Playwright's Professional Development Residency 2024 - 2026

Artist Statement:

I am excited to dig deep into finding my voice as a writer, experimenting with different entry points to writing and drawing from diverse sources of inspiration so as to push my own writing practice. I’m also keen to explore different forms and genres, using this space and time to play with various ways of telling stories and finding out through discussions and sharings how audiences respond to different styles of writing. Lastly, I hope to be challenged by the other writers in this group, to be confronted and questioned and inspired and moved by this collaborative and communal space. Writing can be a lonely endeavour but theatre making itself is ultimately collaborative, and I'm enthusiastic to see how the writing process can be nurtured and shaped through this collaborative aspect.

Artist Statement:

As a playwright enchanted by the magic of words and the wonder of human connection, my words on paper dance between the realms of reality and imagination. I seek to capture the delicate threads of dreams and dilemmas. Joining the resident playwrights program is a chance to immerse myself in a tapestry of creativity and to collaborate with kindred spirits. Through this residency, I hope to go on journey of collective introspection, where we can transform the mundane into the extraordinary, and inspire audiences to see the world through a lens of infinite possibility.

Artist Statement:

I'm at a point in my relationship with writing where I need structure and community to engage with it in a fulfilling way. Being surrounded by other theatre practitioners and playwrights has always been an important part of my process as a writer - because when artists get together, magic happens! And very few things excite my imagination more than discussing the craft of playwriting and its place in the world. 

It is my hope that by joining this residency, that I will be able to find new ways of telling old stories; ways that can attract new audiences and provoke new lines of thinking. 

Artist Statement:

I consider myself an early-career theatre practitioner, and it's very humbling to be in the same company as these group of individuals. I'm excited to be inspired by them and also be part of a process where we help each other find what we are looking for as creators.

For me, I look forward to going beyond what I'm accustomed to as a writer and unlock possibilities I've never dreamt of. I also see this as a space where my values and opinions about writing can be challenged and re-shaped, and from here, to have a broadened perspective about what my voice as a playwright is in relation to society.

Residents, together with the residency facilitators, meet to read and discuss plays to hone in on questions of craft, politics, artistry, and their personal point of view. This culminates in a public sharing of writing at the end of the chapter.

• May - Jul 2024
  Weekly meetings to read and discuss plays, issues, and topics in playwriting. There will be a one-week break after every three weeks.

• Aug 2024
  Studio time where residents develop writing and presentations for the end-of-chapter public sharing

• 14 Sep 2024
  End-of-chapter public sharing

• Sep 2024
  Break! 

The residency hones in on a line of creative inquiry that’s shaped by the desires and interests of the group, continuing the work of reading, discussing, and writing. Weekly meetings will take place to discuss craft-related issues and aspirations, and include engaging with guest speakers via masterclasses and artist-talks. This culminates in a public sharing at the end of the chapter.

• Oct - Nov 2024
  Weekly meetings to read and discuss creative works, issues, and topics in the field of writing. There will be a one-week interval after every three weeks.

• Dec 2024
  Break!

   

• 22 Mar 2025
  End-of-chapter public sharing

   

• Jan - Mar 2025
  Studio time where residents develop writing and presentations for the end-of-chapter public sharing.

• Apr 2025
  Debrief and break!

The second year gives writers time and space to develop a full length work from idea to a finished draft. The play will be presented as a dramatized reading at the end of the year. The residency structure will focus on group support and critique of these plays, and also expand to provide writers with more tailored support, e.g. engaging with mentors, community groups, shadowing professional processes etc.

• May - Jul 2025
  Writers present their play ideas and research, and kickstart the writing process. Weekly meetings will focus on bringing in pages for critique.

• Aug 2025
  Writing break to work towards a first draft of the play.

• Sep - Nov 2025
  Writers meet to read and critique their first drafts, working towards a second draft.

• Nov - Dec 2025
  Dramaturgical workshops.

• Dec 2025
  Break!

• Jan - Mar 2026
  Final studio meetings to refine the play, rehearsals for the dramatized readings, and end-of-residency presentations.

Coming soon!

My experience in the Playwrights’ Development Programme has been one of deep growth, reflection, and discovery. Across the two years, I have come to understand playwriting not simply as an act of storytelling, but as an ongoing process of inquiry, one that requires patience, openness, and a willingness to sit with uncertainty. The programme provided a meaningful structure for this process, offering both the time and the space to develop my work with intention.

A significant part of this journey has been shaped by the people I encountered along the way. The conversations, feedback sessions, and shared experiences with fellow playwrights have sharpened my thinking and expanded my understanding of what playwriting can be. Engaging with others’ works has strengthened my own critical lens, while receiving feedback has helped me to better articulate and refine my artistic intentions.

What stands out most to me, however, is the environment cultivated by Centre 42. Beyond the formal aspects of the programme, there is a deep and genuine sense of care that runs through everything they do. It is rare to find a space where artists are not only challenged, but also held with such generosity and belief. There is an understanding that writing can be fragile, and that growth takes time, and this is met with patience, encouragement, and trust. The sense of community within the residency has been profoundly meaningful. Over time, the cohort became more than just a group of participants; it became a space of shared commitment, openness, and support. There is a quiet but powerful sense that we are not creating in isolation, but alongside one another.

I leave this programme with a stronger sense of myself as a playwright, but more importantly, with a deep appreciation for the community that has made this journey possible. The love, care, and support I have experienced here will stay with me long after the residency ends.

The Playwright’s Professional Development Residency is a well-supported development programme that takes a holistic approach to the craft of playwriting. Through a mixture of readings, workshops and discussions, us residents were exposed to and pushed to engage with theory, technique and voice in a manner that was both wide-ranging and in-depth. 

All of the credit goes to the facilitation led by Joel and Jean, who made it a point to tailor the content to our needs - both on an individual and group level. As a resident, I felt empowered to ask questions and make requests when it came to what I needed out of the programme, and have come out of it with a better understanding of my identity and needs as an artist. 

The programme isn’t just concerned with how to write. It also paid attention to the whats and whys - what are we drawn to as writers, why is this particular idea so important in this present moment, what does it mean to be a Singaporean writer in the current local and global climate? These topics came up organically throughout the residency, and were further supported by invited guests such as Alfian Sa’at, Jo Kukathas and Zizi Azah Majid, who either ran workshops or held artist talks to discuss their practice. 

The ratio of 2:1 between residents and mentors was also instrumental to cultivating a sense of safety as well as support in the group. The small group size created a conducive space where I didn't feel like I had to compete to have my voice heard, or given ample time to receive feedback for my work. 

Also: nothing brings people together like the shared anxiety of presenting a new piece of writing every few months! Having so many opportunities to present work throughout the process was definitely a valuable experience. Not only did it allow us to put our learnings into practice, it also gave us the chance to work with actors, which opened up new dimensions to our discussions and process.

Overall, PPDR is a programme I would definitely recommend to any playwright who is looking to develop not just their craft, but also to figure out the stories that only they can tell. It is incredibly rare to find a programme that is as flexible and well-supported as this one, and I know that I will refer back to the lessons I’ve learnt throughout this process for many years to come. 

This residency empowered us to explore, to take risks, and to fail, which are all necessary when creating new work. I was also instilled with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility; to always be sure about what my voice was as a writer and to be accountable to that voice through my creative choices. It’s rare to have a platform that focuses more on developing the writers process rather than a final piece of work. I sincerely hope that this programme will continue or more programmes of a similar nature would exist in the industry to allow emerging practitioners to fearlessly hone their craft.