I actually remember watching my very first theatre performance! My cousin brought me to the Esplanade Theatre in 2009, when I was in Secondary One. The show I watched was Broadway Beng<\/em> \u2013 Jiak Liu Lian<\/em>, and I loved<\/em> it. I was amazed by the set design, costumes and music, and I really wanted to learn more. I came out of the theatre aspiring to be like Sebastian Tan one day, to have my own solo musical show. That night, for me, was life-changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From then on, I started watching more theatre \u2013 from pure entertainment to the thought-provoking variety. I now feel that theatre is my second home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would say that my involvement in theatre was rather accidental \u2013 I did not set out to be involved in it! Since primary school, I have always enjoyed being on stage \u2013 entertaining an audience and getting their attention. I took whatever opportunities I had to be on stage. In secondary school, I had to choose a CCA, and chose the English Drama Club because of my love for being on stage. And so it began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since then, I have never once regretted being in theatre. It has been a life-changing and enriching experience for me, taking on different characters and finding a voice on stage. I would like to thank my English Drama instructors in secondary school, Claude Girardi and Samantha Scott-Blackhall. If not for them, I don’t think I would be where I am today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n W!LD RICE has always been my favourite theatre company, because it pushes boundaries and creates work that is original and local. I really wanted to work with them if I could. So, when auditions for young & W!LD finally rolled around again after a hiatus, I thought I should give it a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also hope that this programme will serve as a stepping stone for me into the theatre industry. I thought it was a wonderful way to push myself out of my comfort zone. I wanted to improve as an actor and also gain some experience of what it’s like to work in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have realised that there is much more to theatre than what I had expected. Being relatively new to this field, I have learnt how to better analyse theatre pieces. I’ve picked up new perspectives on theatre from my friends in young & W!LD, as well as the external master classes we attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have also learnt so much about myself in the past few months. Serena and Rodney, our instructors, have made me aware of the \u201cbag of tricks\u201d that I always dig into as a performer. I am too safe a performer and tend to rely on what I already know. But I should be pushing myself to take on roles that I am uncomfortable with: to be dangerous, to be divergent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing for Little Riots<\/em> was no mean feat. First and foremost, I did not have any writing experience prior to young & W!LD, so writing a monologue for myself was very foreign to me. While devising it, I learnt that it’s extremely difficult to tap into one’s own thoughts because there are definitely some memories that you do not want to revisit. But, through the whole process, I managed to move out of my comfort zone and face my fears and insecurities to create the character I performed in the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Performing, on the other hand, was a whole lot of fun and very interesting! It was the first time that I actually wore panties and put on prosthetic breasts. Being a mother figure in the first showcase definitely allowed me to understand women better \u2013 the difficulties they go through psychologically, and the challenge of strutting around in heels!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are now in the process of research. We have been talking, discussing and discovering Geylang through all the secondary research we can find on that area of Singapore. A few weeks ago, we went and immersed ourselves in the heart of the red-light district, and had close brushes with prostitutes, durian sellers, foreign talents… the list goes on!<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn school, you’ve been an emcee and participated in story-telling competitions. How did you get involved in theatre?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Why young & W!LD?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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young & W!LD has been going strong for several months now. What have you learnt thus far about your craft and yourself?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
young & W!LD staged its first showcase in August last year. What has writing and performing in Little Riots and Other Stories<\/em> taught you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Your next showcase, Geylang<\/em>, is inspired by Kuo Pao Kun’s play and will be staged in May this year. How are you preparing for the production?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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