast becoming an aged nation, with over 17% of its population expected to be 60 or older by 2040, according to a Department of Statistics Malaysia report last September.
Keeping the memories
Lai previously worked with the art collective Kongsi Petak as a photographer and videographer for its award-winning Switchblade Operation dance performances. TaTaTa marks her first time stepping into the role of director, inspired by her own experience of watching her grandmother grow older.
In a recent interview, Lai shared that she and her grandmother have always been close. But as she's become more focused on her career and chasing her dreams, she admits it's been harder to find time to be together.
'She took care of me when I was in kindergarten, so she's always been a big part of my life. One of my fondest memories is coming home from school and seeing flour all over the table and floor – that's how I knew she was making my favourite pan mee,' says Lai, recalling the traditional Chinese noodle dish known for its comforting, home-cooked flavour.
'I hope this perspective helps gently untangle misunderstandings and open space for deeper understanding – of ageing, both physical and emotional.' says Lai. – LAI WEN XIN
More recently, though, Lai began to notice that her grandmother wasn't quite the same as the person she remembered.
'She stopped going around, stopped conversing, and would often just stare off in one direction the entire day. She began forgetting many things.
'I kept thinking, 'What if she forgets herself before she forgets me?'' says Lai.
Moved by that fear, she and her father began engaging her grandmother in more activities. With producer Low Pey Sien and co-writer Tan Seng Kiat, Lai shaped the performance from a young person's perspective, staging it in her hometown for her grandmother.
'Young people don't really see things clearly,' says Lai, a multidisciplinary artist.
'The character finds no clear answers, only a journey of emotion. I hope this perspective helps gently untangle misunderstandings and open space for deeper understanding – of ageing, both physical and emotional.'
She adds that staging a show in the place where she grew up has always been a dream – but it hasn't come without its challenges.
'Creating a theatre show on a limited budget in an old community hall with no facilities hasn't been easy, but I guess that's where the magic happens!
'It couldn't have been more perfect to set the show here, because the village itself is a living example of what we're talking about in the performance – there are many elderly people and many young people here, so it's fascinating to see how the young and the old try to find a balance and are learning to live and grow together,' she adds.
The 60-minute interdisciplinary performance is set in a community hall in Seri Kembangan's Chinese new village, Lai's childhood home.
For the performance, set designer Liew transforms Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan into a 'nostalgic playground'.
The stage is set inside a multipurpose hall – a badminton court, a community gathering spot, and a training ground for volunteer firefighters – making it a uniquely challenging space to transform.
'It's not a conventional black box theatre, so my task was to explore how the existing space could be reimagined as a theatrical environment. The site itself has a distinct character, so for the set design, I wanted to retain the traces and essence of the place as part of the overall aesthetic, allowing the space to speak for itself, while also aligning it with the director's vision,' says Liew.
When the generations meet
When approached about the project earlier this year, arts performer James was intrigued by Lai's desire to explore the theme of ageing.
'It's an issue I face both as a performer and as a person – a real struggle to come to terms with my body, mind, and their current limitations. I haven't danced or moved like this in over 20 years, so it's been challenging. But it's a challenge I truly enjoy rising to,' says James, a Five Arts Centre collective member and educator with 40 years in the Malaysian arts scene.
'The (creative) team has been very cognisant of my age and the fact that I don't speak any Mandarin. They have been so very nurturing and inclusive in every way possible to make me always feel comfortable and included,' she adds.
It's been a rolling start to the year for James, who also starred in the absurdist play Poly this February in Petaling Jaya.
Cast and crew of 'TaTaTa' rehearsing in Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan.
While James feels her upcoming role in TaTaTa fits her like a glove, co-performer Chua finds hers challenges her usual mindset.
'My character comes off very headstrong and close-minded at first. So, I really had to put my mind and body into someone else's shoes in order to build a foundation to move from,' says Chua.
'I'm also not used to using and projecting my voice in a performance, so I'm very grateful to have Anne to coach me and teach me vocal warm-ups!' she adds.
In her director's voice, Lai admits she's still seeking answers through the creative process and hopes the performance will provoke thought and offer new perspectives on ageing.
'I've slowly come to understand that when it comes to the differences between the young and the old, and even who we are as people, we can't and don't need to change anyone.
'So what does it mean to age? Maybe when I grow old, I'll get it. But for now, I don't understand it just yet. And that's okay,' she concludes.
TaTaTa is set to play at Dewan Serbaguna Seri Kembangan in Selangor from June 13-15. More info: cloudjoi.com.