the lady of soul

2009-03-02T03:33:00.003-08:00

The search for soul begins...

First Photoshoot for poster

2009-03-02T01:21:00.000-08:00

About the Play

2009-03-01T21:16:00.001-08:00

Synopsis

Derek, a high ranking civil servant, is tasked with a herculean assignment of finding soul for the nation. His search leads him to three wildly different individuals – a communist, a fighter of the arts, and a mama-san, who all claim to have the million-dollar answer. Who has the answer? And will Derek ever find soul?

A Brief History

Written by Tan Tarn How, the script was presented to the Public Entertainment Licensing Unit (Pelu) in 1991, where they had issues among things that included, “unfavourable portrayal of civil servants” and “committees being described as ineffective and useless”. The script was later returned to Theatreworks with more than 90 markings in it. It resulted in a version of the play, directed by Ivan Heng and presented by Theatreworks at the Blackbox in 1992, as a public reading.

The play was first fully staged in 1993 when the unedited script was passed clean by the National Arts Council (NAC), under the new guidelines set out by the Censorship Review Committee (CRC). It was directed by Ong Ken Sen, and its cast featured the veritable who's who of Singapore today including Gerald Chew, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Lim Yu Beng, Lim Kay Tong and Rani Moorthy.

In 2001, it was staged and directed by original cast member, Gerald Chew. Reviewed by the Flying Inkpot, the production was described as, “skilfully executed” and “full of nice touches”.

Its satirical approach towards themes such as civil service, gender, sexuality, censorship and the socio-cultural aspects of a nation not only made this play a landmark in the theatre scene, but also of the socio-political climate in Singapore. Coupled with rap sequences and colourful taglines, it raises controversial concerns without explicit mentions. Such word play and witty satirical methods contributes to the thought-provoking element of the play.

With the advent of technology, we now present The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate ‘S’ Machine with multimedia presentations in the narrative. This added dimension would help in heightening the play, and also providing aesthetic qualities that would not have been possible back in 1992.

Behind the Scenes

2009-03-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

Under Construction...

trailer

2009-03-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

Production Crew

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Tan Liting (Assistant Director)

Liting was last seen strutting the stage in Hush by 06/07 as part of a double bill for Celebrate Drama! 2008, which she co-directed with the ensemble. More used to being backstage or at Front of House, Liting has worked with local theatre companies such as Cake Theatrical Productions (Temple, 2008) Sprouts Theatre (HELLO, 2006) and Dream Academy Productions (Dim Sum Dollies, 2004-2008) in various positions. She was also Music Director for The West Wing (NUS, 2008) and hopes to front a rock band one day. Liting is excited by the prospect of Directing, and thanks her friends for putting up with her despotic tendencies.

Dawn Quek (Stage Manager)

Dawn is a Fourth year TS major, tackling her Honours modules alongside scheduling and attending rehearsals. Her foray into theatre has brought her many new experiences, some of which include traveling to Shanghai for her school’s previous play production of The West Wing and also performing in a devised piece, ‘Hush’ for SDEA’s Celebrate Drama! 2008 Festival. Her stint at stage managing has given her a vital insight into the mechanisms of theatre production, and has upped her appreciation for the backstage crew. She hopes to go into writing for the arts in the near future, a combination of her two passions.

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Jasmine Loh Huey Voon (Production Manager)

Jasmine’s passion for theatre was first developed when she was given opportunities to act and even direct for her church drama performances. Currently a third year shared major in Communications & New Media and Theatre Studies, she has always desired to be part of a professional production crew and is proud and grateful to be given this opportunity to serve as a Production Manager in this play production. She hopes to learn as much as she can with regards to theatre production from this experience and wishes to be able to pursue future careers in production and even stage work in the local theatre one day.

