• DRAMATURGY IN SINGAPORE •

RESOURCE LIST

• Production Dramaturgy • Pre-Rehearsal •

• Compile Research for the Production •

Adapted from http://www.ups.edu/professionalorgs/dramaturgy/dramrsch.htm

Compiling research for the production involves the sourcing for information pertaining to the play; that is, the world of the play, the world of the playwright, connections between our world and the world of the play, production history, drama criticism, images, sounds and media, and sources, influences and analogues, which will provide the creative team with a deeper and more informed perspective of the play, thus resulting in an honest interpretation and presentation of a play that is applicable to the target audience. This page not only seeks to provide some useful guidelines for conducting research using the Singapore National Library Board (NLB) catalogue, but also offers links to a selected list of relevant resources; i.e. books, web pages, and that would be helpful for a local theatre company.

ONE: World of the Play

This concerns all the elements in relation to the setting of the play. These elements are sometimes called facts of the play (Hodge, 2000: 19), and include the Date, Geographical location, Economic circumstances, Political circumstance, Historical events, Social situation, Cultural situation, Religious situation and Attitudes of Characters.

•       The Date includes the period, seasons and year of the play.

•      Geographical location refers to the exact place in which the action of the play takes place.

•      Economic circumstance refers to the class level and the state of wealth or poverty.

•      Political circumstance deals with the form of government and the relationship of the characters to the government.

•      Historical events refer to the historical events that occur before and during the play. 

•      Social situation is the social relationships the characters have with each other and the behavioural patterns of the characters due to their social institutions.

•      Cultural situation is the arts, entertainment, sports, fashion and other cultural activities of the time in which the play is set.

•      Religious situation refers to religious beliefs and superstitions of the time.

•      The Attitudes of the Characters are conditioned by the above 8 elements.

Not all plays will involve all of these elements; these elements will guide in understanding the world of the play. Do not create any assumptions about the play. Unless it is written in the play, it does not exist. A playwright is not writing a history text, but telling a story; he/she may not know his/her history well. Understand the world of the play exactly as the playwright prescribes. (Hodge: 2000: 19)

BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF SINGAPORE

Please refer to this website www.lib.nus.edu.sg/bib/sh/contents.html to access books on Singapore History. They have been concisely organized into major areas such as the history of Singapore’s economy, social life and the politics.

Other books related to the political history of Singapore

Newbold, T.J. (1839). Political and Statistical Account of the British Settlements in the Straits of Malacca, viz. Pinang, Malacca, and Singapore: With a History of the Malayan States on the Peninsula of Malacca. London: J. Murray.

People's Action Party. (1999). For People Through Action by Party. Singapore: People's Action Party. [English 324.25957 FOR]

Pang, C.. L.. (1971). Singapore's People's Action Party: its history, organization and leadership. Singapore: Oxford University Press. [English 329.95957 PAN]

Other books related to the economic history of Singapore

Lim, T. B. (1960). The Development of Singapore's Economy. Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.

Low, L. (1998) The Political Economy of a City-state: Government-made Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press. [English 338.095957 LOW]

Peebles, G. (1996). The Singapore Economy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. [English 330.95957 PEE]

Toh, M. H. & Tan, K. Y. (eds). (1998). Competitiveness of the Singapore Economy: A Strategic Perspective. Singapore: Singapore University Press. [English 330.95957 COM]

Other books related to the social history of Singapore

Petersen, Gwenn Boardman. (1971). Living in Singapore. New York: T. Nelson.

