We pick seven performances and workshops you should catch or join
What happens when you gather a team made up of only women to put together a creative public project? Would it be very different from any other project that involves men? These are the questions that prompted Noorlinah Mohamed to design N.O.W., a three-year season presented by TheatreWorks that shines a spotlight on women creators and change-makers, and the work they do.
"I wanted to experiment with the idea of how it would be like to play with women, entirely women," Noorlinah, who helms the project as the Artistic Director, shares. "What would change in terms of the set-up of the work, is there a different working style or voice? It's an experiment to raise questions for ourselves as women, whether there are more things we can talk about besides motherhood, for example."
It is the first female-centric project by TheatreWorks, a long-running Singapore performing arts company. Women are leading not only the team of collaborators and key presenters, but also the production and administrative crew. Furthermore, Noorlinah tells us that N.O.W. is also the first all-women project in the nation, for an entirely Singapore-run and operated project. It should not have had to take this long, but we're glad it's happening now (pun intended). N.O.W. celebrates the Not Ordinary Work that women and the women-aligned in Singapore are creating. The three-year season launches this July 2019, for three weeks from 10 to 28 July.
We are particularly excited about the diversity of the project's team and content. The collaborators and crew come from varying ethnic and creative backgrounds, lending their voices to an interdisciplinary programme. There's stand-up comedian Sharul Channa leading a comedy writing workshop, a series of film screenings, a staged reading of Akshita Nanda's novel, panel discussions, and more. All events are held at TheatreWorks (72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road). If you're as excited as us to support this vital project, the following are some of the highlights in the programme to look forward to. Check out the full programme and register for events at the official N.O.W. website.
5. Power of Letters (Exhibition with accompanying workshops)
Is letter writing still a powerful form of advocacy today as it was in the past? Power of Letters is a free exhibition that looks back at letters written by women’s rights advocates from 1985 to the present. After reflecting on the letters, tap into your inner social activist and join the workshops to write your own letters for change. “Write Forum I” invites students aged 15 to 18 to discuss the importance of public opinion, and try their hand at writing persuasive and argumentative letters for a cause. The rest of the public above 18 can join “Write Forum II,” which will be led by Constance Singam and Dana Lam, two writers and women’s rights activists.
Power of Letters exhibition opens on 10 July, 6pm, and will be held until 28 July (closed on Mondays).
Join “Write Forum I” on 17 or 19 July, 3pm to 5pm. “Write Forum II” will be held on 20 July from 11am to 1pm. Tickets are $25 (including materials and exhibition tour) – get your tickets here.
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