Spotlights at Twilight

Written by: Athena Lim (19-A4)

Designed by: Athena Lim (19-A4)

Under the dimming daylight, a small booth was being set up at the Atria. This was Drama’s in-house production, titled ‘Family: A Work in Progress’.

A small queue of people formed to collect their refreshments for the night, before heading for the stone tables outside LT1, where rows of chairs were arranged. As seats filled up, illuminated only by the amber glow of the lamp and fairy lights, the scene was set before us: a wheelchair-ridden grandmother and her daughter. A flash of the spotlight and the audience fell silent, as the play came to life. ‘Imperfect Family Recipes’, follows a family of three: a once sprightly grandmother left paralysed by a stroke, an exhausted mother, and a busy grandson tied to a family recipe for soy sauce chicken doomed to be lost. Behind the barrier of Grandmother’s stroke-slurred speech were her dreams and inner thoughts, a representation of communication, and the evolution of a family over time. This was a performance of raw emotions, exemplified by the cosy lighting and masterful audio effects that truly brought the play to life before us.

And just like that, the first play came to a close. In a playful twist of continuity, we were shepherded to the Dance Studio, with a cheerful invitation of ‘Curry puffs cold already!’ This was ‘In the Repair Shop’: two teenagers yearning for independence, with two different family dynamics. With the ever relatable topic of parent and child relationships, this play showcased different family dynamics, between judgemental and overprotective parents. Ultimately, though, this play was a heartwarming one, reaching a beautiful understanding between parent and child.

When we emerged from the dance studio, the sky had turned dark, and we were led to the amphitheatre. This was ‘Waste’, the last play of the day. We were rapidly eased into the setting – Peter Lee, a tour guide giving tours about Singapore’s waste management, humourously poking fun at his job: like a ‘tape recorder liddat: just press play’, and even breaking the fourth wall to acknowledge the subtitles. This humour gave way to the internal conflict about his familial relationships, manifesting as the personalities of his (ex) wife and his (deceased) mother. Through flashbacks and the seamless blend of humourous and poignant moments, the play eventually came to a melancholic conclusion.

Overall, this performance was certainly one not to be missed – pushing the boundaries of performance, and pulling together stunning acting and effects, for a night of entertainment that’s worth the time!

Light the Way: Kaleidoscope

Written by Aloysius Tng (19-U4), Athena Lim (19-A4), Dillon Phang (19-I4), Lee Keng Yan (19-U1)

Designed by Athena Lim (19-A4)

Interviewer: Athena Lim (19-A4)

Photographs by: Ang Wei Ning, Asher Tan, Goh Jun Xuan, Lee Shao Yeap, Yau Yu Hao from EJ Media

Five torches came together to create a resplendent light, a majestic performance as one Eunoia. The Performing Arts CCAs truly outdid themselves.

On 11th May, Eunoia Junior College saw our third College Day, at the University Cultural Centre (UCC). The ceremony itself began at 4pm in the afternoon, the proceedings graced by the guest of honour Mr Christopher de Souza, the school administrative board, and of course the freshly minted alumnus. As the next batch of Eunoians looked on, the alumnus received their due awards, Eunoia Shining on a much grander stage. But the true highlight was arguably the performance that came after, showcasing all five of our Performing Arts CCAs: Chinese Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Dance, Drama and Choir. They came together both onstage, to present a performance that wowed the audience, and offstage.

Right before the start of the concert, our interviewer, Athena Lim, met with Arethea Lim (18-U2) from Drama, Lim Yuling (18-A1) from CO, Karis Goh (18-A3) from Choir, Rachel Lim (18-I3) from Dance, and Leslie Yip(19-I4) from Band, representatives from each CCA to find out more about their thoughts before the performance and to uncover the long road each CCA travelled to finally reach here.

The performance certainly contained several unforgettable moments, for the audience and for the performers themselves. When asked about her favourite part of the performance, Rachel from Dance said “My favourite part of the dance performance is the mass jump, where all the J1’s,  J2’s and the teachers are dancing together.” She felt that it was in this moment where she could feel the interconnectedness in every dancer, teacher and student alike, and this interconnectedness is what she had hoped to bring to the audience through her dance. Karis, on the other hand, said her favourite moment was the curtain call. That moment, when all the performers and stage hands came together as one family, was to her the most heartening and memorable moment, which she hopes everyone will keep close to their hearts.