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Liu Yong Huay (Production Executive)

Currently studying her final semester as a third year Theatre Studies major, Yong Huay found her passion for the arts when she was in JC. She joined the Dance Society (2004-2005) and performed for various events and competitions including SYF in 2005. She continued her pursuit by joining the NUS Dance Ensemble and performed in their annual showcases "Evocation" and "The Next Wave" concert series (2007-2008). She also took up stage managing assignments with CFA this March and would like to pursuit stage managing in local theatre scene when she graduates. She is happy to be part of this "soul" production.

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Ginny Chua (Marketing & Sponsorship)

To date, Ginny has zero experience in theatre. Thus, she is taking this opportunity to learn everything and anything that comes her way. She’s quite like a sponge actually - highly absorbent. Being a shared major in Communications & New Media and Theatre Studies, her Communications background has been helpful in prepping her for the production. The production has been an eye-opener for her and she perpetually fascinates herself with the dynamic nature of this field. When she graduates this May, she wants to do her part for the growing arts scene in Singapore.

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Loke Fen Ling (Marketing & Sponsorship)

A second-year Theatre Studies major, Fen Ling is deeply attracted by the marketing and managerial aspects of theatre. Having graduated from Temasek Polytechnic with a Diploma in Marketing, she has only experience in developing campaigns and strategies for the commercial world. The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate ‘S’ Machine marks her first foray into arts management, a field that she has always wanted to set her foot on. While Fen Ling is happy to have the opportunity to gambol merrily on stage, she would gladly trade it all in for a chance at being an effective leader in an arts organization.

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Raymond Tan (Publicity/FOH)
(Secondary role: Shopper)

Raymond is a third year student at the National University of Singapore, majoring in English Literature and Theatre Studies. His passions include both writing and film, and he hopes to marry his two loves together and become a film and theatre reviewer one day. While he spends his free time doing freelance writing on the sidelines as well as contributing to school publications, he is also glad to be given the chance to dabble with acting and enjoy the thrill of performing on stage. He was previously involved in the cast of The West Wing (2008) and also in the front of house crew for the Dim Sum Dollies (2008). He constantly thinks of doing the whole starving artiste gig and one day make it big as a successful writer.

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Shirley Koh (Publicity/FOH)

Shirley is a third-year Theatre Studies major. Her passion for the arts sparked off when she was offered an opportunity to act for her church film production. Since then, she has continued taking up roles ranging from actor to producer in many more film productions which includes, Burial Ground that achieved top five in Canon DV fest (2006). This is however her first attempt in taking up the exciting role of publicity in Theatre. Thus, she is learning everything she can from this experience. With a passion to succeed in pursuing a degree that she loves, she looks forward to opportunities in the near future, hoping to produce a feature film one day.

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Deborah Ng (Multimedia Designer/Publicty & FOH)

Currently in the third year of her Theatre Studies major in NUS, Deborah's interest in theatre extends out of conventional plays and musicals, into audio tours of the city landscape such as Desire Paths by spell#7, cultural performances of the region, and rock concerts. In terms of performing in theatrical events, Deborah has had prior experience having won the silver award for drama in the Singapore Youth Festival in` 2001, as well as having participated in the National Day Parade in 2004. Deborah derives her inspiration for her designs mainly from concerts she has watched in Japan, and hopes in the future to use her artistic skills in promoting these concerts she loves so much to the world.

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Han Yi Qian (Multimedia Designer/ Sound Designer)

Formally trained in ballet and classical piano since the age of 5, Yi Qian always had a keen interest in art and performance. Her past performances include Escape (dancer; SYF 2005), Blaze (dancer; 2008) and Fight Club (actor; 2007), World Consumer’s Day (actor; 2009). A Theatre Studies major in her third year, and an enthusiast of the local music scene, Yi Qian is grateful to be part of this production. She aspires to combine her love for music, dance, film and mixed media in future projects, and wishes to further her education in theatre some day. Lastly, Yi Qian wants to thank her family, and friends for all the support they have given her all this time.

