What If theatre show celebrates disabilities

Last edition of the M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival highlights those with disabilities

The piece, What If, comprises four works staged over Zoom on different days, with performers such as Muhammad Hidayat Rahmatullah Mohamad Yaakob (left), Stephanie Esther Fam (right), Shawn Tan and Wan Wai Yee. PHOTOS: THE FAT FARMER
The piece, What If, comprises four works staged over Zoom on different days, with performers such as Muhammad Hidayat Rahmatullah Mohamad Yaakob, Stephanie Esther Fam, Shawn Tan (right) and Wan Wai Yee (left).
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When Okorn-Kuo Jing Hong began directing a cast with disabilities in the theatre show What If, she wanted the work to respect the performers' disabilities without trying to cover them up.

Actors who cannot see could orientate themselves by feeling markings on the stage, or the lights could be rigged in such a way that they could feel their heat. A wheelchair could become part of a set, even a projection screen, albeit a small one.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 04, 2020, with the headline What If theatre show celebrates disabilities. Subscribe