Writing from The Heart: Dramaturgy for Theatreworks Singapore

Writing from The Heart

"Writing from The Heart" is a workshop on creative writing, creative drawing, and creative drama. There are three available versions of this workshop: one for beginners on the secondary, tertiary, and graduate levels, and another for practitioners. A third version of this workshop is designed as an outreach program to disadvantaged and underserved audiences such as the disabled, the poor and the marginalized, victims of human trafficking, battered women and abused children, drug rehabilitation center residents, child combatants, children in conflict with the law, prisoners, and gang leaders. This third version incorporates creativity and problem awareness, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and peacemaking.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Dramaturgy for Theatreworks Singapore

Helmi's Play: "My Mother Buys Condoms"

Dear Helmi,

It was a joy to read your refreshing comedy, which addressed normally-sensitive issues such as sex, gender, religion, class differences, family relationships, community relationships, and the use of foul language. If not for certain, iffy passages, I could envision this on television and in a dinner-theatre.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Some scenes are too short, others too long. Seek balance and symmetry. Go architectonic with your work.

2. The surreal dream scene in which WILFRED chops fish and then accidentally chops off his fingers is a little off and does not belong with the rest of the play. It can be taken out completely.

3. The store scene is also off--you located it in a separate space and it demanded that the audience visualize an invisible set and invisible characters. All the information in that scene can actually be incorporated within the next scene.

4. Toward the end of the play there is a lot of moralizing and rationalizing, both verging on the didactic, that can probably be toned down. Author--do not editorialize.

5. Trim. Go for a tighter play.

Please, send my your revised script by e-mail as a Word document attachment.