Headline Acts | SIFA X 2023 Edition

By Yanling, 17 February, 2023
Category
Presentations
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SIFAx Headline Acts (Square) 11 (1).jpg
Teaser Name
Centre 42, Singapore International Festival of Arts
Teaser Date
Date
Date format
Whole date is confirmed
Created By
Organisation Reference
Centre 42
Organisation Reference
Arts House Limited
Name
Singapore International Festival of Arts
Role
Co-Presenting Organisation
Masthead
Masthead (Image)
Neon green text "III. Headline Acts" is centred against a framed backdrop of bright orange and purple textures. In the middle of the frame is a production photo depicting four actors holding scripts in various moments of performance
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Headline Acts is a fun and informal reading series open to writers of all experience levels wishing to showcase plays or scenes. The only rule is, each work is a short (10-15 minutes) dramatic pieces that respond to recent headlines.

For this special SIFA edition of Headline Acts, part of Centre 42's group show SIFA-X: there is no future in nostalgia, we are turning our attention to that special dynamic between new and old, past and future. And so we're asking all participants to respond to a headline of their choice from 30 years ago - in the year 1993.

6 writers were shortlisted through an Open Call that took place on 1 March 2023. The works they will be presenting are: 

  1. "Sotong" by Kay Lynn Er
  2. "All Kinds of Time” by Wisely Chow
  3. “An Examination” by Ivan Choong
  4. “The Chilli Powder Sisters”  by Melizarani T. Selva
  5. "Kids, Gifts, COEs & Roast Duck" by Irsyad Dawood
  6. "Is It Because I'm..." by Isaac Lim

The events will be headlined by two invited writers whose careers kicked off in the 90s. Their new works are:

  1. "The Three Ages" by Jean Tay
  2. "Motherland" by Very Shy Gurl by fendy

These eight new short pieces are presented across 2 sessions. Acts 1 will take place on Saturday 27 May 8pm, and Acts 2 will take place on Sunday 28 May 3pm.

Body Heading
Acts 1
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "MRT trains collide at Clementi: 132 hurt"
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Body Photograph
A photograph featuring three actresses, two standing and one seated, each holding a script in hand.
Caption

Serene Chen, Karen Tan and Arielle Jasmine van Zuijlen perform in the dramatised reading of The Three Ages. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

A woman, Elizabeth, looks back at her life at three different points in time.

Written by: Jean Tay
Directed by: Thong Pei Qin
Performed by: Karen Tan, Serene Chen, Arielle Jasmine van Zuijlen

Content Lists
Jean Tay
Title
"The Three Ages" by Jean Tay
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "Kids' Gifts, COEs & Roast Duck"
Body Content
Body Photograph
A photograph of the performance of "Kids' Gifts, COEs & Roast Duck".
Caption

Joshua Elias, Genevieve Tan and Ashley Ru perform in Kids' Gifts, COEs & Roast Duck. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

Two people get lost on their way to a friend’s kid’s birthday party. They talk about some things. There is a goose. There is roast duck. 

News Source: New Paper, 26 November 1993, Page 18

Written & Directed by: Irsyad Dawood
Performed by: Genevieve Tan, Ashley Ru, Joshua Elias

Content Lists
Irsyad Dawood
Title
"Kids' Gifts, COEs & Roast Duck" by Irsyad Dawood
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "Why the Malay male is 'not romantic'"
Body Content
Body Photograph
A photograph featuring the cast members of "Is It Because I'm..." performing in the dramatised reading.
Caption

Miriam Cheong and Fadhil Daud perform in a dramatised reading of Is it because I'm.... View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

Ibrahim is a sexy and charming man. But he just cannot find the right love. The reason? They all say he isn’t romantic enough. He recollects his past relationships over the past year to find the true problem.

Written by: Isaac Lim
Performed by: Fadhil Daud, Miriam Cheong

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Isaac Lim
Title
"Is it because I'm..." Isaac Lim
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "Zon Zon can carry on in spite of Pon Pon"
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Body Photograph
A photograph featuring the cast members of "Sotong" performing in the dramatised reading.
Caption

Letitia Chen and Karthika Warrier perform in a dramatised reading of Sotong. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

What starts as the purchase of the wrong brand of cuttlefish snacks turns into a heated discussion about one family's past and relationships with each other. 

News Source: The Straits Times, 12 May 1993, Page 22

Written & Directed by: Er Kay Lynn
Performed by: Karthika Warrier, Letitia Chen

Content Lists
Kay Lynn Er
Title
"Sotong" by Kay Lynn Er
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Acts 2
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "At the White House, Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo Accords"
Body Content
Body Photograph
A photograph of the performance of "Motherland".
Caption

Bada Jabari and Irfan Kasban perform in Motherland. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

Two unknown soldiers deeply in love and with different loyalties contemplate the inevitable when the night sky in the distance starts to burn red.

