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A joint release by Drama Box and Pagesetters Services
For immediate release
30 Keywords to celebrate 30 years of Drama Box
Homegrown theatre group Drama Box has crossed its first 30-year mark. To document the different aspects of their approach to theatre-making over the three decades, it has been working with Pagesetters Services on Drama Box 30 Keywords, a publication based on 30 keywords conceptualised by the editor Quah Sy Ren.
The book features 30 essays based on the selected keywords, and comes in English and Chinese editions, both to be launched on 26 February 2022.
Tracing the development of Drama Box from its beginnings in the 1990s, its venture into community theatre, its incubatory platform “Blanc Space”, its shift from Chinese-language theatre, to its social engagement, cross-sectoral and educational work, besides illustrating the history of Drama Box, the essays also offer an understanding of Drama Box within the Singapore theatre communities it has engaged with and the society at large.
Much has been said about the depth of its engagement with public audiences through community theatre, multilingual and site-specific performances, and the relevance to the concerns of society and individuals.
“The company is not only a creator of theatre works, but also engages in reflection on the artist’s avant-garde spirit, manifested and developed into concrete action to deeply engage society and change the less-than-ideal status quo,” says Quah.
Drama Box is humbled to have its story put together by the different friends and collaborators who have been part of its journey over the 30 years. This thoughtful undertaking involves the wits and writing of 24 contributors, including critics such as Clarissa Oon and Corrie Tan, academics such as Charlene Rajendran, Ng How Wee, Robin Loon and Yeo Min Hui, practitioners such as Chong Gua Khee, Neo Hai Bin and Shawn Chua, as well as producers such as Mok Cui Yin.
With this publication, members of the public can now be privy to the consolidation of Drama Box’s approach and pedagogy. For a limited time from 7 till 26 February, Drama Box 30 Keywords is available for advance order via dramabox30.pagesetters.com.sg at a promotional price, with bundle and donation options available for those who wish to support Drama Box.
Special guests to speak on a panel to celebrate book launch
To celebrate the launch, six speakers who have been integral parts of Drama Box at different junctures will be speaking on a panel discussion, about their journey with the theatre group, each based on a keyword from the book, and their imagination of Drama Box’s future.
Speakers: Adib Kosnan, Kwek Jim See, Lee Shyh Jih, Li Xie, Peh Ching Her & Tan Chong Boon
Moderated by Koh Hui Ling and Kok Heng Leun, Co-Artistic Directors of Drama Box
Drama Box working on two more publications
Drama Box 30 Keywords is the first of three publications about the work of Drama Box to be launched. The theatre group is also working with Performance Research Books on Changing Places: Drama Box and the Politics of Space, jointly edited by Charlene Rajendran and Richard Gough.
Readers can also expect an English edition of Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore, an investigation on how theatre practitioners in Singapore negotiate for artistic autonomy and practise cultural intervention, originally written in Chinese by Dr Ng How Wee, to be launched in 2023.
Media Enquiries: Amanda Leong amanda@dramabox.org
Sales and Distribution Enquiries: Ng Kah Gay ngkahgay@pagesetters.com.sg
DETAILS
Drama Box 30 Keywords
Edited by Quah Sy Ren
Drama Box 30 Keywords illustrates the history of Drama Box through keywords. The intention is to understand Drama Box and Singapore theatre and society in a more focused way based on these themes. In the process, the definition of the keywords in their various social and cultural contexts can be used to discuss Drama Box’s performances and activities. Perhaps more meaningful is that, conversely, the creative, groundbreaking theatre and social practice of Drama Box, positioned within the relevant era for a historicised examination, add new meaning to the keywords or expand their established categories.
Advance order period
7 – 26 February 2022
From $42.80
Available via dramabox30.pagesetters.com.sg
Launch event
26 February 2022
Streamed live from National Gallery, on facebook.com/dramabox and youtube.com/dramabox
3.00pm Opening address by Quah Sy Ren and Kok Heng Leun
3.30pm Panel Discussion: Drama Box 30 Keywords – Our Past, Present and Future
4.30pm Q&A
5.00pm End
Panel Discussion: Drama Box 30 Keywords – Our Past, Present and Future
Jerzy Grotowski once said that an arts group must reinvigorate its creativity every five years. Taking a leaf from his words, Drama Box has remained conscious about not resting on its laurels, and would have gone through six cycles of such renewal. Hence it has invited six special friends, each of them intimately connected with Drama Box at different phases, to talk about their journey with Drama Box based on selected keywords from the book, and their imagination of what Drama Box’s future can be.
Speakers: Adib Kosnan, Kwek Jim See, Lee Shyh Jih, Li Xie, Peh Ching Her & Tan Chong Boon Moderated by Koh Hui Ling and Kok Heng Leun, Co-Artistic Directors of Drama Box
PROFILES
QUAH SY REN
Quah Sy Ren graduated from National Taiwan University (BA), National University of Singapore (MA) and Cambridge University (PhD). He is currently Associate Professor of Chinese literature at the School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University. His research interests include literary and cultural studies, theatre and performance, and the history of Singapore theatre. He is the author of SCENES: Singapore Chinese Language Theatre 1913-2013 (2013), Keywords: Critical Terms for Chinese Literary Study (co-written, 2008), and Gao Xingjian and Transcultural Chinese Theater (2004). He has also edited several literary anthologies including Memorandum: A Sinophone Singapore Short Story Reader (co-edited, 2020), Literary Phenomena 2016: A Collection of Lianhe Zaobao Literary Writings (2017), SCENES: An Anthology of Contemporary Singapore Chinese Language Plays (co-edited, 2010), and The Complete Works of Kuo Pao Kun (2005-2012).
DRAMA BOX
Founded in 1990, Drama Box is a socially-engaged theatre company known for creating works that inspire dialogue, reflection and change. By shining a spotlight on marginalised narratives and making space for the communal contemplation of complex issues, it seeks to tell stories that provoke a deeper understanding of Singapore’s culture, history and identity.
Drama Box is a charity and Institution of Public Character (IPC) registered in Singapore, supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period of April 2020 to March 2023.
PAGESETTERS SERVICES
Pagesetters Services is a content specialist focusing on print and digital publications.
Our work is driven by powerful concepts derived from a deep understanding of our clients. With our network of trusted collaborators, we build each project to reach its defined audience.
We are the proud owner of the Ethos Books imprint, an independent publisher of non-fiction, fiction and poetry.