Writing from The Heart: Dramaturgy for Theatreworks

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

De Jun's Play: "5 Minutes"

Dear De Jun,

You submitted a well-written theatrical piece. However, it is not really a work for the professional stage--it serves best as an in-between number for a school program. I realize that you are only 16 years old and that you wanted to give it a good shot. But, I demand more from you because I know that you can produce works with greater depth rather than the feel-good, sentimental "5 Minutes".

What you gave is fine in and of itself. I believe that Theatreworks will be willing to stage it either as a produced play or a reading inasmuch as it is the work of a 16-year-old Singaporean playwright. Your use of the three-person chorus is commendable. But, at the same time, I want you to write a more ambitious work, and I want you to do it NOW.

I will not recommend that you take risks in your everyday life. In the first place you are a minor. Secondly, I see you as a fragile, sensitive boy who must mature in his own time and who cannot be forced to do so. I know that you trust me as well--indeed, I do not teach students swimming by throwing them in the water.

Here is what you should do next:

1. Ask a group of friends to do a reading of "5 Minutes". Check the structure. Check the flow of dialogue and then edit your play until you feel that it is workable and act-able.

2. Send me the play again.

AT THE SAME TIME:

1. Search for a book titled Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, an American creative writer and a cancer survivor. The book is comprised of exercises that take readers outside their boxes and their comfort zones. The exercises are about suffering and about taking risks--but the most wonderful thing is that you do them not out there in the real world but in your mind.

2. Identify what matters to you most at this time in your life: Your relationship with your parents? Your siblings? School authorities? Your crush?

What are you afraid of most? What do you desire most? What is your private fantasy?

Write a new play WITH YOURSELF AS THE MAIN CHARACTER--not a rehash of "5 Minutes"--based on the above.

Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Do not feel that I or other people will laugh at or make fun of you.

Just go ahead and do all of the above.

I will wait for you.