Book Launch: Voices Clear And True: New Singapore Plays Volume 1

Event: Book Launch of “Voices Clear And True: New Singapore Plays Volume 1” by Checkpoint Theatre
Venue: The Pod @ National Library Building
Date: 18th Aug 2012

We were very kindly invited by Checkpoint Theatre to attend this evening’s launch of their latest publication – volume 1 of “Voices Clear and True”, which is a collection of eight plays by eight budding local playwrights, edited by Huzir Sulaiman, Lucas Ho and Laremy Lee.

The eight playwrights are Lucas Ho (“The Artist Who”), Faith Ng (“wo(men)”), Christine Chong (“A Malay Romance”), Dan Koh (“Staying Over”), Kenneth Chong (“Bus Driver Bring Me To Die”), Laremy Lee (“Radio Silence”), Shiv Tandan (“The Good, The Bad, and the Sholay”), and Cheryl Lee (“Framed”), and these playwrights were all at one point or other mentored by Huzir, who is also the Joint Artistic Director of Checkpoint Theatre, and who also teaches playwriting at NUS.

Some of you might remember that Shiv Tandan’s “The Good, The Bad and The Sholay” was nominated for Best Original Script at this year’s Life! Theatre Awards, while Faith Ng’s “wo(men)” was nominated for the same award last year.

Moreover, Laremy Lee’s “Radio Silence” was produced by W!ld Rice in 2008 as part of “Own Time Own Target”.

Short readings of excerpts from all eight plays were made this evening, and the performers included Christopher Fok, Foo Jun Sheng, Yap Yi Kai, Tan Kheng Hua, Claire Wong and Huzir, amongst others.

Even from the short readings, one could immediately see the quality and tantalising potential in many of the plays.

It is wonderful to see Checkpoint Theatre taking such an active step in promoting the works of new playwriting talent.

In his opening address, Huzir made mention about the theatre “ecosystem”, and in order for a theatre scene to truly flourish, there has to also be a continual unearthing and nurturing of new playwriting talent.

After all, if there is no playscript, there is no theatre.

Kudos to Checkpoint Theatre for launching the first volume of “Voices Clear and True”.

I’m really excited to start flipping through the pages now and take in all the eight plays!

Books are priced at S$24.90 each.

You can purchase the books (here), or contact Checkpoint Theatre at contact@checkpoint-theatre.org for further enquiries.