SINGAPORE HISTORY WEBSITES

www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/singapor_history.asp

www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54b/index-b.html

www.homepagez.com/candylimlt/a_short_history_of_singapore_fro.htm

http://lzydata.tripod.com/blog/sgprog1.htm

www.zum.de/whkmla/region/seasia/xsingapore.html

www.museum.org.sg

www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/history/ (articles)

www.thinkquest.org/library/cat_show.html?cat_id=203&cid=1

SINGAPORE ORAL HISTORY MATERIALS

Books

Archives and Oral History Department. (1985). Five-foot-way Traders. Singapore: Archives & OHD. [English 779.9658870095957 FIV]

Bukit Panjang Government High School. (1990). History Alive: A Lower Secondary Oral History Project by Bukit Panjang Government High School. Singapore: Bukit Panjang Government High School.

Chou, C. (1995). Beyond the Empires: Memories Retold by Cindy Chou. Singapore: Oral History Centre, National Archives of Singapore, National Heritage Board. [English 959.57023 CHO -[HIS]]

Gilmour, A. (1973). My Role in the Rehabilitation of Singapore: 1946-1953. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Oral History Department. (1988). A Battle to be Remembered: Oral History Extracts of War-time Singapore. Singapore: OHD. [English 940.54861 BAT -[WAR]]

Oral History Centre. (1994). Indian Folk Rhymes. Singapore: Oral History Centre & National Archives of Singapore

Oral History Department. (1992). Oral History Manual. Singapore: OHD. [English 907.2 SIN]

Oral History Department. (1992). Recording Our ASEAN Heritage: ASEAN Oral History Colloquium, 25-28 May 1992. Singapore: OHD. [English 907.2 ASE]

Oral History Department. (1990). Recollections of People and Places. Singapore: OHD

Quahe, Y. (1986). We Remember: Cameos of Pioneer Life. Singapore: Landmarks Books. [[English 959.5700992 QUA -[HIS]]

Singapore Institute of Labour Studies. (1991). One voice, One Vision: A Pictorial/Oral History of the National Trades Union Congress (1961-1991). Singapore: Singapore Institute of Labour Studies. [English 331.88095957 ONE]

Shinozaki, M. (1973). My Wartime Experiences in Singapore / [by] Mamoru Shinozaki, interviewed by Lim Yoon Lin. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. [English 959.57023 SHI -[HIS]]

Catalogues of oral history interviews

Archives and Oral History Department. (1984). Pioneers of Singapore. Singapore: Archives and Oral History Department. [English 016.9595700992 SIN]

Oral History Department. (1989). Communities of Singapore Part I: Armenians, Eurasians, Jews, Peranakans and Vietnamese. Singapore: Oral History Department (OHD). [English 959.57 COM -[HIS]]

Lam B. G.  and Wong H. F. (1986). Syonan: Singapore Under the Japanese. Singapore: OHD. [English 959.57023 SYO -[HIS]]

Lo-Ang S. G. (1992). Vanishing Trades. Singapore: Documentation Unit, OHD

National Heritage Board. (1998). Senior ASEAN statesmen. Singapore: Oral History Centre & National Heritage Board

Oral History Department. (1994). Communities of Singapore Part II: Indians. (A Catalogue of Oral History Interviews). Singapore: OHD. [English 959.57 COM -[HIS]]

Oral History Department. (1996). Communities of Singapore Part III: Malays Singapore: OHD. [English 959.57 COM -[HIS]]

Oral History Centre. (1998). Development of education in Singapore. Singapore: Oral History Centre.

Singapore Archives & Oral History Dept. (1981). Catalogue of records on microfilm. Singapore: Archives and Oral History Dept.

Video recordings/ Audio/ Computer files

Choo, H. [Interviewer]. (1982). Oral history interview with Alwee Alkaff [audiocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Department.

Choo, H. (Interviewer). (1983). Oral History Interview with Haji Mohd Javad Namazie [audiocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Department

Lim H. S. (Interviewer). (1980). Oral history Interview with Ro Rih Hwa [audiocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Department.

Lim, S. (Producer). (1989). Memories by the river [videocassette]., Singapore: The Department

Ministry of Information and the Arts, Ngee Ann Polytechnic. (Producers). (2000). Born in Singapore [videodisc]. Singapore: Ministry of Information and the Arts.

