THE REGIMENT | by Isabella Chiam

Synopsis

“Ta’at Setia” – Loyal and True

These were the words that the brave soldiers of the Malay Regiment lived and died by. Up until the end, they fought tooth and nail to keep Singapore from falling to the Japanese invaders. And they did, to their dying breath. How did they come to this? Did they ever think to run? What were they fighting for?

In The Regiment, we try to piece together the story of a few recruits in the Malay Regiment, in the years leading up to the Fall of Singapore in 1942. We will see how this group of idealistic, young men come together under the threat of impending war, and how they try to uphold their oaths to each other and to the Regiment in the face of death and strife. Ultimately, we will witness their sacrifice as they succumb to an invading force too great to overcome.

Artist’s Statement/Inquiry

Remembering Who We Are – This story is part of our history as Singapore before independence, and is worth telling as a reminder of our struggle against war, our tenacity as a people, and the everyday heroes that inspire that strength.

Question What We Are Fighting For – When war seems a distant thought, we seemingly have no reason to ask what is it we are fighting for, who we fighting for. The questions this story ask are important as they make us confront where our loyalties lie and what ultimately drives us to sacrifice ourselves. It makes us ask what is important to us not only as individuals, but as a country. What is it that would make us come together to fight for each other in spite of our differences?

The Regiment is currently raising money for the R&D of this project which is slated to premiere it’s full length on 2021. Click here to contribute.

The Regiment‘s work-in-progress showcase is supported by RUMAH x Bodeiga Barbershop.

Isabella Chiam – Director/Concept

Isabella Chiam is an actor, puppeteer & theatre practitioner based in London & Singapore.

Graduated from RADA with Masters in Theatre, Isabella’s recent theatre credits include Snow Queen (Polka Theatre), The Commuters (The Knotted Project), Merchant of Venice (Singapore Repertory Theatre) & The Bride Always Knocks Twice (The Theatre Practice). She was awarded the Life Theatre Awards Best Ensemble with her fellow Young & W!ld members, and twice-nominated again in that same category.

Her first love is acting but she has a deep interest in movement, collaborative theatre-making, actor training & puppetry. Isabella currently teaches movement at Identity School of Acting (UK), and is an adjunct lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (SG). She also believes that theatre is a powerful tool for empowerment and social change, and is a proud be a part of theatre collective Five Stones Theatre (SG) & Arts for Action Ensemble (UK).

Faizal Abdullah – Playwright

Faizal Abdullah is a Singaporean Muslim-Malay actor and theatre-maker. He graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts (Singapore) with a Diploma in Theatre Arts and had his first professional theatre credit acting in playwright-director Elangovan’s 1915. Since then he has worked with many of Singapore’s leading theatre companies, Including Act3 Theatrics, I Theatre, TheatreWorks, Cake Theatrical Productions,Teater Ekamatra, STAGES and The Necessary Stage. Faizal is currently pursuing an MA in Performance Making at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Al-Matin Yatim – Devisor/Performer

Al-Matin Yatim is a full-time Theatre Practitioner graduated from Intercultural Theatre Institute with a Professional Diploma in Intercultural Theatre (Acting). He has been working professionally in the theatre since 2010, mainly as a stage actor, with many notable and established companies like The Necessary Stage, TheatreWorks, Cake Theatrical Productions, Teater Ekamatra, Teater Kami, Hatch Theatrics, The Finger Players, The Theatre Practice, DramaBox and Chowk Productions.

He had also performed internationally in cities like Braunshweig, Brisbane and Edinburgh. He shared the nomination of Life! Theatre Award 2016’s Best Ensemble and Best Production of the year in “It Won’t be too long: The Cemetery” by DramaBox under the direction of Kok Heng Leun as partof the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2015.

Farez Najid – Devisor/Performer

Farez Najid started his professional career in 2006 and was trained in BA(Acting) Lasalle College of the Arts. His works include “Off Centre” (The Necessary Stage 2019) “Tiger of Malaya” (Teater Ekamatra 2018), “Prism” (Toy Factory Productions 2017), “Geylang” (WILD RICE 2016), and Tan Tarn How’s “Lady Soul and the Ultimate “S” Machine” (Esplanade Presents: 2015). He also participated in international works such Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2017) with “Year Zero” and collaborated with Gambo Theatre in “Super Happy Land” (Hatch 2016).

Syaiful Ariffin – Devisor/Performer

Syaiful is a trained theatre practitioner, actor & performer for both stage and screen. He is also an educator in the arts, specializing in voice pedagogy for the actor. Currently a part-time lecturer in Lasalle College of the Arts. He graduated with an honors degree in Theatre Arts from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), and a Masters of Fine Arts (Voice) from National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Since 2009, he has done numerous stage performances with various professional companies such as: Cake Theatrical Production, Teater Ekamatra, Singapore Repertory Theatre, and S.I.F.A (Singapore International Festival of Arts). He believes in constantly expanding his skills in his practice. In 2016, Syaiful won Anugerah Skrin, an acting and hosting competition produced by Mediacorp Eaglevision Suria.

Jamil Schulze – Devisor/Performer

Jamil Schulze is an actor, mover, and #bedroommusician, raised and based in Singapore. Some of his theatre credits include; Jo Tan’s Forked (M1 Singapore Fringe); Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons (Adeeb & Shai); Dragonflies and This Is What Happens To Pretty Girls (Pangdemonium). He can also be seen as the lead in Toggle/Channel 5 series Paddles Up (Verite Productions), as well as featured in series Mixed Signals (A Stardust Story). Jamil continues his training with master teacher I Putu Budiawan Miller.

Liu Yong Huay – Lighting Designer

Phase 1: Research and Development (March – April 2019)

Key Research Questions:

• What is the Plot?
• Who are the characters
• What forms & techniques do we want to use to tell the story?
• Does it resonate with audiences?

Outcome: By-invitation script read

Phase 2: Work-in-progress (November 2019)

Key Research Areas:

• Strengthening the Story
• Experimenting with Form
• Natural Materials
• Light & Shadow
• Sound
• Set

Outcome: Work-in-progress showing at Centre 42, under Guest Room