Scenes from a Yellow Peril Book / Publication / Landmark Writing

Scenes From A Yellow Peril is an independently published risograph publication that commemorates the first full staging of Nathan Joe’s theatre show of the same name. The text is a complete reproduction of the original performed script with an added timeline, accompanied by a foreword by co-producer Ankita Singh and an author’s note by Nathan Joe.

Designed by award-winning designer Yifan Uya, Scenes From A Yellow Peril utilises experimental graphic design and typography to reflect the theatrical elements of the production. Spacing and font changes are used liberally as a way to embody pause and emphasis on the page. Stage directions are notably absent in the publication, drawing attention to Joe’s writing as poetry. Joe’s writing background was an important consideration in creating the publication and the Scenes From A Yellow Peril creative team believed that “the audience should be able to experience [Joe’s] words in and out of the theatre”. In her foreword, Singh comments that publishing the script as a zine is “a record of us, in this time and place”.

Scenes From A Yellow Peril's season at ASB Waterfront Theatre ran from June 21 to July 2, 2022, and was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Described as “a meta-analysis of Asian identity”, the play presented a genre-bending series of vignettes and insights into the Asian-New Zealand experience. Joe’s background in slam poetry is evident in the play, with rhythm and poetic performance a central feature. The decision to publish the script as a physical zine is rooted in accessibility. Singh, who co-published the book in conjunction with SquareSums&Co, comments that: “there are very few locally published plays, let alone Asian plays…available for future generations to experience, study and learn from…a printed version of the play would ensure accessibility”.