Oral History Department (Producer) & Phuah, M. (Narrator). (1986). Jews in Singapore [sound cassette]. Singapore: The Oral History Department. [English 305.892405957 JEW]

Oral History Department. (Producer). (1986). Mopping Up Operation Singapore, 1942-45 [sound cassette]. Singapore: The Oral History Department. [English 940.548252 MOP -[WAR]]

Oral History Center. (1994). Once Upon a Time [videocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Centre. [English 791.53095957 ONC -[ART]]

Oral History Department (Producer). (1986). The fall of Singapore 1942-45 [audiocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Department. [English 940.548252 FAL -[WAR]]

Singapore Oral History Department. (1982). Oral history interview with Aw It Haw [audiocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Department.

Tan, B. L. (Producer) & Kong, K. Y. (Director). (1994). The magical hands [videocassette]. Singapore: Oral History Centre [English 791.53 MAG]

For a wider and more detailed collection of oral history materials, you may want to visit the following organizations that specialize in the area of local history:

Newspaper archives

To access more recent newspaper articles in The Straits Times archives, please click here. To obtain a wider range of newspaper articles from the different publications of various countries, the dramaturg may visit the Singapore National Library Board to access the National Library Board’s digital library, which provides links to Factiva.

BOOKS ON WORLD HISTORY

Bowle, J. (1975). The Concise Encyclopedia of World History. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. [English 909 [CON]

Cambridge (England). (1970). The Cambridge Ancient History. Cambridge, New York; USA: Cambridge University Press.

Cameron, K. N. (1972). Humanity and Society: A World History. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. [English 910.03 [CAM]

Cole, F-C. & Warren, H. G. (1969). An Illustrated Outline History of Mankind. Chicago: Consolidated Book Publishers. [English 909 [ILL]

Ingpen, R. R. (1993). Encyclopedia of Ideas that Changed the World: The Greatest Discoveries and Inventions of Human History. Surrey, Great Britain: Dragon's World. [English [903 ING]

Ganeri, A. (2000). World History Encyclopedia: 4 Million Years Ago to the Present Day. Bath: Parragon. [English q903 [GAN]

Langer, W. L. (ed). (1972). An Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. London: Harrap. [English 909 [ENC]

Palmer, R. R. (1971). A History of the Modern World. New York: Knopf [English 909 [PAL]

Reither, J. (1973). World History: A Brief Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill. [English 909 [REI]

Morris, R. B. (1970). An Encyclopedia of the Modern World: A Concise Reference History from 1760 to the Present. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. [English 901.93 [ENC]

Stavrianos, L. S. (1975). The world since 1500: a global history. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. [English 909.08 [STA]

Teeple, J. B. (2002). Timelines of World History. London; New York: DK Publications. [English 909 [TEE]

Wells, H. G. (1971). The Outline of History, Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. [English 900 [WEL]

LOCAL THEATRE HISTORY

Books

Ng, T. & Tan C. K. (2004). Ask Not: The Necessary Stage in Singapore Theatre. Singapore: Times Editions.

Oon, C. (2001). Theatre Life: A History of English-Language Theatre in Singapore through The Straits Times (1958-2000). Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings. [English 792.095957 OON]

Peterson, W. (2001). Theatre and the Politics of Culture in Contemporary Singapore. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.  [English 792.095957 PET]

Singapore. Ministry of Community Development. Cultural Affairs Division. (1987). Report of the Seminar on Theatre in Singapore on 15 August 1987.  Singapore: Cultural Affairs Division, Ministry of Community Development. 

