For one night only, The Empress and Me is performing at Ognisko Polskie – The Polish Hearth Club in South Kensington on Sunday 29 Oct 2017, 4pm.

This brand new play looks at the amazing true story of Lizzie Yu – Princess Der Ling, who was raised in the West and became the favourite lady in waiting to the infamous Empress Dowager Cixi of China. The show looks for the real woman behind the persona of Princess Derling and explores just what it is like to be raised and living between two cultures. The Empress and Me is commissioned and performed by British East Asian actor Michelle Yim and writtened by award nominated and Bloomsbury publish playwight Ross Ericson.

Lizzie Yu, daughter of a Chinese Diplomat and Eurasian mother, was raised in France to be every bit the Victorian Lady, but when her father is recalled home she suddenly finds herself living in the Forbidden City, entangled in the politics of the Chinese Court and lady in waiting to the infamous Empress Cixi. The amazing true story of the Princess Der Ling who, following her unique experience of life at the Manchu court and close relationship with the Empress Dowager, became an international celebrity.

The Empress and Me is commissioned and performed by British East Asian actor Michelle Yim, who believes “BEA stories can be more than about illegal immigrants or the communist regime, and still be entertaining”. The play is written by playwright Ross Ericson, whose play Casualties was nominated for an Off West End Award and whose 5 star solo show The Unknown Soldier officially sold out at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Casualties and The Unknown Soldier playtexts are published by Bloomsbury, Methuen Drama