laremy.sg

Found the bit that I like the most:

It angers me when after hundred years of importing aspects of other people’s culture some politician in a 4,000-ringgit Italian suit complains about Western values and such-and-such a thing is not from our culture. Our culture is everybody else’s culture. We’ve never had our own. You can’t arbitrarily draw a line to freeze its change and growth. And it angers me when people like Thomas Thomas expect me to be original, when in fact to be Malaysian is to be derivative. Deal with it and grow up. Would you like some coffee? No? It’s Colombian.

– Huzir Sulaiman. “Notes on Life and Love and Painting.” Eight Plays. Kuala Lumpur: Silverfish Books, 2002. 135.

THE National Arts Council (NAC) has cut the annual grant given to local theatre company Wild Rice. It will get $170,000 this year, down from $190,000 the year before.

It is the lowest annual grant that the company has received from the council. Artistic director Ivan Heng says the council told him funding was cut because its productions promoted alternative lifestyles, were critical of government policies and satirised political leaders.

– Adeline Chia, NAC cuts W!ld Rice funds

Food for thought, given the current context at work.

1. How is it like working with each other?
   Great! Jon and I have learnt a lot from each other over this production and the last. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to work with him, as he’s very committed to the craft and is always working to get the best out of the text: whether it is in terms of using the best line to convey a certain meaning, or in terms of putting the actors through their paces in order for them to convey the best emotion.
2. What changes were implemented from the previous run of OTOT in 2008?
   The main consideration has always been giving the customers what they want, so we’ve listened to audience feedback when revising the plays. We wanted to make the play a better experience for audience in terms of entertainment and artistic value, so I’ve made changes to the action and the dialogue. For example, there were some concerns that last year’s version of Full Tank! was draggy and heavy-handed; I’ve gone through the script again to cut out repetitive lines and reduce clumsy expressions.
   
   At the same time, I actually experimented with a few different scenarios, character motivations, etc. while making revisions to the script that was used during the OCBC Singapore Theatre Festival 2008. However, I’ve returned to the original plot that made Full Tank! a success, because I realised the stories that were told were what endeared the play to the audience. All that was needed was a bit of tweaking to the mechanics of the plot and it’d be good to go.
3. Did you join any Arts clubs/Theatre societies when you were an undergraduate?
   I was a hostelite through and through so I participated mainly in activities within Kent Ridge Hall. I co-wrote and edited two Hall Productions and contributed three short plays for an Inter-Hall Drama Fest in 2008 (one of which – The Last Political Animal – was censored by the Media Development Authority).
   
   However, I think it wouldn’t be wrong to say that participating in activities outside of clubs and societies might have had a greater part to play in helping me hone my writing abilities. I read two modules taught by Huzir Sulaiman – EN2271: Introduction to Playwriting and EN3271: Advanced Playwriting. It was during that period that an early draft of Radio Silence, an absurd play about National Service, was read by Ivan Heng. This resulted in Ivan nominating me to participate in World Interplay 2007, an international playwriting festival held in Australia. My participation in this festival was co-funded by grants from the University Scholars Programme.
4. What led to your decision to pursue a career in the Arts?
   Unlike the others, I’m not working in the Arts full-time. I’m actually teaching the General Paper at Saint Andrew’s Junior College, but I still enjoy writing as a means through which I can take part in the Singaporean conversation about things that aren’t always very easy to talk about in the mainstream.

I’d like to say I cut my teeth volunteering for W!ld Rice, but unfortunately, the truth ain’t so spectacular. I did use to volunteer previously when I was in junior college/high school because I wanted to chalk-up Community Service hours (did not particularly like going to homes for the aged) and preferred to do something I enjoyed.

The perks? Getting to watch really good shows for free (think Animal Farm).

So go for it if you haven’t tried it before – it’ll definitely be worth your while.

~

Dear Theatre Volunteers,

We are looking for volunteers to assist at the FRONT-OF-HOUSE (FOH) for BEAUTY & THE BEAST!

The world’s favourite love story gets turned on its head in true W!LD RICE style this festive season. From the same team that brought you last year’s runaway hit Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, BEAUTY & THE BEAST is a spellbinding musical comedy filled with laugh-out-loud jokes, fabulous song and dance routines, stunning costumes and sets… and singing utensils!

The volunteers for FRONT-OF-HOUSE (FOH) will be required to:

• Welcome patrons,
• Sell show programmes and merchandise, and
• Collect feedback forms from patrons after the show.

If you are able to commit at least four (4) weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) OR a weekend (Saturday & Sunday), please call Ellen @ 6292-2695 or email ellenng@wildrice.com.sg before Fri, 13 Nov 2009 with the dates you wish to commit for.

Please take note that the following dates are the only ones available for volunteers:

• 3 Dec, 7.30pm
• 6 Dec, 7.30pm
• 8 Dec, 7.30pm
• 9 Dec, 7.30pm
• 10 Dec, 730pm
• 11 Dec, 7.30pm
• 12 Dec, 7.30pm
• 13 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
• 15 Dec, 7.30pm
• 17 Dec, 7.30pm
• 19 Dec, 2.30pm & 7.30pm

I’ll need your personal particulars:

• Name:
• Mobile:
• NRIC No:
• Email address:
• School/Workplace:

Thank you for your continuous support and dedication!

Looking forward to meeting you again.

Cheers,
Ellen

I just came back from watching Recalling Mother. I was not only moved by the piece, I was also very impressed by the space in which it was performed.

There’s an exhibition going on now called The Air-Conditioned Recession: A Singapore Survey and it showcases works of art that reflect the attitude in Singapore toward the strictures and structures of modern life.

I must say that this is ONE OF THE MOST THOUGHT-PROVOKING Singaporean art exhibitions I’ve seen in my entire life (26 years) and I was very impressed by the works + proud of all the artists who have contributed to this exhibition.

Please go check it out if you can. I promise you will not be disappointed.

P.S. unfortunately the exhibition only runs until today, so if you have nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon, GO FOR THIS.

P.P.S. I heard that there are LIMITED seats available for Recalling Mother too, so if you have $31 to spare, GO FOR THAT as well.