Beyond Bathrobes: Confirms My Calling Here

I've come up for air after this weekend's BEYOND BATHROBES AND SANDALS workshop.

Beyond Bathrobes & Sandals Workshop 

It was a lot of work preparing for it with Lucilla Teoh and Paul Seow, but we ended up with a GREAT workbook for participants and, if I may say so, the content was OUTSTANDING. One session had a handout with ideas to get people started on writing their own "local context" Christmas sketches. The time went great too, with a few suprises. Two people who came for the training are supposedly leaders in their church drama ministry. They admitted that this weekend workshop was only their second drama training experience -- their first being a secondary school show (or workshop) and they admitted not really understanding or learning much...way back then) YIKES! We're in worse shape than I thought! But also confirms my calling to help equip drama ministries here.

QUOTES re: Singapore CAN!

(Creative Arts Network)

It is a connecting point for the creative God chasers - a people who love God and who love people. A garden for creative seeds to be birthed, watered and grow for Kingdom purposes!
Pastor Beatrice Kang
Trinity Christian Centre

"It is almost impossible to develop Drama in a vacuum. Artists and Church Workers trying to develop meaningful and progressive Drama in their Church, for edification or outreach can benefit so much from meeting others who are doing similair work. A chance to share ideas, resources, solutions to problems and encouragement, stimulation and skills to keep going!"
Sean Tobin
Associate Artistic Director
The Necessary Stage

"The body of Christ isn't just limited to the confines of my church alone. I'm amazed at the resources and information generated just through networking with CAN!. That's expansion of the body of Christ beyond the four walls of my church!"
Elaine Tan
Full Gospel Assembly

"CAN! is doing a great job in rallying the various Creative Arts Ministries together. In this ever-changing times, there is a need for us to explore new ways & means to reach out to the masses. This implies that the Arts groups must strive for competency in their artistic ventures & this is possible when we all come together to share our resources & learn from one another. CAN! is one such avenue where the various ministries can interact and sharpen their skills."
Jeffrey Yoong
Covenant Evangelical Free Church
Creative Arts Ministry

"I am very excited that there is a network of Christian artistes out there keeping in tough with each other and our Father. We need to consistently touch base with the stage actors and any type of dramatists, from all walks of life, regardless if you're full time or part time actor. This network will be a source for resource and renewal for brothers and sisters out there looking for a shoulder to lean on."
Alvin Ang
TOUCH Entertainment

"CAN has reinforced my belief that God has called some of us to be Christian drama artistes, to touch and impact those who need to hear the love story of God more experientially than just hearing or just seeing.

With the network, I know there is a larger group of like-minded dramatists - those who love not just their art, but are passionate for Christ and His work. And with the network, even though we are from different churches and drama teams, we can find advice and support!!"
Sally Loh
Grace Assembly of God
Drama Team

CAN!s really a good chance for Christians involved in drama to get together.
Not only for networking but also for mutual spiritual support. Do hope more can be involved!
Shelen Ong
ORTV

"Often we feel like a lonely camel in the wild desert that has no companion, support or motivation to walk this journey. With the opportunity to meet these people, some who are even professionals in this field, collaborations are formed and excitement and passion are gradually stirred or renewed. Can! Act is an avenue for us drama enthusiasts to exchange pointers and having fun flexing our “acting muscles”, especially for those who are usually behind-the-scene workers like me."
Marilyn Chee
Paya Lebar Methodist
Drama Ministry

How Do Artists Survive the Criticism?

to W!LD R!CE:
Reading a critical article in Singapore Theatre reminded me of reading a review in a University newspaper. Not unlike most articles in The Arts Magazine here, it brings back memories of young critics who are insecure brainiacs. They seem to want to show how smart they are by using big words to put others down. To me the tone of this article says more about the reviewer than the shows. People and institutions alike are not built up by being recklessly torn down. Unless, of course, it truly is a hopeless case where demolition is necessary.

In the case ANG TAU MUI, this is certainly NOT the case! Though I missed MEDEA, I thought nearly every element of the W!LD RICE show was well finessed and artistically captivating.

Yes, there is much room for growth in Singapore Theatre. There are precious few plays in Singapore which leave me feeling like my money and evening were well spent. And even fewer that are so good I leave only thinking about the message. W!LD RICE consistently delivers, and ANG TAU MUI was another good story, well told.

If this website is, as you claim, truly dedicated to improving Singapore Theatre, how do you hope to accomplish that through harsh, almost mean spirited critiques? Granted, reviewers will be hard pressed to find positive elements worth illuminating in some productions; and it is easy, and even fun, to pick apart another’s work and impress others with an apparent understanding of the art form. However, I believe it is so much more empowering to point out and learn from examples of what is GOOD in our work. I believe many Asians have a hard time getting this, because we have never experienced it.