Light the Way certainly held a lot of meaning to the CCAs who had to ensure that their performances fit the theme of the concert. While Leslie felt that their performance items did not link to the theme directly, he certainly felt that the process leading up to the performance did, with every member having the determination and perseverance to push through, his claim that it “really embodie(d) how we push(ed) through despite all the hardships to light the way”. Karis concurred, feeling that it was the process that mattered as they were a small orchestra and had to push themselves and persevere to the very end.

To many of them, this performance also offered a kind of closure, as it would be the last time that both batches would be performing together before the J2’s start preparing for their ‘A’ levels. Yuling also wished to convey a feeling of inspiration to the audience as this College Day did not come easy to all the Performing Arts groups, and hopes the audience will know how much this performance means to each and every performing arts CCA. Despite being a relatively new junior college, she wants to put Eunoia and Eunoians on the stage, and was extremely proud of how far they’d come. Leslie agreed with this, wanting to prove that Eunoia is more than able to stand, even though it is a new school.

She also hoped that the audience will be able to be engaged in the performance and receive the emotions of the pieces. With how much hard work the orchestra has put in over several months, she hopes that the audience can see the fruits of their hard work and appreciate the performance.

Karis mentions that the favourite piece she performed was O Sapientia. One reason was because of the sentimental value within this piece, as the very last piece she performed after her 10 year journey in Choir. It is also a very unique piece as it involves percussion noises on top of singing. She says, “We have parts where our hands will be clapping or shuffling to make percussive noises to add to the music, and it adds a lot to the mood and meaning of the song.”

Before we concluded the interview, we asked them how they felt about working together in one performance. To them, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to work together, in one common setting, with so many other performers and performing groups. This performance provided them with a platform to showcase to the rest of the school their hard work and passion, and possibly for them to show greater appreciation for the Performing Arts.

Though the day has passed, the performers truly did Light the Way. Blazing the trail for their juniors, their contributions and their day in the spotlight will never be forgotten.

To everyone who came down to UCC to support your fellow Eunoians, thank you! See you at next year’s College Day!

Light the Way: From Page to Stage

Written by: Alyssa Minjoot (19-I1), Chong Tien Ee (19-E3), Lee En Tong (19-U2)

Designed by: Athena Lim (19-A4)

Photograph taken by: Jacey Teoh (18-E1)

Interviewees: Alayna Yap (19-I4), Anastasia Lin (19-U4), Elizabeth Low (19-E5), Eunice Ling (19-E6), Laetitia Tay (19-E6), Chanel Wong (18-I4), Freya Keertikar (18-U1), Kimmie Tan (18-E3), Lek Siang Ern (18-U1), Lim Rei Enn (18-I4)

With less than a day to College Day, we await in eager anticipation and present to you the final performing arts group, Drama Club. As aptly embodied in the title ‘From Page to Stage’, the Drama Club has spent this year working together with one another to ensure that they brought their creative visions to life. They tell the story of our newly established yet deeply rooted school culture in the form of their play, ‘Project Mooncake’. Their exciting, meaningful and impactful play details a story about the 5 houses of Eunoia on the quest to be the first to find a treasure. With the help of rather mischievous nymphs, the 5 houses overcome multiple adversities and strive towards the common vision of #eunoiashining.

To the Drama Club, this performance reflects the college’s unity and the extremely pervasive team spirit that is inherent in every one of us. It casts the spotlight on all our different personalities and groups to create a singular, cohesive unit where every member has a unique and important role to play, much like the college experience itself.

#beginningwithadream

For the Drama Club, their vision for the play truly did begin with a dream. In the early stages of brainstorming, they knew they wanted a production that was colourful and larger than life, a play that could transport the audience to another dimension. With this in mind, the Drama Club formed their narrative centred around the animal mascots of the five houses, focusing on the unique and defining qualities of each house.

