Dear colleagues,
It gives me great pleasure to invite you to the panel discussion commemorating the launch of my book, Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore: Cultural Intervention and Artistic Autonomy 1990-2006.
Founded in 1990, Drama Box is a socially-engaged theatre company known for creating works that inspire dialogue, reflection and change. Published thirteen years ago in Chinese, Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore: Cultural Intervention and Artistic Autonomy 1990-2006 received critical acclaim for its “comprehensive insight” into cultural policies and “excellent analysis” of the company’s theatre practice which “amplifies the voices of marginalised communities.” Now available in English, it has been updated and edited for a wider readership. To commemorate its publication, you are invited to join us for the live streaming of the book launch and panel discussion as speakers working in theatre, education and academia explore the nexus between theatre and crisis.
Online event:
Title of Panel Discussion: THEATRE AND CRISIS
Date: 9 March 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 0800 to 0930 (UK time)
Language: English
The speakers:
Author: Dr How Wee Ng (Singapore/UK)
Bernice Chan Kwok Wai (Hong Kong)
Sim Yan Ying (Singapore/US)
Moderated by Drama Box’s founder Kok Heng Leun, who plays a pivotal role in the new publication. Speakers are given the following questions as a starting point for this discussion:
- At a time of rising costs, what does it take to practice theatre?
- In a world increasingly driven by social media, mobile devices, and artificial intelligence, how does one engage with the voices of disenfranchised communities in theatre?
- How does climate change challenge or inform the process of artmaking?
- As arts and culture now feature prominently in state agendas for strengthening hegemony, patriotism and soft power, how can theatre practitioners problematise state narratives whilst striking a balance between maintaining artistic autonomy and achieving sustainability?
Please catch the live stream on 9 March via Facebook and YouTube.
Buying the eBook:
More details about how to get a copy will be shared during the launch. The eBook will be available for sale from 9 March 2024. Get a printed copy with a donation to Drama Box. The book was published primarily as an eBook, but we have extremely limited printed copies that are available with a donation. If you’d like to get your hands on one of our 8 printed copies, simply fill in this form by 31 March 2024. Link: https://bit.ly/DBSocialTheatreDonation
If you have any queries related to the book, please write to weare@dramabox.org.We hope to see you online!
Posted by: How Wee Ng <h.ng@westminster.ac.uk>