WITHOUT REASON | by Sim Yan Ying

Without Reason explores the challenges of an interracial relationship in modern day Singapore. A Chinese girl and a Malay boy struggle to navigate cultural differences, reconcile different religious beliefs, and manage their family and friends’ expectations. Their story also highlights broader themes pertaining to social class, and the transition from teenage life into adulthood.

Through this play, Yan Ying hopes to contribute to the conversation between the different races in Singapore, and dissect the stereotypes that we have of each other. The intention is to bring to light the underlying racial tensions in our society, the issue of ‘Chinese privilege’, and the ethnic segregation that Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools inevitably perpetuate. Hopefully, the play will open a discussion on how we can navigate the increasingly diverse cultural landscape of Singapore, and allow us to develop greater understanding and compassion for each other.

Without Reason was first written under the mentorship of Buds Youth Theatre (BYT) in 2014, and subsequently, a play reading of it was staged in March 2015 as part of BYT’s ‘From Scratch’ production. ArtsWok Collaborative will be presenting it as a commissioned play for the M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival, in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in 2017.

Sim Yan Ying is currently pursuing a B.F.A. in Theatre at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She previously graduated from Hwa Chong Institution (college section), and Nanyang Girls’ High School, where she was the Club President for the school’s theatre club from 2010-2011. She took a gap year before university, during which she interned and worked with local theatre companies as such The Necessary Stage, Buds Youth Theatre, Nine Years Theatre, Wild Rice, Asylum Theatre, and Singapore Repertory Theatre. She intends to be a theatre director in future, but is open to exploring other aspects of theatre including playwriting, lighting design, and performing. She is also interested in interdisciplinary performance, and strongly believes in art as a catalyst for empathy and positive change.

Without Reason was presented at Esplanade Theatre Studio as part of M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2017.

• Tickets to the performance
• Other performances at M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2017
• Without Reason by Citizen Reviewer Casidhe Ng