The process of conceptualising the play not only developed the Drama Club members’ creative capacity, but also allowed them to delve deeply into the world of theatre, while fostering strong and close-knit bonds with one another. They learnt invaluable theatre lessons, such as being aware of their presence on stage, to take risks, and step out of their comfort zones to take on the dynamic rules as best as they could. At the same time, the countless hours spent labouring in rehearsals strengthened the ties between the CCA members and undoubtedly etched unforgettable memories of teamwork and camaraderie in their minds. As one J2 said, she will forever remember the immense joy of being able to work with and act with her favourite people.

As with preparing for any performance, the Drama Club’s road to College Day has been fraught with challenges. Preparing for a play is hard work, let alone the behind the scenes preparations of props and costumes. Furthermore, this challenge was compounded by the fact that Drama is a small CCA, and they were working with limited manpower. They acknowledge that it was only with dedication and practice that they managed to make their group movements more fluid and synchronised.   Fortunately, everyone came together and put in their best effort to help out and put on the best performance they could.

After months of hard work, the Drama Club will finally reap the fruits of their labour during what will definitely be an unforgettable College Day performance. The J2s summed up their performance in one sentence, “the audience can look forward to a comedic performance that captures the essence of this year’s College Day theme, ‘Light the Way’ while imagining the founding of the 5 houses in a theatrical way”. ‘Project Mooncake’ is also the J1’s first ever production, making the experience all the more special. Their hope is that everyone will “enjoy the effort they have invested into the show” and we are sure the audience will!

We, for one, cannot wait to witness their creative expression come to life at the College Day concert and we are sure that it will be a crowd favourite!

Remember to get your tickets for the College Day and head on down to University Cultural Centre at 7.30pm this Saturday, 11 May. See you there!

 

 

Revealing what Eunoians truly think of the Arts!

Photo credit: Sandra Tan Jia Ying

The Arts. What does this word elicit whenever it crosses your mind? Boring? Meaningless? Or according to a General Paper question – A luxury only the rich can afford?

You might have come across a survey titled “The Arts or Nah” whereby the Origin* sought to find out what were the general sentiments the school had towards the Arts. Wondering what the responses turned out like?

From 3 simple questions, the results turned out somewhat shocking. Judging from the responses of question 1 and 2, Eunoians seemed to hardly engage in Arts-related activities.

BUT here’s the catch. Although the response to the first two questions might cause one to jump to the conclusion that Eunoians have no concern for the Arts, the response to the third question dispels such notion. The reesponses reveal that majority of Eunoians believed that the Arts actually do improve their personal quality of life, telling us that Eunoians would attend Arts related events if not for the reasons hindering them in question 2.

Fear not! The Origin* presents solutions to deal with the top 3 problems hindering Eunoians from attending Arts events:

1. I’m way too busy! How does one even find time to dress up and attend fancy concerts that last 2-3 hours?

Do not stereotype Arts events as glitzy theatre productions with elaborate sets, luxurious venues and the need to dress up. We acknowledge that there are a good deal of Arts events that are of this nature, such as the recent American Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake. But in all honesty, the bulk of the Arts events in Singapore are informal in nature, held in an informal setting and last for a maximum of an hour. This gives you the freedom to pop by after school for a refreshing hour’s break before heading back to study.

“WHAT, that can’t be true!” Is this your response? Well let’s list some examples!

Check out the Esplanade Outdoor open theatre or the Esplanade Concourse for performances nearly every Friday night and the weekends. #TGIF! There is always something going on, whether it is the Hua Yi Chinese Festival that features Chinese dance and music, the Indian Festival of the Arts, or even a junior college/secondary school band!

If the Esplanade still seems too inconvenient, don’t forget Singapore’s first UNESCO world heritage site – the Botanical Gardens. Surrounded by a lily pond, the Shaw Foundation symphony stage is home to countless symphonic band performances, dance showcases and many many more! What’s more, Botanical Gardens MRT is merely a few stops away from Buona Vista MRT station (closest MRT station to EJC).

