Sara Chia-Jewell plays May in the world première production of WORTH, exploring immigration and family secrets from Chinese Canadian writer, Joanne Lau.
Inspired by true events, WORTH takes a darkly comic look at family loss and sibling rivalry. Straddling two cultures, this biting new comedy asks the question – where do you put your worth?
WORTH is at Arcola Theatre 7 April – 29 April 2023
You’re playing May in WORTH, what can you tell us about the show?
WORTH is a dark comedy family drama. After the death of their mum, four siblings gather for the first time in 18 years at the family home. Only to discover she’s left £44 between them – to be clear, that’s £11 each. As family secrets are exposed and siblings pit against each other, the play uncovers the effects of family trauma and where we put our worth.
What was it about Joanne Lau’s script that made you want to be part of this production?
I couldn’t put down the script as soon as I started reading! Joanne strikes the perfect balance between comedy and drama, I was drawn to this family that straddles between British and Chinese culture. I care deeply about the topics of generational trauma and child abuse, they need to be in the spotlight and discussed more openly. The script does that in an accessible and enjoyable way, without it being sensationalised. It’s a gem. I was so keen to be part of it, I couldn’t believe I actually booked the role!
Tell us about your character, what do you love about May?
May is an extremely fun character. All the characters are! There’s a massive power struggle between them all and it’s delightful. I’m having the best time continuously trying to one-up my siblings and find new alliances. May struggles between running away from her family to be more “respectable” and yet wanting deeply to be a part of it. I fell in love with that.
What do you think you’ll find most challenging about the role?
It’s my first professional stage role, meaning it’s the first time I’m doing this amount of shows, back to back, every day, for 6 weeks. Learning to maintain healthy vocals will be a new challenge for me, especially as there’s a couple of vocally intense bits. I’m really excited though, I’ve just bought myself a vocal steamer and nebuliser to help!
And what are you enjoying about working with the rest of the cast?
It’s rare to work with a full East and Southeast Asian cast, as well as many of the creatives, which has made the rehearsal room feel like home! Whether that’s slipping in and out of speaking Chinese, Malay, or learning Korean words – there’s a real shared sense of culture. It’s beautiful that there’s a space for this story to come together, sharing memories of our parents, or childhood anecdotes in regards to the play, and how that has tethered us together. We’re quite a playful bunch. And we talk about food a lot.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to see WORTH?
Come! I’ve loved this script since I read it. The people involved are phenomenal. The director, Mingyu Lin, has a fantastic vision and seeing it come to life on stage is amazing. We’ve had such fun and heart bringing this production together. It’s a genuine pleasure to finally get to share it with audiences! You’ll enjoy seeing us rip our family home apart.
Sara Chia-Jewell appears in WORTH at Arcola Theatre 7 April – 29 April 2023
