Commissions
My work is highly dependent on what my participants want to say and how they want to be represented. Here are some examples of larger scale projects for the public. They hold as much meaning to the participants and myself as most of them are once in a lifetime experiences for the participants.
Chap Lau (10 storey flats)
Chap Lau is a radio play that was written as a response to the close of theatres during the pandemic. Targeted at vulnerable seniors who had to stay home, this radio play became a digital highlight of the Silver Arts Fest 2021. It is a sequel to Kampong Chempedak and follows the stories of some of the residents as they move from village to city. Each episode of the radio play is between ten to fifteen minutes long and listeners can choose to listen in English or Chinese dialects.
Role: Producer, Writer.
Kampong Chempedak
Kampong Chempedak, set in the ‘60s, tells the story of ageing residents and their fears about moving out of their village to modern flats. This play features The Glowers, a community drama group made up of seniors aged 55 to 80 years old. The play was commissioned for Singapore's Silver Arts Festival 2016 and went on to play at the World Gold Theatre Festival 2018 in Saitama, Japan and in 2019 made an appearance at the George Town Festival, Malaysia.
Role: Producer, Writer.
Perspectives
Part documentary, part theatrical monologues, Perspectives is an exploration about life as Singaporean artists with disabilities. Lee Lee, Victor and Stephanie share their thoughts on why we should consider different perspectives to build bridges in community. Their narratives remind us that beneath our exteriors, we are all humans with the need to feel safe, the need to belong and the desire to be the best that we can be. This piece also features the Harmony Community Choir.
Role: Director.
Music and Me
Music and Me invited five very different young people to talk about how music soothes their nerves, brings back memories and even helps them discover strengths they never knew they had. Their monologues were accompanied by principal flutist Jin Ta and associate principal cellist, Yu Jing, both of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Music and Me was part of the Night Festival.
Role: Writer, Director.
The Greatest Treasure in the World
This interactive play was held at the National Museum after closing hours. The audience meets a Portuguese sailor who asks the audience to join him in a search and together, they go in search for The Greatest Treasure in the World. This piece was written to draw attention to some of the pieces from the British Museum’s Treasures of the Ancient World’ Exhibition.
Role: Director.
Yellow Ribbon Concert 2006
The Yellow Ribbon Concerts 2006 and 2008 were outreach programmes to encourage employers to employ ex-offenders, to create an opportunity for inmates and their families to come together, and for the public at large to include ex-offenders in society. These two concerts had local superstars acting and singing alongside inmates and reach audiences of 7,000 people.
Role: Writer, Director.