Waterloo Street Stories Audio Plays

Synopsis:

You walk down the street. You pick up this audio play. The title compels you: a play on the origin of ‘Waterloo Street’, a reference to the battle that Napoleon famously lost. You don’t really have an idea what it’s about, but only one way to find out: you listen.

Artist Statement:

In writing this piece, I was inspired by the kampung-like spirit that some older residents recounted in their interviews, especially about the early decades on Waterloo Street. I got to thinking about what such a community would feel like in times of extreme crisis. In wartime stories, you hear about people rallying together, sometimes harbouring the persecuted, even helping the enemy. In situating this story in an imaginary war, I wanted to create a world where a harrowing, brutal reality contrasts with everyday human kindness, all set against a backdrop of looming oppression made ever-present by the sonic atmosphere of an audio play.

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Advisory: Contains some coarse language and suggested violence.

Creative Team:

Playwright: Lim Shien Hian
Director: Cherilyn Woo
Actors: Benjamin Chow, Isabella Chiam, Timothy Wan, Saifuddin Jumadi, Masturah Oli, Shanjeevi Ganesan

Synopsis:

Natalie is uneasy. Her husband Stanley is behaving strangely. Could he be cheating on her? Determined to discover what he’s hiding; Natalie searches for answers by employing a private detective and going to see an astrologer. Meanwhile, she is watched on her journey by ghostly schoolchildren who echo through time.

Artist’s statement:

This play is set in and around the Stamford Arts Centre, Fortune Centre, and Waterloo Centre. It responds to the Stamford Arts Centre’s history first as the Japanese school built in 1920, then from 1946 until 1951 the Gan Eng Seng primary school, and finally, the Stamford Primary School in the 1980s. It is also inspired by interviews with the current tenants of the Stamford Arts Centre – Stack café/Tipo and nearby businesses: DP Quest Investigation Consultancy Pte Ltd and Sri Krishna Astrology.

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Creative Team:

Playwright: Laura Hayes
Director: Cherilyn Woo
Actors: Benjamin Chow, Isabella Chiam, Timothy Wan, Masturah Oli, Shanjeevi Ganesan, Cheryl Ho

Synopsis:

Sri is at a crossroads in his life as he watches devotees going into Sri Krishna Temple, waiting for a sign from the universe. When he meets an enigmatic stranger, will Sri finally be able to figure out where his destination lies?

Artist Statement:

As a Hindu, the queerness of bhakti has always been a fascination for me, as spirituality and astrology have played a big part in the lives of my family and me. Thus, the story of Sri Krishna Astrology at Fortune Centre, their association with the temple and their fondness for the coconut tree struck a chord with me. My own spiritual attachment to Waterloo Street, and the various times it aided me whenever I was at a crossroads in life, has inspired this story of a queer man seeking answers for the questions about his life journey.

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Creative Team:

Playwright: Rajkumar Thiagaras
Director: Ng Sze Min
Actors: Saifuddin Jumadi, Masturah Oli, Shanjeevi Ganesan, Shaikh Yasin, Cheryl Ho

Synopsis:

2058 A.D. On the eve of the demolition of the Waterloo Street temples, someone destroyed the nearby vending machines and laid flowers before the temples. Using sound-extraction technology, officers NEO-POL & Leon attempt to identify the culprit(s) and their motivations. What they uncover will be more than they bargained for.

Artist Statement:

The sharing done by the residents and business owners who participated in the Waterloo Street Stories project were insightful, moving and exciting. While some feel that their trade will die with them, others are hopeful that their business will thrive beyond them. And while some lament at the development of Waterloo Street, others welcome it.  Despite their differences, their sharing revealed the friendship, networks, history and pride shared between different business and religious communities. I hope to capture a snapshot of their current sentiments and not let it be lost in history. 

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Creative Team:

Playwright: Christopher Chee
Director: Ng Sze Min
Actors: Benjamin Chow, Isabella Chiam, Saifuddin Jumadi, Masturah Oli, Shanjeevi Ganesan, Cheryl Ho