Tan, A. (1997). 9 Lives: 10 Years of Singapore Theatre 1987-1997. Singapore: The Necessary Stage. [English 792.095957 NIN]

Articles on Singapore’s theatre history on the web

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/6728/eng_drama_sp.htm

http://www.thecore.nus.edu/landow/post/singapore/literature/drama/drama6.html

http://www.emilyofemeraldhill.com/SK%20Remembering%20Singapore%20Theatre.html

http://www.iht.com/IHT/KK/98/kk112598.html

http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0714/as.theatre.html

http://www.ffac.or.jp/magazine/04/singapore_e.html

http://www.singapore-window.org/0912asia.htm

http://www.singapore-window.org/feat3.htm

BOOKS ON ASIAN THEATRE SYSTEMS AND OTHER INFORMATION

General

Barba, E. and Savarese, N. (1991). A Dictionary of Theatre Anthropology: The Secret Art of Performer.  London: Routledge. [English q792 BAR]

Brandon, J. (1997). (Ed.). The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [English 792.095 CAM -[ART]]

Chua, S.P. (1995). (Ed.). Traditional Theatre in Southeast Asia. Singapore: UniPress. [English 792.0959 TRA]

Miettinen, J. (1992). Classical Dance and Theatre in Southeast Asia. Singapore: Oxford University Press. [English 793.31959 MIE]

Yousof, G. S. (1994). Dictionary of Traditional Southeast Asian Theatre. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. [English 792.095 GHU]

Burma

Singer, N. F. (1995). Burmese Dance and Theatre. New York: Oxford University Press. [English 793.319591 SIN -[REC]]

China

Riley, J. (1997). Chinese Theatre and Actor in Performance.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [English 792.0951 RIL -[ART]]

Bao, C. (2002). Fascinating Stage Arts. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press. [English 792.0951 BAO -[ART]]

Indonesia

Soedarsono. (1974). Living Traditional Theatres in Indonesia: Nine Selected Papers. Yogyakarta: Akademi Seni Tari Indonesia.

Soedarsono. (1984). Wayang Wong: The State Ritual Dance Drama in the Court of Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press. [English 791. 5095982 SOE]

Japan

Gunji, M. (1987). The Kabuki Guide. Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International.

Gunji, M. (1990). Kabuki. Tokyo and New York: Kodansha International. [English 792.0952 GUN -[ART]]

Philippines

Fernandez, D. (1996). Palabas: Essays on Philippine Theatre History. Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press. [English 792.09599 FER -[ART]]

Tiongson, N. G. (1984). (Ed.). The Politics of Culture: The Philippine Experience. Manila: Philippine Educational Theatre Association.

Tiongson, N. G. (1999). Philippine Theatre: History and Anthology. Dilman, Quezon City: University of the Philippine Press. [English 899.2112008 TIO v. 3]

Singapore

Mohd. Anis MD. Nor. (1993). Zapin: Folk Dance of the Malay World. Singapore: Oxford University Press. [English 793.319595 MOH]

Pitt, K. W., Lim, M. C. and Ng, Y. L. (1988). Wayang: A History of Chinese Opera in Singapore. Singapore: The National Archives. [English 792.095957 WAY]

Tan, S. B. (1993). Bangsawan: A Social and Stylistic History of Popular Malay Opera in Singapore. London: Oxford University Press. [English 782.109595 TAN]

Thailand

Ingersoll, F. S. (1973). Sang Thong: A Dance Drama from Thailand. Rutland Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company. [English 895.9122 PHU]

Rutnin, M. M. (1975). The Siamese Theatre. Bangkok: Somphong Press.

Rutnin, M. M. (1996). Dance, Drama, and Theatre In Thailand. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books. [English 792.09593 MAT -[ART]]

Virulrak, S. (1979). Like. Bangkok: Hong Phap Suwan.

Virulrak, S. (1988). Dance in Thailand: An Overview by Chua Soo Pong. (ed.). ASEAN Dance. Singapore: National Arts Council.

Vietnam

Dinh Quang et al. (1999). Vietnamese Theatre. Hanoi: The Gioi Publishers. [English 792.09597 VIE -[ART]]

Song Ban (1960). The Vietnamese Theatre. Hanoi: Foreign Languages Publication House.

