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

Serene's Play "Hello. Goodbye."

Dear Serene,

Your subject matter is promising as a macabre comedy exploring the wedding culture in Singapore. Having said this, you need to do a lot of work, particularly in re-conceiving your play.

Here are my comments:

1. A series of conversations does not constitute a play.

2. Your play as it is seems to have been patterned after a joke that relies on a punch line, i.e. your ending scene. After the audience watches the play, do you think there will be any of them who will eagerly watch it all over again?

3. Never write a play about a "tabloid" issue such as a Hello Kitty fad. It will become outdated sooner than you think.

I especially enjoyed the scenes in which parents expect their children to have boyfriends/girlfriends/husbands/wives. I think, you should focus on that and related issues, and do away with all other trendy trappings.

Please, send me your revised work by e-mail as a Word document attachment.