trans:mission

written and devised by trans performers

Wild Rice
The Studio @ Wild Rice, Singapore

Directed by Medli Dorothea Loo and dramaturged by Alfian Sa'at, this intimate and heartfelt work is written, devised and performed entirely by trans people. Audience members are ushered into the Wild Rice Studio, a cosy living room space where we see photos of trans representation on the walls before we take our seats. 

The performers, members of the local trans community from different backgrounds and generations, take us through slang words like 'mak nyah' and 'clocking', share their individual experiences of gender dysphoria and transitioning and end with visions of what a 'trans-utopia' might look like in Singapore, a country where any deviation from what is considered normal is frowned upon. 

There's a deliberate rawness to the piece with performers holding scripts and talking directly to one another, often ending each segment with smiles and encouraging hugs. These are not professional actors but people who have chosen to share their deeply personal stories with strangers and it is a privilege for us to listen in. There's so much that can still be done to improve trans rights in this country, from housing to medical care, and this vital and life-affirming piece of theatre sheds a spotlight on a community that's often ignored.

The Crystalwords score: 3/5