GENERAL THEATRE HISTORY

Books

Banham, M. (1995). The Cambridge Guide to Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [English 792.03 CAM -[ART]]

Berthold, M. (1999). The History of World Theater: From the Beginnings to the Baroque, Vol. I. New York: Continuum. [English 792.09 BER -[ART]

Brockett, O. G. (1999). History of the Theatre. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. [English 792.09 BRO -[ART]]

Brown, J. R. (1995). The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre. Oxford: Oxford: Oxford University Press. [English 792.09 OXF -[ART]]

Carlson, M. (1993). Theories of the Theatre: A Historical and Critical Survey, from the Greeks to the Present. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Gassner, J. (1992). Theatre and Drama in the Making, From Antiquity to the Renaissance. Applause Theatre.

Hartnoll, P. (1998). The Theatre: A Concise History. London: Thames and Hudson. [English 792.09 HAR -[ART]]

Londre, F. H. (1999). The History of World Theater: From the English Restoration to the Present, Vol. II. New York: Continuum Publications Gro [English 792.09 LON]

Nagler, A. M. (1959). A Source Book in Theatrical History. New York: Dover Publications. [English 792.09 NAG]

Sitary, P. G. (1991). The Curtain Rises: A History of Theatre from its Origins in Greece and Rome through the Engish Restoration, Vol. I, Cincinatti: ShoeTree Press.

Sitary, P. G. (1993). The Curtain Rises: A History of European Theater from the 18th century to the Present, Vol. II. Cincinatti: Betterway Publications.

Styan, J. L. (1996). The English Stage: A History of Drama and Performance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Watson, J. & McKernie, G. (1993). A Cultural History of the Theatre. New York: Addison-Wesley.

Wickham,G. (1992). A History of the Theatre. London: Phaidon Press. [English 792.09 WIC -[ART]]

Websites

www.cwu.edu/~robinsos/ppages/resources/Theatre_History/

www.geocities.com/Broadway/Balcony/7634/

www.tctwebstage.com/oftheatre.htm

www.theatrehistory.com

www.theatrelinks.com

www.videoccasions-nw.com/history/jack.html

TWO: World of the Playwright

This centres around information on the playwright with regards to his/her influences, experiences, issues, ideas, themes, techniques and practices. In addition, it presents the environmental situation, social conditions, political circumstances and the religious/moral attitudes of the civilization, which the playwright was living in.

One of the tasks of the dramaturg is to provide useful research into the world of the playwright. This task is essential as it entails a study of the issues that a playwright deals with, his philosophies, critical readings on the playwrights and their works etc. which might also reflect upon social issues of that time period. The following books are just some of the many useful books on particular playwrights.

SINGAPORE PLAYWRIGHTS

The National University of Singapore Library website provides links to a select bibliography of critical writings on Singapore literature. Click on Singapore Drama & Theatre: Individual Dramatists and Playwrights to access the bibliographies of writings on local playwrights.

OTHER PLAYWRIGHTS

Brecht, Bertolt

Benjamin, W. (2003). Understanding Brecht. London: Verso.

Esslin, M. (1984).  Brecht: A Choice of Evils: A Critical Study of the Man, His Work and His Opinions. London: Methuen. [English 832.912 ESS]

Ewen, F. (1992). Bertolt Brecht: His Life, His Art and His Times. New York: Carol Pub. [English 832.912 EWE]

Fuegi, J. (1994). Brecht and Company: Sex, Politics, and the Making of the Modern Drama. New York: Grove Press.

Fuegi, J. (1995). The Life and Lies of Bertolt Brecht.  London: Flamingo. [English 832.912 FUE]

Hayman, R. (1983). Brecht: A Biography. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. [English 832.912 BRE.H]

Willett, J. (ed.). (1993). Bertolt Brecht Journals. London: Methuen. [English 832.912 BRE]

Chekhov, Anton

Bloom, H. (ed.).(2000). Anton Chekhov.  Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers.

