The Lesson
(2017–2018)

School tour of participatory theatre production.

12, 16, 17, 19 and 20 Oct 2017, 10.30am, 2pm; 2, 3, 8, 13 and 15 Nov 2017, various timings; 5 and 7 Nov 2018, 6pm. *SCAPE, various schools.

Production Info

Produced by Drama Box

Production Credits

Director — Koh Hui Ling
Facilitators (rotational basis) — Chong Gua Khee, Han Xuemei, Koh Hui Ling, Adib Kosnan, Liew Jiayi, Muhammad Muazzam Bin Amanah, Rei Poh
Production Manager — Ng Siaw Hui

→ Photo Credit: Drama Box

A new train station is planned for the estate, but there is little space left and something must be demolished. What should stay and what should go?

In this participatory theatre production, facilitators will take the students through a series of activities, as they learn about the costs, risks, stakes and sacrifices that come with creating a community. Through this experience, students will be given the opportunity to explore how they value the different spaces in their own country, what their priorities and concerns are, as well as what democracy is really about – the power and choice of their vote, their role and responsibility as an individual living in our society.

Created by Li Xie and Drama Box, The Lesson made its first appearance at the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2015 to critical acclaim. As part of the trilogy It Won't Be Too Long, the impactful participatory performance was lauded by local media as one of the best productions of 2015. We have since adapted the piece and brought it to Taiwan in December 2016, and the International Community Arts Festival in Rotterdam in March 2017. The piece was also piloted as a theatre programme for youths at two local secondary schools in 2016, and a junior college in 2017 with the support of MOE CCEB.