Hidden Tunes is a bold Mandarin musical blending Mando-pop and traditional Chinese instruments, performed with live English subtitles. This original work premiered in 2024 as part of La Mama’s Festival of Mother Tongue, receiving critical acclaim and a Green Room Award nomination for “Outstanding Artist in a Leading Role” (Lansy Feng).
Set in a prestigious music academy and inspired by the #MeToo movement, the story follows the ripple effects of a sexual harassment case on campus – examining how friends, fellow students and professors respond when the truth unravels. As silence spreads and pressure builds, how would the choices of all the “bystanders” shape the story?
Back with new songs, richer stories and a striking new stage design, this year’s Hidden Tunes invites you into the heart of a conversation we can no longer avoid. Will you stand by, or speak up? “Hidden Tunes” is a Mando-pop musical accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments.
Set in a prestigious music academy, the story follows two classmates, brought together by their passion for music. When one of them faces sexual harassment from a respected professor, the two classmates must navigate the emotional turmoil that follows and find courage again in music and friendship. “Hidden Tunes” unravels the creative world of aspiring music students and puts the audience in the shoes of a bystander, asking the question: “Can we recognize when a friend is in need? And what can we do for them?”
“Hidden Tunes” was largely inspired by the recent real-world emergence of the #MeToo movement in East Asia. The story mirrors real cases of sexual harassment and assault in the performing arts scene by people in power in mainland China and Taiwan. The movement to end sexual abuse is universal and “Hidden Tunes” joins the fight by looking at the issue through the lens of an East Asian society, where sex is often more stigmatised and there is a stronger emphasis on maintaining hierarchical roles.
“Hidden Tunes” explores the perspectives of both the survivor of assault and the bystander. It touches on the obstacles that come with speaking out – the victim-blaming, the fear or retribution, not knowing who to turn to – and also the barriers that may make a bystander hesitate to reach out, but ultimately the importance of supporting loved ones and how we can work together to help break the cycle.
Book by Jun Bin Lee, Bowie Lei and Eileen Pan, lyrics by Jun Bin Lee, Bowie Lei, and Yu Zhi, and music by Jun Bin Lee. Hidden Tunes is primarily a Mando-pop musical but incorporates elements of other music genres including pop, Broadway-style show tunes and traditional Chinese music. Traditional Chinese instruments are also part of the band line-up.
“Hidden Tunes” is brought to you by Small Ripples Theatre. Small Ripples Theatre was founded in 2023 with the goal of creating more original musicals centring on Asian culture and providing a platform for Asian artists to get involved in local theatre, to make society a more empathetic and inclusive place to be.
Small Ripples’ first production was “The Best Cabinet Maker”, inspired by Chinese furniture makers who came to Melbourne at the turn of the 19th century. The show was sold-out for its 4-show run at the Library at the Dock and received positive feedback from audience members. Founding members JB and Sarah have been frequent collaborators on musical projects, including one that explores the prevention of family violence through the lens of culturally and linguistically diverse community.