Callow, P. (1998). Chekhov: The Hidden Ground: A Biography. London: Constable.

Gilman, R. (1995). Chekhov's Plays: An Opening into Eternity. New Haven: Yale University Press. [English 891.723 GIL]

Magarshack, D. (1980). Chekhov the Dramatist. London: Eyre Methuen. [English 891.723 MAG]

Malcolm, J. (2001). Reading Chekhov: A Critical Journey. New York: Random House [English 891.723 MAL]

Rayfield, D. (1998). Anton Chekhov: A Life. New York: Henry Holt. [English 891.723 RAY]

Churchill, Caryl

Aston, E. (1997). Caryl Churchill. Plymouth: Northcote house in association with the British Council.

Kritzer, A. H. (1991). The Plays of Caryl Churchill: Theatre of Empowerment. Houndmills: Palgrave.  [English 822.914 KRI]

Ibsen, HHenrik

Ferguson, R. (1996). Henrik Ibsen: A New Biography. London: R. Cohen.

Fjelde, R. (ed.). (1965). IBSEN: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall. [English 839.8226 IBS]

Koht, H. (1971). Life of Ibsen. New York: B. Blom.

Shaw, B. (1994). The Quintessence of Ibsenism. New York: Dover Publications. [English 839.8226 SHA]

Tennant, P. F. D. (1948). Ibsen's Dramatic Technique. Cambridge: Bowes & Bowes. [English 839.8226 TEN]

Miller, Arthur

Bloom, H. (ed.). (2000). Arthur Miller.  Philadelphia: Chelsea House.

Griffin, A. (1996). Understanding Arthur Miller. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press.

Siebold, T. (ed.). (1997). Readings on Arthur Miller. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. [English 812.52 REA]

Pinter, Harold

Billington, M. (1996). The Life and Work of Harold Pinter. London: Faber and Faber. [English 822.914 BIL]

Cahn, V. L. (1994). Gender and Power in the Plays of Harold Pinter. Basingstoke: Macmillan. [English 822.914 CAH]

Esslin, M. (1973). Pinter: A Study of His Plays. London: Eyre Methuen. [English 822.914 ESS]

Esslin, M. (1992). Pinter: The Playwright. London: Methuen Drama [English 822.914 ESS]

Gordon, L. (ed.). (2001). Pinter At 70: A Casebook. New York: Routledge. [English 822.914 PIN]

Gussow, M. (1994). Conversations With Pinter. London: Nick Hern Books. [English 822.914 GUS]

Prentice, P. (1991). Harold Pinter: Life, Work and Criticism. Fredericton: York Press Ltd. [English 822.914 PRE]

THREE: Our World and the World of the Play

These are the common themes, issues and circumstances found in plays that are relevant to the present day. For instance, the director might want to create a performance based on present times. As such, parallels between the world of play and our world would provide connections that the director might wish to deal with. See also Adapting text for Performance.

FOUR: Production History

This refers to the criticisms and reviews of past performances, theatrical approaches used by past directors, casting, staging and any other relevant information regarding past performances. The research into the production history offers a window into the creative process of past performances that could inspire and/or solve creative and theatrical problems that the director may encounter.

FIVE: Drama Criticism

This is the language, style and character development as written by the playwright. This will provide a clearer interpretation and understanding of particular practices, phrases and mannerisms of the characters that may be foreign. Criticism also covers accounts of major concepts, interpretations, and evaluations of the work.

SIX: Images, Sounds and Media

Pictures, video, music, photographs that could provide information about the lifestyles during the period of the play, such as dressing, housing etc and could inspire and motivate the creative process of the production. Furthermore, these images, sounds and media may be used as part of the performance. Please see Help the designer (costume, stage, lighting and sound) do the research.

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