Women of Silk River @ The Actors Studio @ Lot 10, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Long before the influx of Indonesian and Filipino helpers, there were the Amahs from China. These women, often from poor families were brought over to work as maids and were instantly recognisable by their white top and black bottom ‘sam fu’ attire and neatly plaited hair or bun.

Women of Silk River will take a look at the roles that these women played back then. These invisible women were employed to serve the household and make it run as smoothly and comfortably as possible. And yet there is so little that is known about their lives, their traditions, their beliefs and most importantly, the sacrifices they have made to serve the household.

The devised play opens with the “sor hei” ceremony where their hair is combed into a bun and this signifies their new life as an Amah. And then the tale of four Amahs, a British woman and a Japanese man unfolds…