In The Living Room with Tan Tarn How

In this continuing series of Living Room dialogues with Singaporean playwrights, Dr Robin Loon chats with Tan Tarn How about the creation of his plays.

In a span of two decades, Tarn How has written nine plays, several of which have won numerous awards. Collectively, his work examines the socio-political environment and machinations of the Singapore state.

Robin invites Tarn How to chart and reflect on his play-writing journey through a selection of his works – including his first In Praise of Dentist (1986) and his most recent Fear of Writing (2011) – and discuss the relevance of writing for the stage now.

The Living Room is a programme by Centre 42 that welcomes chat and conversation. Through focused but casual dialogues and face-to-face exchanges, this programme encourages participants to re-examine trends, happenings, people (on & off-stage) and phenomena in Singapore theatre.

Dr. Robin Loon chats with Singaporean playwright Tan Tarn How about his plays. In a span of two decades, Tan Tarn How has written nine plays, several of which have won numerous awards. Collectively, his work examines the socio-political environment and machinations of the Singapore state. The 100-minute Living Room Chat has been repackaged into a 4-part video recording.

Tan Tarn How (1960-) has, at various points in his life, been a teacher, a journalist, a scriptwriter and a research fellow. However, he is best known as one of Singapore’s landmark playwrights with his bold, award-winning works which have certainly pushed boundaries over the years.

Read more about Tan’s life through the plays he penned and some selected milestones.