News Source: September 13, various news media

Written & Directed by: Very Shy Gurl by fendy
Performed by: Irfan Kasban, Bada Jabari 

Content Lists
Noor Effendy Ibrahim
Title
"Motherland" by Very Shy Gurl by fendy
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "Chilli powder sisters gets jail"
Body Content
Body Photograph
Two actresses on stage, one seated with a script in hand, and the other standing, hands on a table behind her.
Caption

Grace Kalaiselvi and Roshini Periyachi perform in a dramatised reading of The Chilli Powder Sisters. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

Armed with chilli powder and an aching desire to leave Singapore, two sisters hatch a plot to rob a woman at their HDB while arguing about the best ways to spend the bounty — on a dowry or or a degree.

News Source: The Straits Times, 27 March 1993

Written by: Melizarani T. Selva
Directed by: Lucas Ho
Performed by: Grace Kalaiselvi, Roshini Periyachi

Content Lists
Melizarani T Selva
Title
"The Chilli Powder Sisters" by Melizarani T. Selva
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "Buy a CD and get to know me too"
Body Content
Body Photograph
A photograph of the dramatised reading of "All Kinds of Time".
Caption

Ilyas Lukman, Medli Dorothea Loo and Masturah Oli perform in a dramatised reading of All Kinds of Time. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

A wedding is interrupted, and time folds onto itself.

News Source: The New Paper, November 14 1993

Written & Directed by: Wisely Chow
Performed by: Masturah Oli, Medli Dorothea Loo, Ilyas Lukman

Content Lists
Wisely Chow
Title
"All Kinds of Time " by Wisely Chow
Sub-title
Responding to the headline "376 to resit English exam as papers lost"
Body Content
Body Photograph
A photograph of the dramatised reading of "An Examination".
Caption

Chio Su Ping, Audrey Luo and Zee Wong perform in a dramatised reading of An Examination. View more at: Centre 42 Facebook

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Synopsis:

A loss of test papers that were differing opportunities for two young lives. It leads to examinations with unexpected findings.

News Source: The New Paper, 20 July 1993, Page 9

Written & Directed by: Ivan Choong
Performed by: Audrey Luo, Chio Su Ping, Zee Wong

Content Lists
Ivan Choong
Title
"An Examination" by Ivan Choong
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SIFA X: there is no future in nostalgia
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This edition of Headline Acts is part of Centre 42's group show SIFA-X: there is no future in nostalgia, in collaboration with Singapore International Festival of Arts.

Organisation Credits
Organisation Reference
Centre 42
Role
Presenter
Organisation Reference
Arts House Limited
Role
Co-Presenting Organisation
Person Credits
Person Profile Reference
Jean Tay
Role
Playwright
Person Profile Reference
Noor Effendy Ibrahim
Name
Very Shy Gurl by fendy
Role
Playwright
Director
Person Profile Reference
Melizarani T Selva
Role
Playwright
Person Profile Reference
Irsyad Dawood
Role
Playwright
Director
Person Profile Reference
Ivan Choong
Role
Playwright
Director
Person Profile Reference
Wisely Chow
Role
Playwright
Person Profile Reference
Kay Lynn Er
Role
Playwright
Director
Person Profile Reference
Isaac Lim
Role
Playwright
Person Profile Reference
Thong Pei Qin
Role
Director
Person Profile Reference
Lucas Ho
Role
Director
Person Profile Reference
Karen Tan
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Serene Chen
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Arielle Jasmine van Zuijlen
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Genevieve Tan
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Ashley Ru
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Joshua Elias
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Fadhil Daud
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Miriam Cheong
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Karthika Warrier
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Chen Hui Hsuen Letitia
Name
Letitia Chen
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Irfan Kasban
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Bada Jabari
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Grace Kalaiselvi
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Periyachi Roshini
Name
Roshini Periyachi
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Masturah Oli
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Medli Dorothea Loo
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Ilyas Lukman
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Audrey Luo
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Chio Su Ping
Role
Performer
Person Profile Reference
Zee Wong
Role
Performer
Post-Programme
Yes
Venue
Black Box, 42 Waterloo Street
Admission Information

Rating: Advisory 16 (Some Mature Content and Coarse Language)

Do note that the Black Box venue is located on Level 2, and is only accessible by stairs.

Book your tickets to either or both Acts (Registration opens on 31 March 2023):

Admission: Give-What-You-Can (via Eventbrite upon registering for a ticket)

All proceeds collected for this event will be evenly distributed to participating writers.

Register Link
Get your tickets now!
Pre Body Content
Body Text

Headline Acts is a fun and informal reading series open to writers of all experience levels wishing to showcase plays or scenes. The only rule is, each work is a short (10-15 minutes) dramatic pieces that respond to recent headlines.

For this special SIFA edition of Headline Acts, part of Centre 42's group show SIFA-X: there is no future in nostalgia, we are turning our attention to that special dynamic between new and old, past and future. And so we're asking all participants to respond to a headline of their choice from 30 years ago - in the year 1993.

