June 2015

159 286

THEATRE
159 June15
Tell us about Another Country. What can we look
forward to?
Jo: For this play, two writers have chosen words from the
literature of our countries – fragments of plays, poems,
pantuns (a Malaysian poetic form), letters, songs, interviews,
exhortations and news reports; words that sing, words that
incite, words that long for something lost, and words that
conjure landscapes and minds. The past is another country
– and literature gives us a different lens through which to see
ourselves; it is kaleidoscopic, fragmented and beautiful.
The Singapore actors will perform texts curated by Leow
Puay Tin, one of Malaysia’s most renowned playwrights.
They’ll try to understand our untidy, chaotic country by
performing texts tikam-tikam style – a Russian roulette of
texts that celebrates disorder, the random and the beautiful.
The Malaysian company will perform texts curated by Alfian
Sa’at, poet, playwright and provocateur. The Malaysians
will attempt to understand the rapidly shifting history of the
nation state of Singapore by taking us on a journey into the
past, through hidden doors, open windows and down the
occasional rabbit hole.
How were the featured texts chosen?
Ivan: Writers write. Writers record. Writers shine a light on our
nation. Writers express the zeitgeist. I think that’s what has
guided Puay Tin and Alfian in their selection of the insightful,
thought-provoking texts in Another Country, which will inform
us about ourselves as well as our Malaysian counterparts.
This production uniquely celebrates both Singapore
and Malaysia, as part of Singapore’s 50-year
milestone. Why did you choose to focus on both
sides of the Causeway rather than just Singapore?
Ivan: As we celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee, we thought
it would be interesting to explore the concept of independence
in a different way. Fifty years later, what does Singapore’s
separation from Malaysia mean, especially when the two
countries still share such a wealth of history, culture, language
and stories? In order to be able to perform the texts selected
for this production, everyone involved – from the directors to
the cast members – must really work hard to understand and
empathise with our neighbours. I think this act of stepping into
one another’s shoes is very meaningful. It’s a celebration of
the abiding peace between our two countries.
Jo: The production was always conceived as a kind of “bridge
project” – a way for us to look and wave at each other; hence
the title, Another Country. This production is about bridge-
building; we have straight bridges and crooked bridges, and
bridges we are still trying to build. I think building bridges is
an act of peace, though, sometimes, it’s an act of war – I think
in this case it’s not.
Did you face any challenges while planning and
directing this production?
Ivan: One of the challenges is collaborating across long
distances. Another is the act of performing across cultures:
how do we remain true to ourselves, while also achieving a
genuine understanding of another country and its people?
The authorities in Singapore and Malaysia have also been a
little nervous about this production. So we’ve spent some time
engaging with them to address any concerns they might have.
Jo: Since the structure and style are unconventional, we
wanted to start exploring the texts very early on, which is why
we ran a workshop earlier in the year, long before starting to
direct the Malaysian actors.
What are you hoping audiences come away with?
Ivan: Another Country is a funny, poignant, exhilarating
production comprised of texts that will thrill, surprise and
entertain. I think audiences will gain a deeper appreciation
of our nearest and dearest neighbour, but they will also learn
more about themselves. After all, isn’t it often the case that you
gain a better knowledge and understanding of who you are
when you’re living, travelling or working in another country?
Jo: I think literature is a wonderful way to understand a land,
a people and a culture. Words elevate – they give us wings.
So I hope our audiences will fly.
See Another Country from 25 June to 11 July at Drama
Centre Theatre, 100 Victoria Street, Level 3 National Library
Building. Tickets from Sistic.
Ivan Heng and Jo Kukathas