Beyond Social Services' The Community Theatre presents its latest offering, The Block Party, at the Esplanade's Theatre Studios as part of M1's Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival.
Unlike The Community Theatre's previous Forum Theatre piece, Sayang, this new devised piece showcases stronger plot devices that differ from Sayang's more naturalistic approach. Directed by Rizman Putra, The Block Party carries the youths' stories through songs, dance and carefully thought out metaphors. The grievances of the rental flats' void decks were presented alongside a break-dancing Flat. The plight of living in a tent was shared during a seemingly innocent "dramatic math" lesson. And the helplessness residents are made to embody to justify their access to various assistance schemes was presented through a re-written H-E-L-P rendition of the renown Hi-5 tune, L-O-V-E.
This is the beauty of The Block Party. Not only does its enjoyable theatrical devices allow the youths to share their stories and tongue-in-cheek opinions, they also serve as an artistic distance, a common worry during the post-show ("after-party") dialogue: if any story from the one-and-a-half years of rehearsal process were left out; and how the youths felt about sharing such experiences. Assistant director, Izzaty Ishak, assures us that only stories that were too identifiable to the individual were left out. In this regard, the devices too do superbly in acknowledging the youths' common experiences and still packing enough truth to resonate.
The docu-performance is not just limited to its sugar-coated songs and dance. Alongside that were the video vignettes of the community's caregivers, sharing the platform with those who could not be there physically. Another hard-hitting of scenes include a re-enactment of the youths having their IDs checked in their own void deck. At which point, a school going audience member was taken aback when the actor checks her bag, and callously remarked, "Nike? Live here still can afford uh?"
The Block Party conjures the spirit of Lengkok Bahru into the traditional theatre space that is Esplanade's Theatre Studio. From its simple white plastic chairs set up in place of the usual studio seats, to the intimate sharing of the actors on- and off-stage, audience members take the plunge in this emotional roller coaster. What a party it is indeed and one can't be more thankful for the invite.
Image retrieved from Artswok Collaborative Facebook page.
Unlike The Community Theatre's previous Forum Theatre piece, Sayang, this new devised piece showcases stronger plot devices that differ from Sayang's more naturalistic approach. Directed by Rizman Putra, The Block Party carries the youths' stories through songs, dance and carefully thought out metaphors. The grievances of the rental flats' void decks were presented alongside a break-dancing Flat. The plight of living in a tent was shared during a seemingly innocent "dramatic math" lesson. And the helplessness residents are made to embody to justify their access to various assistance schemes was presented through a re-written H-E-L-P rendition of the renown Hi-5 tune, L-O-V-E.
This is the beauty of The Block Party. Not only does its enjoyable theatrical devices allow the youths to share their stories and tongue-in-cheek opinions, they also serve as an artistic distance, a common worry during the post-show ("after-party") dialogue: if any story from the one-and-a-half years of rehearsal process were left out; and how the youths felt about sharing such experiences. Assistant director, Izzaty Ishak, assures us that only stories that were too identifiable to the individual were left out. In this regard, the devices too do superbly in acknowledging the youths' common experiences and still packing enough truth to resonate.
The docu-performance is not just limited to its sugar-coated songs and dance. Alongside that were the video vignettes of the community's caregivers, sharing the platform with those who could not be there physically. Another hard-hitting of scenes include a re-enactment of the youths having their IDs checked in their own void deck. At which point, a school going audience member was taken aback when the actor checks her bag, and callously remarked, "Nike? Live here still can afford uh?"
The Block Party conjures the spirit of Lengkok Bahru into the traditional theatre space that is Esplanade's Theatre Studio. From its simple white plastic chairs set up in place of the usual studio seats, to the intimate sharing of the actors on- and off-stage, audience members take the plunge in this emotional roller coaster. What a party it is indeed and one can't be more thankful for the invite.