'Rice explores the business of global food production, namely rice, and women in business. There are two main characters. The central character is Nisha. She’s 28, a young and precocious corporate hotshot working as the Executive Officer of Golden Fields, Australia’s biggest rice company. She’s a second generation Indian. Yvette is 61, Chinese; she’s a cleaner in the Golden Fields building. Golden Fields is in Melbourne; Nisha and Yvette play all the other characters.
'Nisha is close to sealing a confidential contract with the Indian government, which would see Golden Fields taking over India’s public food distribution systems – rice is a major staple distributed through this system. This secret contract is worth billions. When a flood in one of the southern states in India looks to distract the government and delay the deal, Nisha decides that she needs to go to India to finalise the contract in person, taking with her Graeme, the CEO, and Tom, the marketing manager that Nisha has romantic feelings for.
'Yvette’s daughter, Sheree, is facing charges for a protest that resulted in the assault of the CEO of Coles.'
Source: Author's website (http://www.michelevanlee.com.au/current-projects/rice/) (Sighted: 12/07/2016)
2015: Street Theatre workshop
Director: Tanya Dickson.
Dramaturg: Peter Matheson.
Assistant Dramaturg: Karla Conway.
Performers Gowrie Varma and Annette Shun Wah.
2015: National Playwriting Festival workshop
Director: Tanya Dickson.
Dramaturg: Jane Bodie.
Performers: Kristy Best and Meme Thorne.
2016: Queensland Premier’s Drama Award
Director: Bridget Boyle.
Dramaturg: Christie Evangelisto.
Performers: Kristy Best and Meme Thorne.
2017: Queensland Theatre Company and Griffin Theatre (co-production)
Director: Lee Lewis.
Cast including Kristy Best.
(Sources include author's website, theatre companies)
