Writing from The Heart: Dramaturgy for TheatreWorks Singapore: Serene

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: Serene

"Together Apart"

Hello Serene!

I enjoyed reading your tragicomedy, a contemporary commentary on the expectations of two generations. Your play works because, despite the veneer of casualness, you sustain a dramatic tension all throughout, and it is a demonstration of the playwright as thinker of society, in this case, Singaporean society.

Your use of screens for presenting news headlines and mobile information is profuse; however, I like the eventual use of the screen as a shadow-play screen as counterpoint, for it underscores the theatrical differences between two generations.

"Together Apart" is ready for turning over to TheatreWorks Singapore for a staged reading.

Having said all of that, you should take care that your future works take the turn of drama rather than melodrama.