Lastly, if you happen to be patrolling the CBD area during the weekends, drop by the National Gallery Singapore, which is merely a stone’s throw from City Hall MRT Exit B. Apart from the eye-popping, jaw-dropping facade of British Colonial architecture, the National Gallery features classical music performances on their iconic Red Piano, as well as contemporary dances from various dance institutions around Singapore. What’s more? There are a couple of free Visual Arts exhibitions such as those sponsored by DBS, which feature works by renowned Artists Georgette Chen and Liu Kang. These Artists played a pivotal role in capturing snapshots of Singapore’s history during the colonial era when film and photography had yet to become a commonality.
2. I can’t afford anything! The tickets to concerts always cost more than $20!

Don’t get the wrong idea that all Arts events end up leaving a hole in your pocket. In fact, there are a ton of Arts events that are free-of-charge in Singapore. Take the Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA) which occurs from the end of April to May as an example. Apart from all the glitzy stage productions, SIFA features free events such “Jacob Collier on Harmony and Groove”, “Deciphering the operatic Cadence of rhythm and Meter”, “Verses of Love and Life, Selected poems of Taha Muhammad Ali”, “Sky Kave Performances” and many more!

Aside from SIFA, here is a list of website links to source for Arts-related events:

https://www.gillmanbarracks.com/ntu-cca-singapore

https://theprojector.sg/filmsandevents/

https://www.nationalgallery.sg/

http://nationalmuseum.sg/

https://www.objectifs.com.sg/

https://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/exhibitions/current.html

https://www.sistic.com.sg/

https://peatix.com/?lang=en-sg

https://www.eventbrite.sg/

http://sagg.info/events/

https://www.sifa.sg/

https://www.esplanade.com/whats-on/highlights

 

3. I have no interest in the Arts at all

Do not feel bad. Treat this as an opportunity to open yourself to a new, unexplored world! Usually, people who claim they have no interest in the Arts are not anomalies of society, but rather have not had ample exposure to the beauty of the Arts.

Well you are in luck. EJC is holding our second Humanities and Aesthetics Week during the last week of April. Aside from supporting your friends in Arts-related groups, truly be in the moment and approach every performance/exhibition with an open mind.

If you are watching a dance performance, ask yourself: Why do the dancers choose to adopt certain facial expressions? How do they manage to move in sync? Is there any significance in the formations they adopt? How do they move to the beats of the music?

If you are listening to a music performance, ask yourself: Why do the musicians choose to play some parts at a louder volume and other parts at a softer volume? How do different musicians work together in an ensemble? What are the unique sonorities of each instrument that give it its unique sound?

If you are watching a drama performance, ask yourself: How does the stage set-up convey the mood of the setting? How do the actors convey the emotions of characters through inflections of their voice? How do the actors project their voices? How do they use stage props to enhance their performance?

If you are viewing a Visual Arts exhibition, ask yourself: What different brush strokes do the Artists use to bring across certain textures? Is Visual Arts solely restricted to drawing? What other mediums do Artists use? Where did the Artist get their inspiration from?

Above all, the big umbrella question you should be asking is: What is the larger message all the Art forms are trying to convey?

In a nutshell, all Art forms are a means of communicating feelings, thoughts, ideas through an abstract way where words cannot suffice. There is almost always something deeper behind every work of Art beyond its superficial facade of being a form of self-entertainment. It involves ploughing through one’s inner deep feelings It is the Artist’s job to bring his/her personal touch to their chosen Art form and this is precisely the reason why people come to enjoy engaging in the Arts.

 

CCA in the Spotlight – Drama

Photo credit: Jayden Sim Hong Kai

Interviewee: Satini Sankeerthana

What is an average CCA session like?
Keerthana: For the first half an hour or so, we do warm-ups which are of a few types namely, vocal, physical and games which require concentration like splat for example. After which, if there are any productions or performances coming up, we split up into our committees and get the work done. If there aren’t any events coming up, then we do group or individual activities like acting or freeze frame and sharings (sometimes) about drama and theater in general so we are equipped with skills about backstage work as well. Lastly, we have a debrief.

