Pretty Ugly Blog

What is the show about?

It is about self-esteem, feeling pretty and ugly, grief, joy, goodbyes, falling in love, adventures in New York City, connection, moving to the UK from Singapore, loneliness, courage, and so much more. It’s very personal - I’ll be sharing stories and anecdotes and reflections and pairing them with some of my favorite songs - there’s a healthy dose of musical theatre, but also some jazzier fare, and some Mitski!! 

Why did you want to stage this show?

I have always been a big fan of bar nights, because they’ve allowed me to sing songs as myself - I can choose how to interpret a song in my own individual way without worrying about whether it makes sense in the world of a larger show. Songs become more malleable and exciting when they aren’t rooted in a larger context of a production, and god - the intimacy of being so close to the audience and sharing the stories of these gorgeous songs with them? That is such an unbeatable feeling, and one I really wanted to get the pleasure of doing for an hour. 

What makes this show/production unique?

Cabaret in this format has, as far as we know, never been done before at the ADC Theatre, or in Cambridge for that matter. So the unique genre - a blend of song and storytelling - is really exciting, because it’s such uncharted territory, ripe for playing with possibilities, and giving the audience something they probably haven’t experienced before. 

What is your favourite part of the show?

I’d hate to spoil it by giving too much detail, but there’s a moment where I combine crowd-work, music, and storytelling to create (what I hope to be) a cathartic experience for us all - about lost dreams and rekindling a sense of optimism. 

Why should audiences come to see this show?

First of all, it costs a fiver - so it’s an attractive price to take a risk on someone you probably don’t know, doing something you possibly don’t have a reference point for. But, without being too modest, I am really invested in trying to create a meaningful journey for my audience to take, and I think I can be quite an engaging performer, so why not take a chance on something new? 

What should an audience expect when they come to see the show?

There’s plenty of singing, of course, and lots of anecdotes and storytelling. There’ll also be a bit of communal reflection and recollection (but don’t worry - no scary audience participation bits!)

What will audiences take away from this show?

I genuinely hope it makes people feel less alone. And also helps people to realize that so many people, often the people you least expect to, have problems with their self esteem and their image. I hope that we all be a bit gentler to each other for having experienced the show together. 

What have you found to be the most rewarding and/or challenging part of the production process?

It has been such a rewarding experience to work with my musical director and accompanist George Jackson. I have always admired him for his passion, kindness, and exacting standards - and he has pushed me to become a better singer and artist. I pinch myself because I feel so lucky to work with such a generous and giving collaborator. Something that’s been quite challenging has been figuring out how to ‘perform’ as myself: how to make ‘Theo Chen’ into a character so that I can write a script, but at the same time keep things loose and intimate enough so it doesn’t come off as too ‘forced’ or scripted - finding the balance between rehearsed and casual has been a great learning experience - and one I think I’ll only really find when I get up in front of people and do the show. So come help me figure it out! 

Pretty Ugly is the third show in this term’s inaugural CUMTS Cabaret series. It runs on Thursday 14th November at 8pm, and an additional show on Friday 15th November at 8pm has been added due to popular demand. Tickets can be purchased here.