I returned to Singapore September 29th to begin work with a wonderful group of eight actors at the Intercultural Theatre Institute on Kaite O’Reilly’s LIE WITH ME. Performances are scheduled for November 9-12 at the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. Kaite was commissioned to write LIE WITH ME several years ago. Loosely based on and inspired by Schnitzler’s Le Ronde, LIE WITH ME is a series of eight two person ‘encounters’ taking place over an eight month period. O’Reilly has been revising her script to fit the Singapore context since our arrival. O’Reilly’s LIE WITH ME provides a series of moments of connection and/or disconnection. What lies do we tell each other and ourselves in order to survive in an increasingly ‘throw-away’ consumerist society? Are we able to form genuine relationship sin this unstable post-truth world?
I was fortunate to work with this group of actors two years ago—introducing them to the pre-performative training, and beginning to ‘touch’ some of Beckett’s shorter/later plays. This preliminary work two years ago has meant that we were able to ‘hit the ground running’ on arrival. It’s been a sheer pleasure returning to work with the cast that includes: Earnest Hope Tinambacan, Jin Chen, Regina Toon, Ted Nugent Fernandez Tac-an, Theresa Wee-Yenko, Tysha Khan, Wendy Toh, and Nour el Houda Essay (a.k.a. Yiseog).
It’s always wonderful to return to Singapore to work. In 2018 I was in Singapore directing O’Reilly’s And Suddenly I Disappear with a terrific UK/Singapore cast, working closely with lead Singapore artist Peter Sau and Access Path Productions toward the world premiere at the Gallery Theatre at the Singapore National Museum before touring the production to London’s Southbank Centre (Purcell Room) and on UK tour in September, 2018. I am fortunate to have a long-term relationship with ITI, with wonderful memories of teaching and/or directing such major productions as The Water Station (2004) and Attempts on Her Life (2010)—also performed at the Esplanade Theatre Studio.
If you happen to be in Singapore, please join us 7-9 November!!!