Singapore Tamil Youth Conference 2018 Toolkit Toolkit 2018 Final | Page 40

International Reach of Singapore Tamil Theatre
• A limited audience base for the Tamil theatre industry “ results in insufficient stimulation to propel artistses to raise their standards further in line with audience expectations which has reached international standards , having been constantly exposed to them ” ( Rajan , 2008 )
• We have yet to expand internationally . Even when local shows are staged internationally , the risk is higher for the production companies since the profit margin is uncertain .
Catering stories to the needs of the audience
• Theatre needs to centre around its target audience and its needs .
• There is a tendency for most writers to write about what they are passionate about , hence lacking a central message that tugs at the audience ’ heartstrings
• Shanmugam : The Kalinga Trilogy by Mirror Theatre was the first Tamil theatre production to appeal to a non-Tamil speaking audience and was very well received locally
37 has a localised flavour to cater to local audience
o Plays with a social message often generate the most buzz among theatregoers
• Within the range of local Tamil plays that are put up , there are very few dramas that convey social issues or messages
• Hence , there is a gap between what happens in our lives in reality and what is being portrayed on stage , suggesting a lack of relatability for the audience
Lack of appeal of certain types of theatre
There are different types of theatre spaces such as the proscenium stage , arena theatre , black box theatre , profile theatre , forum theatre etc .
○ For instance , a forum theatre , also known as “ The theatre of the oppressed ” would involve the audience coming in and interacting with the actors . A scene , with some kind of oppression is usually shown . Then , any member of the audience can step forward and take the place of one of the oppressed characters , showing how they can attempt to change the outcome of the situation .
o The type of theatre limits the type of stories that can possibly be portrayed , since certain
• Scriptwriters need to adapt to the changing theatre spaces and theatre formats would tastes and preferences of the audience require a certain genre and storyline to o Even when conveying Singaporean function effectively . Hence , the appeal stories and adapting stories from Tamil among audience for the different types of Nadu , they should ensure that the script theatre tend to vary , with some theatre types
being unpopular among the majority . Opportunities for Youth in Theatre – Platforms that Encourage Youth
School-based platforms
Secondary schools are generally where students get their initial exposure to the Tamil Arts like theatre , short film and creative writing through their participation in school productions or inter-school
Participation
competitions . The pool of students exposed to the Tamil Arts in secondary school are more likely to continue to be involved in them even after they move on to pre-tertiary and tertiary educational institutions
International Reach of Singapore Tamil has a localised flavour to cater to local Theatre audience o Plays with a social message often • A limited audience base for the Tamil generate the most buzz among theatre industry “results in insufficient theatregoers stimulation to propel artistses to raise their standards further in line with • Within the range of local Tamil plays that are audience expectations which has reached put up, there are very few dramas that convey international standards, having been social issues or messages constantly exposed to them” (Rajan, • Hence, there is a gap between what happens in 2008) our lives in reality and what is being portrayed • We have yet to expand internationally. on stage, suggesting a lack of relatability for the Even when local shows are staged audience internationally, the risk is higher for the Lack of appeal of certain types of theatre production companies since the profit There are different types of theatre spaces such margin is uncertain. as the proscenium stage, arena theatre, black box Catering stories to the needs of the audience theatre, profile theatre, forum theatre etc. • Theatre needs to centre around its target ○ For instance, a forum theatre, also known as audience and its needs. “The theatre of the oppressed” would involve the audience coming in and • There is a tendency for most writers to interacting with the actors. A scene, with write about what they are passionate about, some kind of oppression is usually shown. hence lacking a central message that tugs at Then, any member of the audience can step the audience’ heartstrings forward and take the place of one of the • Shanmugam: The Kalinga Trilogy by oppressed characters, showing how they can Mirror Theatre was the first Tamil theatre attempt to change the outcome of the production to appeal to a non-Tamil situation. speaking audience and was very well o The type of theatre limits the type of stories received locally that can possibly be portrayed, since certain • Scriptwriters need to adapt to the changing theatre spaces and theatre formats would tastes and preferences of the audience require a certain genre and storyline to o Even when conveying Singaporean function effectively. Hence, the appeal stories and adapting stories from Tamil among audience for the different types of Nadu, they should ensure that the script theatre tend to vary, with some theatre types being unpopular among the majority. Opportunities for Youth in Theatre – Platforms that Encourage Youth Participation School-based platforms Secondary schools are generally where students get their initial exposure to the Tamil Arts like theatre, short film and creative writing through their participation in school productions or inter-school competitions. The pool of students exposed to the Tamil Arts in secondary school are more likely to continue to be involved in them even after they move on to pre-tertiary and tertiary education ��)���ѥ��ѥ���(��