Inspired by previously unrecorded disabled experience, fictionalised monologues will be presented across multiple languages (spoken/projected/visual), incorporating aesthetics of access. This performance will set an important precedent: the first multilingual, intercultural, disability-led theatre project created between the UK and Singapore.

The Singapore ‘d’ Monologues was developed under Centre 42's Basement Workshop (now known as the Creation Residency). Read about Basement Workshop here.

Development Milestones

March 2017 - May 2018

In-Residence at Basement Workshop

by Centre 42

And Suddenly I Disappear – The Singapore ‘d’ Monologues is in development over two major phases.

Phase 1 (March to October 2017)

The first phase – Research & Development – comprises ground research, intensive workshopping and a work-in-progress showcase.

With a focus on lived experience, the research phase involved a thorough search for stories and experiences of both the disabled and the deaf. Playwright Kate O’Reilly and assistant director Peter Sau conducted interviews discussing issues like love, raising families, hate crime, etc. With O’ Reilly’s 70 over interviews with the disabled in the UK and Peter Sau’s collection of testimonies of the disabled and deaf in Singapore, O’Reilly was able to write a script comprising of a series of fictionalised monologues. The monologue will be delivered using multiple languages – English, Mandarin, Welsh, British Sign Language and Singapore Sign Language.

Phase 2 (May 2018)

Thereafter, the UK arts body UNLIMITED commissioned the project for a full production presentation. In this second phase, the project team further developed the script for staging and touring. The Singapore ‘d’ Monologues will premiere in Singapore on 25 May 2018, before touring to two other cities.

The parallel project, titled: Making A Stand, is a new work envisioned as a verbatim theatre work to be presented in Singapore in July 2018. Learnings from the intensive development phases of The Singapore ‘d’ Monologue’ are integral to the conception and development of this new work. Read more about Making A Stand below.

Making A Stand by Project Tandem

Start: April 2017

30 September – 1 October 2017

Work-in-Progress Showcase at Black Box, Centre 42

Presented to a select group of audience

25-27 May 2018

World premiere of "And Suddenly I Disappear – The Singapore ‘d’ Monologues"

at National Museum Singapore Gallery Theatre

Interviews

14 July 2017

Interview and Conversation with Kaite O’Reilly and Peter Sau

by Gwen Pew

My disability perspective is political and cultural, based on embracing all the possibilities of human variety and seeing us all as equal.
- Kaite O'Reilly

People with visible and/or hidden disability are also trees like you and me. We share the same roots embedded in the soil of humanity where we begin and end our mortal journey,
- Peter Sau

Read more about what Playwright, Kaite O’Reilly has to say in the interview and our conversation with Assistant Director, Peter Sau below.

Different, but same same

Published: 14 July 2017

22 September 2017

Interview with Peter Sau, Kaite O'Reilly and Phillip Zarrilli

by Gwen Pew and Daniel Teo

Not Verbatim Theatre

Peter, Kaite and Phillip take turns explaining their roles as leads in this long-term, transnational project. Peter shares about the research interviews conducted in Singapore. Kaite talks about her decision not to use the stories from the interviews, but to be inspired by them instead in crafting the script. Phillip explains his role as director in guiding this development project. Recorded and edited by Daniel Teo.

Interculturality

Peter, Kaite and Phillip talk about the workshopping process in Centre 42 to prepare for their work-in-progress showcase, and how the work is inclusive in a multitude of ways. Recorded and edited by Daniel Teo.