Programme Synopsis

How do we turn a short story into a play? What types of short stories lend themselves best to stage adaptations? How much liberty are we able to take in the process? Can we subtract characters or add extra dialogues? And is it possible to change the ending?

In this 3-hour workshop, join Wild Rice’s Resident Playwright Alfian Sa’at as he explores these questions. Using Claire Tham’s short story A "Question of Song" as a starting point, he will lead participants through a series of exercises to help them extract the various units of a short story—characters, plot and setting—and reassemble them in the form of a play. By the end of the workshop, participants will have learnt how to uncover the dramatic and theatrical potential of work of prose fiction.

Terms to note:

• This workshop is open to all residents based in Singapore.
• The workshop is conducted in English, and in-person at 42 Waterloo Street, Rehearsal Studio. Unless the prevailing Covid-19 safety measures do not allow.
• This workshop is recommended for writers and those who have basic playwriting experience. Writers may or may not have had their scripts staged before.
• Participants are required to share a brief profile about themselves and their experience here to complete the registration.
• Participants are capped at 18 pax for this workshop. We seek your understanding that allocation will be on a first-come-first-served basis and sign-ups will close when all slots are filled.
• We may record each session (audio-visual recording), solely for the purposes of internal reference and documentation. You acknowledge and provide permission to be recorded during the course sessions.

Participants are deemed to have read and understood the terms listed upon registration.

For enquiries, please email programmes@bookcouncil.sg

Facilitator

Alfian Sa’at is the Resident Playwright of Wild Rice. In 2001, he won the National Arts Council Young Artist Award for Literature. He has been nominated 11 times for Best Original Script at the Life! Theatre Awards, winning for Landmarks (2005), Nadirah (2010), Kakak Kau Punya Laki (Your Sister's Husband, 2014) and Hotel (with Marcia Vanderstraaten, 2016). His plays have been performed in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Melbourne and Berlin.

Cancellation:

The workshop can be cancelled or postponed two weeks before the workshop date if the minimum number of participants is not met. Participants will be fully refunded for workshops cancelled by us.

Participants who are unable to attend a workshop they have registered for are to inform us of the reason two weeks before the workshop date. They will be fully refunded in the event of extenuating and mitigating circumstances (E.g. illness, bereavement, accidents) . Those who inform us up to 5 working days before the workshop date will receive a 50% refund. Those who did not turn up at the workshop will not receive a refund.

Upon registration, you are deemed to have read and understood the cancellation and withdrawal policy and accept the terms contained therein.