What do you enjoy most about your CCA?
Keerthana: Definitely Interacting with people and the synergy among the members! It really hypes me up! And that’s why CCA is one thing I look forward to even on long days as I feel that’s when my energy level automatically shoots up! Also, everyone in Drama is really friendly and we have a lot of funny memories together. I also enjoy playing the games and dancing during warm ups sometimes and most of all acting!

As seniors, what is your CCA looking out for in prospective members?
Keerthana: We look out for people who are committed, responsible and hard working, as we believe that although acting skills or expertise with regards to backstage are important, they can still be learnt and improved over time once you join us, but the right attitude and mindset towards acting or CCA as a whole is really important for our dynamics and in order to get the work done.

What do you think was the highlight for your CCA last year?
Keerthana: OUR VERY FIRST PRODUCTION!! “PEOPLE” It really taught us a lot and there were ups and downs along the journey and I personally have learnt a lot of skills not only pertaining to the sets( I was head of sets) but also life skills such as teamwork and coordination. It was also very exciting as some of us did not have any prior background knowledge or experience, for example, it was some of the actors’ first time on stage and it was my first time doing sets!

CCA information (Timing, achievements, etc)
Wednesdays from 3.30-6.30 and Fridays 3.00-6.00pm.

Do you have a penchant for owning the stage? Think your up for the challenge to embody different characters? Or even manage stage lighting and design? Head over to the drama club and find out more!

Being Haresh Sharma

Being Haresh Sharma

Presented by: The Necessary Stage in collaboration with Cake Theatrical Productions 

Directed by Natalie Hennedige

Being Haresh Sharma is a work that looks at Haresh’s body of writing over 30 years. It makes bold, unexpected links and associations, mapping stories and characters in ways that surface the social, political and spiritual aspects of life here; bringing it all together with unexpected and exciting performance energy, sparking new ways of looking at his words and of experiencing performance and theatre.

(Synopsis taken from http://www.necessary.org/index.php/main-season )

Mr Haresh Sharma came down to Eunoia Junior College, delivering a talk during Deep Dive Day 4 about being a playwright in Singapore. One point which resonated deeply with me was how Mr Sharma often sought to bring in various controversies and perspectives in his plays, many of which are unpredictable leaving the audience with mixed feelings (I’m sure those who attended the talk would feel the same way).

I was so intrigued by the talk to the point where I actually wanted to watch a full length play written by him (not kidding!). So when the opportunity arose, I dragged my sister along with me to catch “Being Haresh Sharma” last Sunday.

“Being Haresh Sharma” was not written by Mr Sharma, but comprised of a collation of his multiple works. The play was split into about 7 parts* with each part being a mini play focused on a specific theme. For example, Detention, Grief, Sickness and many more.

I came to the performance without expecting much. After all,  I had never watched any of Mr Sharma’s plays before. The play started off in a lighthearted manner as it poked fun at the founding of Singapore by Sang Nila Utama and Sir Stamford Raffles. As the play progressed, the stories got darker, exploring themes such as the detention of suspected political opposers by the government, the relationships between foreign maids and the families they serve, and suicide. One thing that struck me was the unexpected plot twists throughout the play. Occasionally, there were times where I could only grasp the gist of the play. There were also certain disturbing scenes (A girl whom I believe was a prostitute describing how she had sex with a black sailor to another prostitute. Another scene was when a son tried to kill his mother.) which left me feeling quite uncomfortable.

I had numerous questions regarding the play when it ended. Who was the protagonist? Who was the antagonist? What happened in the end? All these were very vague and unclear at times. For example, the resolution to the conflict presented in the play was ambiguous, leaving the audience to infer and guess how the story ended.

Overall, I felt that the play was indeed an eye-opener and a very unique experience for me. In all honesty, I could not translate my feelings about the play into spoken words. I could not decide whether I was disturbed by the controversies or just relieved that there was an ambiguous close to the conflict. But one thing I am sure, is that I will definitely be back to watch more of Mr Sharma’s plays!

I guess, this is why the Arts exists. It evokes emotions in a human being that are inexpressible by words. It leads us into exploring a separate dimension of life. It enriches the soul.

“Being Haresh Sharma” is longer being shown but you can always look out for his other plays in future!