It astounds me that artistic spirits in this culture continue to survive and plough forward against such seemingly insurmountable odds. How anyone dares to give theatre a go, when even well crafted works will be blasted, is beyond my comprehension.

Meeting With Creative Artists

My Creative Arts time today was GREAT, everyone's heart was to love Jesus passionately, and put egos aside to affirm and build each other up. Dreaming both small and big dreams, but asking God to confirm or lead otherwise. Hearing the other Singaporeans pray for me gave me a better picture of how they esteem me and what my role should be with the group. I was blessed and I know that those who went were too.

Satan tried an attack today to get my head in an angry violated place before the prayer lunch. I went to the library (a cool quiet place) to do some studying before hand. Turned out it was also a pretty private place where a man decided I was a good victim to stare at while practicing a lewd act. Oh dear God. You love him TOO??? Just like the theft on the 4th, I'm asking God for the grace to just forget about it, and focus on all the sweet people he's blessing my life with lately.

A Kind of "Curse" is Lifting

from an email to Elaine Bent, Texas

E: Not only have you and Jim been busy, but you have some exciting things planned, too. I am so happy for you that you're are doing a play and are having such a success with it. Thank you, God! Someone like you would wither and dry up if you did not have an outlet for your God given gifts. You are also fortunate to have a husband who understands that. I know of a couple of friends who have not had that relationship. It has been very painful.

K: Through my involvement in RAINBOW FISH little big show, I've honestly the feeling like a BIG part of my heart is beginning to pump the passion back into my life. Little by little over the past few weeks, I've had this palatable sensation, in a part of me, a part that I've denied should matter, that I'm becoming alive again. It's like a curse is being lifted. I have enjoyed the occassional opportunities to teach and coach, and write, but nothing really compares to the camraderie of the rehearsal process, and thrill of bringing a character to life on stage.

It's taken awhile to feel embraced by the cast, and get over my "am I too old for this?" insecurities. The rest of the group are all 20-something Singaporeans, and after 9 years, I am having to work extra hard on the side to get this old body in shape for the dancing and singing! Even if performing will be a rare experience in this stage of my life, I am SO relishing the joy of it.

Since my children were babies, they had all but silenced my singing. This in turn did something to the song in my heart too. For the first 30 years of my life I was always singing at home, in the car, in ensembles, in the worship team, for shows, and then I had babies. This is weird, but they would put their little hands up to my mouth when I started singing to make me stop, or they'd even complain! Now, as I work on this show, they are for now really into it and seeing me perform. They are learning the songs, asking to sing with me, wanting to learn the dances, being on their best behaviour when I allowed them to attend a rehearsal (they tried on the puppet fish heads afterward and OH do I wish I had a camera!).

I feel I have earned the respect of the cast and director, most of whom I'd only met before, but knew none of them very well except the producer. We are doing a "road show" next weekend at the large Department store who is our sponsor. The director has asked me to sing for Rainbow Fish since that actress can't make it, so he must have confidence in me. He also asked me to write a one page synopsis by next week of a children's play I've written (I'd asked him to look at a draft last December), he is submitting his proposals to the National Arts Council for his school touring shows, and would like my play to be one of them!

Search for Significance: It's All Vanity

Oh how I identify with the Ecclesiates thoughts of "vanity."

I am reading The Applause of Heaven, and thinking a lot about what ways our culture encourages narcissism. Even our Christian culture is consumed with grandiosity. Though we say it is in the name of God's glory...we get a little ego gratification on the side too.

I don't want the world to shape me into it's mold...We hear so much about lives of significance, and making a difference, and maximizing our potential. It becomes so natural, and ingrained in our psyche that when something sets us back, or we are not what we think we should be, or are not living up to our expectations, or dreams...we so often feel like failures.

In these past 5 years, since moving to Asia, I've escaped the trap of being caught up in "having found my niche" and "making my mark on the world" in ministry. I have now gotten used to living life for an audience of ONE ('cause there hasn't been anyone else!) I'm no longer competing, or striving. I've only recently started to actually do a few little things in Singapore, and I get a little scared I will get sucked into the name dropping, or self-promotion. Honestly, it's so much EASIER to be a GODLY monk --I mean "mom" out in the suburbs of Tampines!

You wrote: I pray that Jesus is very near to you and that you are growing in your faith daily.

I pray the same for you too as you sort out His path for what he wants you to do.

With great joy from him even in the pain...
K!Mberly