Good morning,

We're very excited to announce that Bound Feet Blues: A Life Told In Shoes is due for release in November 2015, as both a book AND a solo theatre performance. International best-selling author, Yang-May Ooi, has written her unconventional memoir (including her personal 'coming out' story) and it has been snapped up by a publisher (Urbane Publications) and signed up for a three-week run at a West End theatre.

We're announcing this news now because tomorrow (May 21st) is National No Shoes Day, and as you'll read in the Advance Information Sheet, footbinding, shoes (and fashion), and treading the boards in bare feet, are intrinsic to Yang-May's story.

And the reports that women have been turned away from the Cannes Film Festival red carpet for wearing flats instead of heels spurs Yang-May's debate even further regarding what it means to be a woman today and society's perceptions of what is ‘feminine'.

Yang-May's three-week show will run from November 24^that the Tristan Bates Theatre, with a press night to be held on the 25^th. If you'd like to get your name on the guest list do let us know as spaces are very limited (to 50 in total). Bound Feet Blues, the theatre show, is sponsored by the Arts Council and The Housing Finance Corporation, and is part of The South East Asia Arts Festival 2015.

Advance copies of the book can be requested for delivery in early Autumn and pre-proof PDFs of the manuscript will be available in the next few weeks.

There is an extract available relating to going #withoutshoes available here:http://bit.ly/1Pwu4zz.

We're keen to spread the word about Toms Shoes incredible campaign to provide a pair of shoes to a child in need every time a photo of bare feet and the hashtag #withoutshoes is used on Instagram up to tomorrow - National No Shoes Day.

I hope this news is of interest to you!
Best,

Helen Lewis

Director - Literally PR Ltd

07904801669

ADVANCE INFORMATION SHEET

Bound Feet Blues

A Life Told In Shoes

By Yang-May Ooi

Memoir -9^thNovember 2015West-End solo performance -24^thNovember - 12^thDecember 2015

Publisher:Urbane PublicationsPublicity:info@literallypr.com/ +44 (0) 8709619069

About Bound Feet Blues

‘Bound Feet Blues: A Life Told In Shoes' is Yang-May's personal story about the tradition of foot binding, as practiced by her older relatives. This unconventional memoir is both a book and a solo theatre performance work. The work interweaves Yang-Mays' experiences of being a Chinese-Malaysian woman in the UK, her own 'coming out' story, and cultural reflections of what it means to be a woman and an exploration into mother-daughter relationships. Bound Feet Blues is Yang-May's life story - told in shoes.

The book (eBook & print) is due for publication on November 9^th2015 (Urbane Publications) and the solo story performance, scheduled for a three-week run at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London's West End from November 24^th2015, will be performed live by Yang-May Ooi. Tickets go on sale in July 2015. The press night will be held on November 25^th(guest list only).

In Chinese tradition, women with tiny bound feet were desirable as wives and lovers, their delicate feet seen as objects of both status and sexual fetish. What can the ancient tradition of footbinding tell us about the role of women beneath the gaze of men and the relationship between mothers and daughters?

In Bound Feet Blues, Yang-May Ooi explores themes of female desirability, identity and empowerment in this personal story told through the shoes in her life - from stilettos and expensive Italian pumps to trainers, hiking boots and biker boots.

About Yang-May Ooi

Yang-May Ooi was trained as a lawyer and works in social housing finance. She's also a published author of international best-selling fiction: The Flame Tree and Mindgame. Her TEDx talk ‘Rebel Heart: How Small Acts of Rebellion Can Create Powerful Change' was described as "electrifying" and "one of the best and most moving talks at a TEDx event". Through her intimate and personal coming out story, discussed in detail in Bound Feet Blues, the talk addressed universal themes of living with courage and authenticity.

From introvert writer to performing her personal story, live on stage, at Conway Hall and Tristan Bates Theatre in 2014, Yang-May has evolved to become the confident storyteller she is today, shining in her 50s. Yang-May is now preparing for the release of her memoirs in book form and as a theatre piece- a dramatic departure from the fictional novels she's known for - and rehearsals are due to commence shortly, ahead the incredible three-week run of Bound Feet Blues, live in the West End, from November 24^th. The show is part of the South East Asian Arts Festival 2015 and funded by The Arts Council and The Housing Finance Corporation.

‘One Day Without Shoes Day'is on 21^stMay 2015. Created by Toms Shoes, the fabulous campaign encourages people to Instagram photos of their bare feet#withoutshoes. In return, they'll give a pair of shoes to people in need for free.

Yang-May Ooi performs Bound Feet Blues in her bare feet. To read an exclusive extract from Bound Feet Blues, please clickhere.

"The simple act of taking off my shoes had changed everything.

Had changed me."

Yang-May Ooi, Bound Feet Blues
 
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