COUP D’ETAT

It won the 2002 Banff PlayRites Residency, was nominated for the Best Play AWGIE Award and made the final shortlist for the Patrick White Award. Clearly this political thriller is a story that packs a punch. I spoke with actress Renee Lim best known for her work on the East West 101, Crownies and All Saints who has described the play as challenging, powerful and caring. “Basically, it’s about a bunch of white people coming into an Asian country and saying ‘what you are doing is wrong’,” she says laughing. “But there’s a lot more going on in the subtext.” Set in 1988 in Kuala Lumpur, it follows a young King who has accused a Supreme Court Judge of treason and an American lawyer who wants to expose the King and overthrow his power. For Australian-born Lim, who comes from a Malaysian background, it has been an interesting insight. “I visited Malaysia a lot as a child but I never knew about the political situation,” she continues. “It’s always been a country of dichotomies and extremes: wealth and poverty, dirtiness and extravagance of beauty. In the end, this play raises a very important topic that is relevant to everyone.”

Nov 9-13, Riverside Theatre, cnr Church & Market Streets, Parramatta, $26-36, 8839 3399, riversideparramatta.com.au