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Fu Peichong (Lights & Sound Designer/Multimedia Designer)

Peichong’s keen interest in theatre first sprouted when he began exploring drama and theatre arts during his days in National Service. Enthusiastic about expanding his knowledge in all aspects of the field, he is glad and deeply grateful to be given this opportunity to learn and partake in the creative process. As a student, Peichong majors in Philosophy and Theatre Studies. His other interests include reading, music and film.

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Zhong Meixuan Nadia (Set/Props Designer)

Currently a third-year Theatre Studies Major, Nadia's interest lies mostly in the technical and design aspects of the theatre. Past credits include NUS Play Production: The West Wing (Set Designer; 2008), Short+Sweet Mandarin 10 - "No Where ,Now Here" (Cast; 2008), ACS(I) Festival of Art 08 (Set Designer; 2008) and SDEA's Celebrate Drama! - Hush (Set Designer, Cast; 2008). Nadia is awakened every morning with devout thanksgiving for her family and friends, the old and the new, and also for the wonderful opportunities that have come along her way. She would love to further pursue theatre-tech after graduation. She is happy to be involved in this production and will strive to learn, improve and create imaginations into reality.

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Farah Amalina (Costume Designer/Make-up)

A Theatre Studies and Drama Major currently in her final year, Farah has been fascinated by the spectacle of theatre since young. She began performing onstage since kindergarten and discovered a passion for design and costume while preparing for her A’Level Theatre Studies and Drama individual skill evaluation at Victoria Junior College. Her past experiences also include gaining expertise in the art of improv during TheatreSport2005, held by the Singapore Drama Educators Association, and co-directing DownstageLeft’s entry into the annual Pesta Peti Putih organized by Teater Ekamatra in 2007. In her free time, Farah loves photography and is a part-time Assistant Teacher in various Speech and Drama companies for the past couple of years. She cherishes the experience gained from this production and hopes to further her career in early childhood education while sustaining her involvement in the arts after graduation.

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Cast

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Daphne Boey as Derek

Daphne fell into the business of performing and has loved it ever since. When she’s not doing so – namely, so as to speak – she collects gewgaws. This marks the second time (of many to come) she’s playing a (gay) man and she can probably say that she has the affinity for such roles, since her first officially official performance as the (gay) Zither Boy in last year’s production of The West Wing. She thinks that the characters are deeper than what meets the eye and hopes to give a resounding and soulful performance that will leave audiences thinking – even after many days.

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Stephanie Neubronner as Paul

Stephanie is currently a third year Theatre Studies Major in the National University of Singapore, and is enjoying every minute of it. Her past performances include acting as a monk in The West Wing (2008) and performing for Hush in Celebrate Drama 2008. During her free time, Stephanie enjoys singing and having fun with her family and friends. As Paul, Stephanie has found her most challenging role yet, and wishes to create Paul as a person that people can relate to. Stephanie continues to learn much from everyone in this production.

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Jen Li Sheng as Madame Soh

Jen is a third year Theatre Studies Major in NUS. He decided to dabble in Theatre Studies after falling asleep in social work lectures, which he intended to major in. He has taken part in church productions, as well as other small projects in the local theatre scene with friends. Taking on the character of Madame Soh is his biggest role to date, and he finds it extremely interesting and exciting. He hopes to be able to pull this off well, and create many fond memories of this Play Production with this batch of Theatre Studies majors.

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Isaac Sim as Shaun

Isaac’s passion for theatre began at the tender age of 12 after watching his first theatre performance. And ever since, there has been no turning back. Previous acting credits include National Museum’s Fight Club – The Chorus (2007), NUS Thespis’ Walking Into Doors (2008) and Short & Sweet Theatre Festival (Mandarin)’s No Where Now Here (2008). He has also directed several church musicals and was also Music Director for St. Andrew’s Junior College’s Animal Farm in 2003. He is extremely grateful to be part of this important production and wishes to - one day - see some soul in Singapore.

