This sarong kebaya marks the confluence of artistic excellence in playwriting, performance art, and fashion design in Singapore and the Peranakan community. The kebaya was commissioned by lead actor Ivan Heng for ‘Emily of Emerald Hill’, a theatre performance which has been staged, translated, and acclaimed internationally. Raymond Wong, a leading kebaya designer from Rumah Kim Choo was engaged as one of the costume designers for this play. He designed a pink kebaya with embroideries of phoenix and peonies to match with a blue sarong. The motifs’ connotations of rebirth and blooming in Spring reflect the young Emily Gan in the play and symbolise a new edition of the iconic play at the newly established Wild Rice theatre. This play is an enduring classic in the history of Singapore theatre and written by prolific Peranakan writer Stella Kon. Since its 1984 premiere, it has been performed over 300 times making it the nation’s most-staged play. Ivan Heng who founded Wild Rice theatre in 2000 is one of Singapore most accomplished theatre practitioners and directors. The play was staged as the opening highlight of Wild Rice @ Funan in 2019, which is a milestone achievement for the troupe and local theatre given its state-of-the-art facilities.
