I was at Ang Mo Kio Central last night for theatre. Yes, you heard me right, theatre. In AMK. Dramabox was there with its run of Community Theatre. Normally I wouldn't bother because these shows are commissioned by some CDC and usually aim to educate the public on SARS, HIV or the like - political messages.
But when I heard that there were using Forum Theatre as their medium. I perked up. FYI. This form of theatre was banned in Singapore for over a decade because it is so emotive, so powerful and effective in reaching out to the watching audience that the ruling junta was afraid that it could be used to stir up the masses if used in a political context.
Forum theatre is a form where the audience can stop the play at any one time and step in to replace the characters. So like last night, when it was about problem children, we have members of the audience stepping in to replace the parents, one 10 year-old boy stepped in to replace the role of a violent tutor, because he has had that experience in school, et cetera.
The themes of these forum plays are usually close to the heart, like scenes of everyday life or indeed, politics. Hence it is always very effective to get a message out. It allows the audience to interact with the play, making it alive and ever evolving. No two shows are the same. It allows the audience to express what is on their minds, or their value-systems, to share an alternative view with the other people watching. To get minds working and to plant the seeds of thought into the audience.
It was a great experience, you should go see it, more detail on the DramaBox website. Its in Chinese and dialect though, since DramaBox is a Mandarin theatre company. I'd never had expected such a great evening in the Heartland, and for free somemore. Haha. Where to find?
P.S. I forgot to add that all the stories about the troubled kids were true and they were acting themselves in the role. Sad to watch, but terribly moving.
But when I heard that there were using Forum Theatre as their medium. I perked up. FYI. This form of theatre was banned in Singapore for over a decade because it is so emotive, so powerful and effective in reaching out to the watching audience that the ruling junta was afraid that it could be used to stir up the masses if used in a political context.
Forum theatre is a form where the audience can stop the play at any one time and step in to replace the characters. So like last night, when it was about problem children, we have members of the audience stepping in to replace the parents, one 10 year-old boy stepped in to replace the role of a violent tutor, because he has had that experience in school, et cetera.
The themes of these forum plays are usually close to the heart, like scenes of everyday life or indeed, politics. Hence it is always very effective to get a message out. It allows the audience to interact with the play, making it alive and ever evolving. No two shows are the same. It allows the audience to express what is on their minds, or their value-systems, to share an alternative view with the other people watching. To get minds working and to plant the seeds of thought into the audience.
It was a great experience, you should go see it, more detail on the DramaBox website. Its in Chinese and dialect though, since DramaBox is a Mandarin theatre company. I'd never had expected such a great evening in the Heartland, and for free somemore. Haha. Where to find?
P.S. I forgot to add that all the stories about the troubled kids were true and they were acting themselves in the role. Sad to watch, but terribly moving.
No comments:
Post a Comment