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Daniel Soh as Alban

Daniel is currently pursuing a double major in English Literature and Theater Studies. He performed in "Hush", a performance under SDEA's Celebrate Drama Festival in 2008. Daniel finds it an enormous challenge performing as Alban, who is so different from him, but thoroughly enjoys doing things he might otherwise never do. Of course, he would love to act in more productions in future, “even if it means being manhandled onstage,” he says. He also has delusions pursuing a career as a writer. He likes collecting old things like cameras, and dreams of owning a shophouse filled with an assortment of antiquities like typewriters, books and the like.He has no interest in sex dolls offstage. Yet.

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Lim Wan Cheng as Minister

Wan Cheng, currently in her second (and half) year as TS major, has embarked on theatre since her Republic Polytechnic (RP) days. In RP, she enjoyed being cast and crew in the drama club’s productions. Going beyond that, she has acted in school shows (2007), an anti-AIDS film advertisement (2006) and performed a monologue for “Crashout!” (2006). She has also helped out as crew in many productions such as the Short and Sweet Festival (2007). She really hopes to continue acting after graduation. Playing Minister can be tricky, where she oppresses and yet can be much frivolous.

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Evangeline Lee as Les
(Secondary role: Costumes/Make-up)

A third-year shared major in Theatre Studies and Social Work, Evangeline has always been intrigued by the prowess of the performing arts. Musically inclined from birth, she would cry whenever her mum stopped playing the music and would only stop crying when her mum started the music again! She started singing nursery rhymes and pop songs at the age of 3, and has been singing ever since in English, Mandarin and Thai. She has sung for various Christian organizations and churches overseas in Thailand and Myanmar, at schools and orphanages. She was also among the top 50 contestants in Singapore Idol Season 1 (2004). With theatre being her new-found passion, she hopes to marry all her loves – stirring awareness for social issues through musical theatre.

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Joie Goh as Chris
(Secondary role: Costumes/Make-up)

Having been involved in various performative pursuits which include ballet, classical singing and musical theatre, since childhood, Joie chose to complete her education by majoring in Theatre Studies in NUS. She intends to further her career in music and is working on a solo musical project in conjunction with a local youth theatre group. Cast as Chris, one of Derek's two near-identical assistants, Joie considers it one of her favourite characters as she is able to utilize her dance and musical training for the role. She is also a budding costume designer and makeup artist, and is part of production’s costumes department.

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Alexandra Hui as Salesgirl

Alexandra Hui is a third year Theatre Studies major with a background in theatre spanning over ten years, having been in theatre groups in both Singapore and Canada, such as her high school's drama society, Act 3, and Teesri Duniya (a theatre company in Montreal). She relishes the opportunity to showcase her super awesomeness in her two roles and hopes you will enjoy the unleashing of the goddess.

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Raymond Tan as Shopper
(Primary role: Publicity/FOH)
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About the Director & Playwright

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About the Director

Director Casey Lim has directed many plays and pioneered various festivals. His explorative and experimental digital art pieces have garnered critical praises from around the region. As a director, Casey enjoys staging works created by local artists, such as Dick Lee’s musical Beauty World.

About the Playwright

Playwright Tan Tarn How has written numerous award-winning plays. His works have been staged at the Singapore Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Festival of Asian Performing Arts. He specialises in arts and culture with keen interest in politics and society.

Book Tickets

2009-02-23T20:00:00.001-08:00

Show Times

9 April (Preview) 8PM $18 (FULL HOUSE!)
10 April 3PM $20 (FULL HOUSE!)

10 April 8PM $20 (FULL HOUSE!)
11 April 3PM (FULL HOUSE!)

11 April 8PM $20 (FULL HOUSE!)

*prices do not include $2 ticketing charge

@ The Arts House, Playden
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BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

Option 1:

Visit http://www.theartshouse.com.sg/ .

Option 2:
Visit our Booth 11 at NUS FASS AS1, Level 3 towards Central Library. (Wednesday - Friday, 11am-5pm, 25-27 March, 1-3 April)

Option 3:
Email to theladyofsoul@gmail.com