Alep, Remy, Nizam and Risha – the only girl in the gang – all love their motorbikes. They remember the day they received their 2B licenses. They can tell bikes apart from the purring of the engines. And they relish the easy give of a kickstarter under the soles of their feet.
Riders Know When It’s Gonna Rain is a coming-of-age story of friendship that blossoms in the little-known, frequently misunderstood mat moto subculture in Singapore. It captures the bright, reckless spirit of youth: from the desire to rebel and an addiction to danger, to the fierce loyalty that springs up between kindred spirits. When their adventures take an unexpected detour, the four childhood friends learn that the road to adulthood can be bumpy and treacherous.
Written with an insider’s intimate understanding of the culture and lingo of Singapore’s motorbiking community, Nessa Anwar’s tough, tender play is an affecting portrait of youths living in the fast lane.
Riders Know When It’s Gonna Rain was first commissioned for and performed at the 2015 Singapore Writers Festival, as part of Checkpoint Theatre’s ‘What I Love About You Is Your Attitude Problem’.
Performed in English and Malay, with English surtitles.
R18 (Mature Content).
Cast
Nessa Anwar, Norisham Osman, Raimi Safari, Riduan Zalani
Creative Team
Playwright: Nessa Anwar
Director: Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit
Lighting Designer: Helmi Fita
Sound Designer: James Lye
Production Team
Producer: Tony Trickett
Production/Stage Manager: Xu Xin’en
Production Co-ordinators: Deena Shaqinah & Sai Sandhya Silvalingam
Production Assistant: Augustina Ongah
Technical Manager: Terence Lau
Stage Manager: Afifah Buang
Assistant Stage Manager: Noh Sapari
Stage Assistant: Muhammad Syafiq Bin Kasim
Show Technicians:
Chua Yi Han
Fazree Azharie
Foo Cher Siang
Lim Rui Cong
Muhammad Kamarul Ariffin
Muhd Nur Izzuddin
Muhammad Radhi Bin Ramli
Peh Choon Hup
Brian Teo Hao Long
Props Mistress: Sheryl Woo
Props Assistant: Jessy Choo
Surtitle Operator: Afiqah Fitriah
Wardrobe Manager: Theresa Chan
Dresser: Lauren Ann Seow
Production Interns: Bryan Lo & Nay Lynn Thant
(Source: Wild Rice Programme)