Dear audience,
In 2003, an unprecedented gathering of local theatre professionals came together to do staged readings of Lysistrata Lah! - a new adaptation of Aristophanes’ war-of-the-sexes comedy — at the YMS Auditorium (24 March) and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute (25-26 March). The readings were performed as part of an international theatrical response to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. It was also a unique opportunity for Singapore’s theatre scene to come together and use our art to speak up and speak out about the world around us. It reminded both audience and practitioners of theatre’s ability and responsibility to speak to humanity of humanity.
Now, 2 years later, another international theatrical outreach has been called for. The U.S. is still in Iraq, haemorrhaging the country, causing undue misery and loss to both the Iraqi and the American people. The high price of war just keeps escalating, and it is important to be mindful.
Tonight’s reading is our humble exploration of a play that is overflowing with things to say to humanity. Everyone who has volunteered for this project also has things to say about war, peace. Iraq, the U.S., the world today, Singapore, and the way we live — and each of us has found in this play an echo of our voice. We hope that you will hear yourself in the play too, and let all the other voices share their truths with you.
– Jonathan Lim
