The first
theatre production
in Singapore
to involve
live social media interactions
POOR
THING
Images by Caleb Ming.
Leading the production of Poor Thing was a quest in forging an early-days gesamtkunstwerk for the cyber age.
A prologue had to be a filmed and disseminated before audience stepped into the theatre. I had to scout for locations that were authentic to the diegetic location in the story, figure out how an actor who couldn't drive can look like she was actually driving, rent film equipment and vehicles needed to make movie magic, and coordinate the entire shoot to be done in one night.
An entire Facebook existence had to be crafted and constructed for characters (that's 4) and duplicated for the entire run (that's 27 shows). Facebook content had to be scripted and planted, including in-show cues that were operated by show crew posing as characters' friends. Working prop phones had to be sourced and designed with characterizing cases, ring tones and apps.
A heightened realistic set then had to be built, with 2 half cars procured, with working headlights, car stereos and horns, safety belts, and a faulty starter motor. All placed within a free-roaming space where audience could stand or sit anywhere they liked, with full access to actors and the set.
Then, I had to design the lights. Good times.
Year: 2014
Company: The Necessary Stage
Director: Alvin Tan
Venue: The Necessary Stage Black Box
Role: Lighting Designer
+ Production Stage Manager