Name-calling, peer pressure, ostracisation, trolling and gaslighting – these are nasty behaviors that have no place in our society, and yet they exist.
For children and the differently abled, it can be even more difficult for them to deal with such toxic situations.
Sensitively unpacking the issues is the play, SmartyPants and the Swordfish, presented for the first time by Art:Dis Singapore (formerly known as Very Special Arts Singapore) and Gateway Arts. It runs from Mar 20 to 24 at Gateway Theatre.
The goal is to provide a platform for meaningful dialogue and to empower children as they navigate the complexities of bullying.
The theatre production has an inclusive cast comprising six intellectually disabled puppeteers and six mainstream actors. “The inclusion of intellectually disabled artists not only provides them a stage to showcase their skills and perspective, but further enables them to be recognised as equal contributors to the creative process,” says co-director Tan Beng Tian. The casting underpins the key message of the story, which is to have respect for others regardless of differences.
The story by playwright Jean Tay is a reimagining of the legend of Redhill, and features a group of students as they investigate how a young kampung boy met his demise at the hands of a jealous sultan. As they peel back the layers of this age-old tale, they meet evil advisors, fend off an attack by swordfishes and learn what it means to have empathy for others.
Puppets are employed to bring the story to life, something which required cast members to learn, adapt and focus as many of them have never performed on a professional theatre stage.
A post-show dialogue developed by Gateway Arts’ Community Partner, Touch Mental Wellness, will have audiences and the cast discuss key issues in the play. Through supplementary worksheets and information packs, audiences will learn how to prevent instances of bullying within their circles.
With the aim to impact as many of the young population as possible, the play is further embedded with access provisions. This includes a sensory and wheelchair-friendly relaxed setting for neurodiverse and mobility-assisted audiences, the inclusion of creative captioning for the deaf, and creative audio description and pre-show touch tours for the visually-impaired.
SmartyPants and the Swordfish runs from Mar 20 to 24 at Gateway Theatre, Black Box, 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159461. Duration of play is approximately one hour and 30 minutes including post-show dialogue. Prices start from $35 (excluding booking fee). Buy tickets here.
