One Moment In Time
It was the evening of 15th November 1981 that the idea crystallized - to form a group and specialise in children's theatre.
Jasmin, Ruby and I were having tea at Changi Sailing Club. We were at a table by the sea - literally - waves were swirling close to our feet. The late Jumbo, a highly-charged beagle, was weaving in and out amongst the furniture.
The three of us had been part of an experiment in 1979 - MediaCorp, then known as Radio Television Singapore (RTS) had plans to launch local English drama on TV. After attending a 3-month Teledrama Workshop to groom writers and actors, the group of 30 of us, graduates, were offered roles in a couple of programmes, targetted at children. I, in addition, got the opportunity to write for these.
As fate would have it, the Speak Mandarin Campaign was launched in a big way in 1980, and resources went into producing Mandarin programmes for TV.
So the experiment, that we were part of, dissolved bit by bit, only to resurface decades later.
at that moment in time.But the experiment had stirred up the passion in the three of us - passion for theatre, passion to share stories with children.
That evening itself we decided on the name ACT 3 - notice "ACT" is all caps. We have spent a lifetime convincing the media that it is so and has to be so. Still, it often comes out as "Act".
We had no long-term plan or short-term plans. We had no notion it was necessary.
People ask - how come one Chinese, one Malay, one Indian? - so Singapore. It was not by design. Also not by design was the fact that other than acting, the three of us, instinctively, had strengths and were inspired by the spectrum of jobs related to theatre - in my case, writing; Jasmin could create a functioning prop - and I mean this seriously - even from a ball of dust; Ruby had the flair for design that could transform curtain material to a ball gown.
Within two months of that tea by the sea, we would have secured a deal for 10 performances with MPH Bookstores (thanks to Ashley Bala), written the scripts for five different titles, completed production work, rehearsals and staged the first show, under the ACT 3 name, at the Stamford Road Bookshop.
The Journey continues with - A Giant (with a) Headache.
2010. All Rights Strictly Reserved - R Chandran.
Dear, I'm really proud of you. Reading this, reminds me of how I felt when i read your columns in New Paper. Insightful, concise, simple yet textured writing. PLease continue, I'm looking forward to following this journey!
ReplyDeleteinspirational... makes me believe more and more that if u want something, believe in something, and u work towards it, u will be able to achieve great things...
ReplyDeletei am truly lucky to have known u, to still be working with u, and learning from u... it has been a wonderful fruitful experience... :o)
will definitely wait for more stories to come... :o)
Chandran, this is very inspirational. It has been a great honour being able to be part of ACT3, working with you, Ruby and Jasmin.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for your stories! This is 1 blog that I'm going to be checking on a very regular basis!
Petrina
Act 3, was close to my heart as I was privileged to be involved 'during
ReplyDeleteDrama Centre days' helping in ticketing, make-up for casts, etc.etc.
Best times were when all 3 of our kids were so blessed to be able to enjoy and watch most of your shows, be it at Drama Centre, shopping malls, libraries, outdoor in the parks, anywhere and everywhere. Bringing them and observing them so engrossed was fulfilment for me but I must admit that both Rennie and I were also absorbed in the children's plays too. Kudos to you guys and LUCKY us for being at the right place and right time to be witness to your ventures in Act 3.
I am so glad that I got Debbie to join in your venture then. The amount of coaxing and encouraging her has paid off!
NICE. i remember some of the happenings, trials and tribulations you and ACT 3 went through and how you took on this venture fulltime, (leaving one's comfort zone). hope i backed you enough (against all the odds of the times).
ReplyDeleteI and later the family were priviledged to share and enjoy the world of drama,acting and theatre...The children's world of innocence and fun!!
Hi, I was (and still am) a big fan of ACT 3 ... as well as your target audience when you guys first started out. ACT 3 has always been my favourite theatre group and I remember tuning in to Radio One religiously to catch the live storytelling sessions that was broadcast from the bookstore (was it Times or MPH?) on Saturdays, and catching productions at the Drama Centre.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, 20-30 years down the road, I got to know Marianne and Debbie separately under very different circumstances, and only today I know how closely linked they are to ACT 3.
My 2-year old boy has been attending classes at ACT 3 and he's now into his 2nd term.
You guys have done fabulously!