We invite 6 writers to submit their ideas and responses through an Open Call process (see below for schedule and criteria). All selected writers will need to adhere to and submit their scripts for Arts Entertainment licencing as this edition of Headline Acts is intended as a public presentation.

There will be two sets of Headline Acts in this edition, taking place on:

  • Saturday 27 May 8pm
  • Sunday 28 May 3pm
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Open Call for Acts!
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There are only 6 slots for the SIFA-X: there is no future in nostalgia Headline Acts edition, and selection is on a first-come-first-served basis. We will close the application window once we’ve filled all 6 slots. 

Headline Acts Open Call 1-8 Mar 2023 in neon green text against an orange background

To sign up as a writer/performer:

  • Complete this form between 1 - 8 March 2023
  • Simply tell us the headline from the year 1993 you’d like to respond to
  • Provide a short liner about what your piece is about (it’s fine if this eventually changes!)
  • Your play or scenes are to be 15 minutes long at maximum, and respond robustly to a headline of your choice
  • Your script will need to be submitted for an Arts Entertainment Licence (AEL) classification with IMDA

 

Participants will rehearse and present their work independently. Centre 42 will only provide a $300 honorarium towards covering any associated costs, e.g. honoraria for readers, a director, etc. The donations collected at the event will be split equally among the participating writers.

Keep things simple, if you can! This is a very small scale reading event, with very little time on the day for rehearsal. We cannot support elaborate, tech-heavy set-ups. 

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Schedule
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1 March (12pm) - 8 March 2023 (12pm):

  • Application window is open for writers to sign up! Fill up the form here
  • Note that submissions are on a first-come-first-served basis - there are only 6 spots!
  • The Submission Box will close after receiving the first 6 eligible sign ups
     

10 March 2023:

  • Successful sign-ups will be notified
  • Briefing with writers will be conducted where necessary


11 March - 25 March 2023:

  • Write your play!
  • Submission of playscript for AEL application on 25 March


26 March - 29 April 2023

  • Independent editing, redrafting (if any) and rehearsals
  • Submission of final playscript for AEL application update (if any)


22 May - 28 May 2023

  • Bump-in week in the theatre. Space will be provided for rehearsals if needed.
  • Headline Acts takes place LIVE on 27 May (8pm) and 28 May (3pm)
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FAQ
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FAQ
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Title
Who can apply?
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Anyone with an idea for a 10-15 minute play they’d love to put up on stage.

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Must my piece respond to a headline from 1993?
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YES - In the spirit of keeping things responsive and aligned with the curation of SIFA-X: there is no future in nostalgia, yes!

But there’s no restriction on what that headline is, and you can be as creative as you want with your take on it. Use the prompt as a provocation, a call to arms, an ironic counter-point– anything goes!

Title
What is a dramatic piece? Can I submit a spoken word piece?
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These are pieces that use the building blocks of drama in some shape or form: character, dialogue, narrative, space… Spoken word pieces are certainly welcome, but if you already have access to spoken word spaces, we do ask that you consider if this is the best platform to present that work.

Title
Will Centre 42 hire a director, actors, designers… etc for me? Must actors be off-book?
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No, Centre 42 will not be involved in hiring the creative team or performers for the work that you want to present.

Each participant will be given a token sum of money (SGD $300) to cover some costs, e.g. honoraria for collaborators. It’s worth bearing in mind that the spirit of this event is to keep the production light and no frills.

What matters is the writing! We welcome script-in-hand performances, though certainly if you’d rather perform off-book that’d be great.

You may wish to take a look at some of the event photos from our previous Headline Acts to get a feel of the 'fuss-free production vibes' that we have intended.

Title
Is there a limit to the number of characters? Can I perform my own work?
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There are no limitations as such, and if you can find creative ways to present several voices, that’s amazing. And yes, you can definitely perform your own work.

Title
Can I present older work?
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We’d much prefer if you created something specially for the event, but if something you’ve already written happens to be a super electric response to something in the news, we’d be happy to hear it.

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Why does my script need to be submitted for Arts Entertainment licencing?
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As Headline Acts SIFA-X edition is intended for a public audience, we will be required to apply for an Arts Entertainment licence (AEL) from the IMDA.

A successful application of the AEL is required to conduct any form of arts entertainment, which includes plays, music and dance performances, art exhibitions, variety shows and pop/rock concerts at a place accessible to the public. 

As such, we will require all participating writers to submit their playscripts to us by 25 March 2023, in order to begin the application process. Writers will also need to be ready to address any direct queries about the content in the playscript that may arise from the application process. The Centre 42 team will work closely with the writers to facilitate this process. 

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Studio is part of Centre 42's group show SIFA-X: there is no future in nostalgia, in collaboration with Singapore International Festival of Arts.

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SIFA X: there is no future in nostalgia
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Start Date and Time
End Date and Time
Start Date and Time
End Date and Time
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