ARTICLE

Wild@Home: A New Initiative by WILD RICE

By Chen Shun / 21 Apr 2020 (Tuesday)

Singapore’s leading theatre company, Wild Rice, has announced the launch of WILD@Home, its new initiative to bring together audiences and artists in the wake of strict circuit-breaking measures.

Through Wild@Home, this newly created initiative, they wish to not only entertain audiences but also to assist budding artist, directors and writers in more ways than one. Let us take a look at how Wild Rice is planning to execute this initiative.

1. Entertaining Audiences At Home

Through WILD@Home, Wild Rice will be screening three of its most successful and popular shows online. Each show will only be available for seven days via Wild Rice’s Youtube channel. So catch it or miss it! Every Thursday at 9PM, audiences are invited to participate in a live talkback with the artists involved in each show too!

EMILY OF EMERALD HILL

Streaming from 24 April (Friday), 7.30PM
Live Talkback: 30 April (Thursday), 9.00PM

Synopsis: Who is Emily Gan? Is she a heroine or a villain? A woman ahead of her time, or a woman trapped by tradition? Ivan Heng, directed by long-time collaborator Glen Goei, brings to life one of Singapore theatre’s most iconic and complex characters in this critically acclaimed, definitive production of Stella Kon’s classic play.

SUPERVISION

Streaming from 1 May (Friday), 7.30PM
Live Talkback: 7 May (Thursday), 9.00PM

Synopsis: Teck has just suffered a stroke that leaves him wheelchair-bound. When he insists on moving back home, Jenny, his no-nonsense daughter, hires a young Indonesian domestic worker, Yanti, to look after him. Darkly funny and profoundly moving, Thomas Lim’s Supervision examines the complicated dynamics of love, family and privacy in a Singapore where foreign workers have become our primary care-givers.

MONKEY GOES WEST

Streaming from 8 May (Friday), 7.30PM
Live Talkback: 14 May (Thursday), 9.00PM

Synopsis: When orphan Ah Tang runs away from home, he finds himself transported to a strange land where he befriends Wukong, Pigsy and Sandy. Together, the fearless foursome embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Winner of the 2015 Straits Times Life! Award for Production of the Year, Alfian Sa’at’s hilarious and heartwarming musical adaptation of the classic Chinese fantasy is perfect for the whole family!

2. THEATRE DIRECTOR RESIDENCIES

Wild Rice will be offering online development programmes designed to nurture and support theatre practitioners who are seeking a new venture to hone their skills.

One of the core focus for this initiative includes four residencies offering grants of up to $10,000 for aspiring and emerging directors to create and present a production in Wild Rice’s Studio Theatre under Ivan Heng’s mentorship.

Under this intensive and stimulating residency with Wild Rice, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Ivan Heng, Wild Rice’s Founding Artistic Director, as you work towards creating a show of your own. He will support, challenge and encourage you – from the first moment of conceptualisation, all the way through to rehearsals and until the curtain goes up on your show.

Image: Ivan Heng

Successful applicants will be awarded a grant of up to $10,000 to translate their vision into reality – in the form of three performances before audiences in Wild Rice’s Studio Theatre. Wild Rice will also provide each applicant with all necessary technical support as well as access to rehearsal spaces.

Interested candidates should submit the following to Wild Rice’s representative at bbkoh@wildrice.com.sg:

- Latest CV
- A brief bio including any relevant theatre credits (200 words max)
- Proposal for a production of a play of your choosing, including your concept and how you feel it speaks to the contemporary moment, addresses under-explored issues and/or features underrepresented communities.

Deadline: 6 May 2020, 12pm
For short-listed candidates, interviews will take place on 11 and 12 May 2020 via video-conferencing.

3. PLAY-WRITING WORKSHOPS

For other core focus of this initiative, you will get to learn first-hand from WILD RICE’s Resident Playwright, Alfian Sa’at, who will offer one-to-one virtual consultations (via Zoom video-conferencing) to anyone who is writing a play. Whether you’re developing an idea into a script or already have a work in progress, WILD RICE welcomes you to tap on his expertise in playwriting and dramaturgy.

Image: Alfian Sa’at

Consultations will include discussions on how to translate ideas into theatrical form (from character work to crafting conflict and dialogue), relevant recommended readings and script dramaturgy.

Sessions will be tailored to each student and the specific requirements of their script. Applicants should be 18 years of age or older. There are currently 10 slots available, with priority given to freelance members of Singapore’s theatre community.

Interested candidates should submit the following to Wild Rice’s representative at sales@wildrice.com.sg:

- Your e-mail should be titled ‘Virtual Script Consultations’
- Latest CV
- A statement of interest (‘Why I would like to apply for this programme’) in under 200 words.

Deadline: 3 May 2020

Date of Sessions: 4 May to 30 June 2020
Duration: 4 sessions @ 60 mins each (timings to be arranged with Alfian Sa’at)
Fee: $320

For more information, about WILD@Home, you can visit Wild Rice's official website or Facebook.

WILD RICE Wild@Home

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Wild@Home: A New Initiative by WILD RICE

1. Entertaining Audiences At Home

2. THEATRE DIRECTOR RESIDENCIES

3. PLAY-WRITING WORKSHOPS