Writing from The Heart: Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: Lishan

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.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: Lishan

"Conversations with My Father"

Hello Lishan!

I have only one suggestion at this point: The flashback on page 4 is quite unnecessary. It pushes the play from realism to poetic realism. It also conveys to the audience that sexuality is the key to understanding the subject matter, which of course is not. The flashback technique is better off in the medium of film, as Alfred Hitchcock demonstrated in Marnie.

Other than that, your play is now ready to be turned over to TheatreWorks Singapore. You have created a sensitive vehicle that every actress in Singapore will covet. As I told you last time, casting is most crucial to its success. For the dramatic reading, encourage your performers to memorize the lines rather than read from scripts; total suspension of disbelief will make this play best appreciated.

I look forward to the success of the dramatic reading of your play.