This performance is presented as part of the VCA Master of Theatre (Directing) Graduate Season.

The Ship

Written by Fini Liu (Inspired by Stefan Zweig’s novella The Royal Game)
Directed by Fini Liu

A haunting multilingual thriller about memory, madness, and a man who plays chess to survive.

The Ship is a non-linear, meta-theatrical performance inspired by Stefan Zweig’s novella The Royal Game.

Set in 1943 aboard an ocean liner sailing from China to the Southern Hemisphere, a mysterious man defeats the world chess champion—only to collapse before a second game. Who is he? What secret does he carry?

Blending poetic language, surreal imagery, and physical storytelling, The Ship explores loneliness, control, madness, and resistance under authoritarianism. Performed in English, Mandarin, Old Church Slavonic, Japanese, and German (with surtitles where necessary), and features a cast of five actors playing multiple roles.

Read more about the Master of Theatre (Directing) graduates presenting this season.

Season

Preview: Thursday 28 August, 7PM
Performance: Friday 29 August, 4PM
Performance: Friday 29 August, 7PM

Ticket Price

General Admission: $5

Credits

Director: Fini Liu
Dramaturg: Yuchen Yao, Michael Honeyman
Language Consultant: Xiaohui Ma
Production Manager: Zhi(Zena) Wang
Sound Technical Operator: Suki Chen
Backstage: Bihan Zhou
Subtitle Operator: Alex Zhou
Marketing: Sally Chen, Lily (Yifan) Li, Jiamuzi Gao, Xinbang Dai
Cast: Yuan Lu, Tony Zhang, Yufan (Jo) Chen, Yanjun Chen, Fini Liu

Content Note

This work contains references to psychological trauma, imprisonment and isolation, depictions of mental breakdown, stylised representations of interrogation and violence, sudden loud sounds, flashing lights, and multilingual performance (English, Mandarin, Old Church Slavonic, German, Japanese).

Runtime

This performance will run for approximately 60 minutes without an interval.

Venue

This performance takes place in Martyn Myer Arena, accessible via Lionel's Lounge. Please enter Lionel's Lounge via Grant Street, Southbank, to be admitted to the performance space by front of house staff.

PARKING

The City of Melbourne has recently changed the parking restrictions around the Southbank Campus. Parking control hours are now expanded to 7am–10pm, seven days per week, and are capped at three hours. A $2-per-hour fee after 7pm is also now in place. There is no change to the $4-per-hour peak rate between 7am–7pm. Parking inspectors are regularly in the area fining drivers who overstay their meter, so we encourage everyone to be aware and avoid an expensive fine. More information.

ACCESSIBILITY

All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.
In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.
Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.

Image: AI Generated via prompt from Fini Liu