Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai is a young Indian actor with her whole career ahead of her. But the path forward is uncertain. She gets excited reading casting notices until she reaches the path that states: 'Chinese or Pan-Asian preferred'. She's been told, 'You're pretty for an Indian'. She tries on different accents and gets better service if she sounds American or British.
How many actors are there like her on stage? Are there industry experts who know how to light her skin or do her make-up? Is acting a way for Sangeetha to get closer to the truth... or is it just a form of escapism? Which is more difficult for her: playing a Cantonese-speaking Lady Macbeth, or her own mother?
Inspired by Konstantin Stanislavski's second handbook on acting, Building A Character is a frank and intimate dialogue between actor and audience. Written by poet-playwright Ruth Tang and directed by Teo Mei Ann, this is a brave and incisive work about trauma, time travel and transformation.
Director: Teo Mei Ann
Playwright: Ruth Tang
Assistant Director: Tristan Cameron
Dramaturg: Alfian Sa'at
Set & Costume Designer: Yoki Lai
Assistant Costume Designer: Bevely Liang
Lighting Designer: Petrina Dawn Tan
Sound Designer: One White Raven
Multimedia Designer: Yusri 'Shaggy' Sapari
Assistant Multimedia Designer: Jazlyn Song
Hair Designer & Stylist: Ashley Lim
Makeup Designer: The Make Up Room
Cast: Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai
Producer: Tony Trickett
Associate Producer: Koh Bee Bee
Production Manager: Pebble Tan
Production Coordinator: Phua Yun Yun
Production Assistant: Augustina Ongah
Technical Manager: Alvyn Chai
Stage Manager: Ang Cheng Yan
Assistant Stage Manager: Toh Wen Fang
Stage Assistant: Iskandar Nasir
Multimedia Operator: Jazlyn Song
Props Mistress: Joyce Gan
Props Assistant: Matilda Chua
Wardrobe Manager: Glenna Ng
Dresser: Beverly Liang
Production Interns: Isabella Gupta, Hydir Mahyudin, Esleen Ng
(Source: Wild Rice Programme)