Writing from The Heart: Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: De Jun

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.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: De Jun

"My Promise to My Animal Tamer"

Hello De Jun!

I enjoyed reading your play. It is very poignant and unusually mature (considering that you are just 16, I mean).

Here are my comments:

--It is difficult to cast a ten-year-old child in a play for various reasons. Be prepared to have the role played by a young man onstage.

--Incorporate more stage directions and scene descriptions. This should make clear to you where action takes place and how characters transit from one scene to the other, especially if they have to change or add items to their costumes. The director and the scene designer may or may not envision the play as you do, but at least you should proffer yours while they are reading it for the first time.

--Your ending is abrupt. It should give closure to all three characters. I suggest that each character be given a monologue that addresses either the audience or themselves.

Please sned me back the play with a fuller ending.