Young NTUC Performs its First-Ever Musical for MAy Day - a Labour of Love!
YOUNG NTUC PERFORMS ITS FIRST-EVER MUSICAL FOR MAY DAY – A LABOUR OF LOVE!
21 March 2007
Media Release
1 “A Labour of Love” – A love story between unionist Ah Keong and his beloved Mei Ling set against the epic backdrop of the National Trades Union Congress’s founding in 1961 till present day, and its challenges and struggles for good of the workers.
2 A newly-commissioned work by Young NTUC, A Labour of Love, is a contemporary pop musical which explores love, friendship and camaraderie of unsung heroes who took up the challenge of trade union work. Though set against the expansive backdrop of the Labour Movement’s history through time and activities, it is, above all, a love story of two persons who are dedicated to each other, knowing that they will always be there for each other.
3 Written and directed by Mr Jeremiah Choy, with music composed by Ms Babes Conde and choreographed by Mr Gani Karim, the musical features 27 non-professional yet aspiring and enthusiastic performers, aged between 17 to 57, from p.L.a.Y! (or Performing with Love, by Active Youth!). p.L.a.Y! is Young NTUC’s newly-formed performing arts group, which currently comprises more than 100 members who are union members and friends.
4 A Labour of Love is Young NTUC’s first-ever musical, which would be presented from 30 April to 2 May 2007, as part of this year’s May Day celebrations. The performers, who have been rehearsing for the musical since early February 2007, will put up four shows over three days at the University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore. The musical is expected to draw a total of about 6,400 workers, union leaders, tripartite partners, students and Singaporeans, both young and old. Invited guests to the May Day Rally on 1 May 2007 would also be given a special treat to this musical.
5 What started out as a well-received performance of songs, dance, percussion and cheerleading by 45 Young NTUC members to a 5,000-strong audience at the May Day Rally in 2006 soon became an impetus for Young NTUC to further showcase its members’ talents through p.L.a.Y!. The opportunity for a larger scale and an even more challenging performance came when Young NTUC was invited by NTUC’s May Day Organising Committee to present a full-scale musical during the May Day celebrations this year. The musical also presents Young NTUC and the Labour Movement with an opportunity to inject vibrancy into the arts scene here.
6 A Labour of Love has been specifically written using the Labour Movement’s long and enduring history as a backdrop. Tracing the lives of the two protagonists – Ah Keong and Mei Ling (played by pioneer members of p.L.aY!, Mr Spencer Tan and Ms Selly Marina, respectively), the musical will bring the audience through the tumultuous 1960s to modern day Singapore, highlighting the ups and downs of working life and trade unionism then and now. Special appearance by Mr Cyrille Tan, veteran unionist, who plays the role of Ah Keong in his older days, adds a dose of realism into the two-hour long musical.
7 Through this musical, Young NTUC hopes to reach out to Singaporeans on the values of the Labour Movement and its aspirations to help all workers at work, live and play. Many Singaporeans perhaps may not be aware of the historical background as to why there is widespread industrial harmony here today. Thus, A Labour of Love seeks to present Singapore’s own journey to industrial harmony to the audience in an interesting and meaningful manner.
8 Ticket sales for the musical will start on 21 March 2007 at all Ticketcharge outlets. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go towards the Young NTUC Care and Share fund, which will enable our youth activists to step up their community outreach projects. Past Young NTUC community outreach projects included, "Dream On", which was a collaboration with Awakening Productions to raise funds for the ST School Pocket Money Fund, and support for the "World Through Their Eyes", a forum organised by Nanyang Technological University students to promote better understanding of children with learning disabilities. Ticket discounts are available for union members, OCBC Card members and bulk purchases. More details of A Labour of Love, including ticket sales, are available in the ANNEX.
Ameer Hamzah Abdul Nasir
Chairman
May Day Musical Sub-Committee
Diana Chia (Ms)
Co-Chairman
May Day Musical Sub-Committee
Josephine Teo (Mrs)
Vice-Chairman
May Day Musical Sub-Committee
*****
For media queries, please contact:
Goy Kae Lip
Consultant
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
DID 6213 8184
HP 9792 0650
Email goykl@ntuc.org.sg
Young NTUC presents "A Labour of Love"
a p.L.a.Y! production
written by jeremiah choy
music by babes conde
lyrics by jeremiah choy and babes conde
directed by jeremiah choy
choreographed by gani karim
set design by nicholas li
light design by yo shao ann
sound engineering by shah tahir
costumes by mother kasim
hair by ashley lim
produced by orangedot productions pte ltd
CAST
Spencer Tan
Selly Marina
Norhail B Abdul Malek
Shahrier
Podisingho Phoebe
Cynthia Shirley
Pamela Pung
Richard Tan
David Tay
Young Ah Keong
Mei Ling
Ali
Ravi
Mary
Rani
Fatimah
Boss Jimmy
Danny
Featuring Cyrille Tan as Old Ah Keong
Chorus
Chan Hwee Ping
Cindy Loo
Clarice Jena Luo
Daniel Choy
Debbie Tjong
Fauziah
Goh Hong Jern
Goh Hsuan Hsuan
Lauren Lim
Marjorie Kee
Nurashikin Bte Abdullah
Raymond Chan
Serene Loh
Zhou Zheng Hua
Synopsis
He found his mission in life
She found love in him
This is a story of love set against the epic of the Labour Movement from 1960s to the present
Eve of May Day 2007 - Danny is fed up with having to work on May Day. It should have been a day to “celebrate the worker” and a day of rest. But he has to work instead. He wonders what his union is going to do about it. To placate him, his union leader grandpa, Ah Keong, tells him a story of another sort of union – the union of his life. Against the backdrop of the founding of the National Trades Union Congress and the years of its challenges and struggles for the good of the workers, grandpa tells of how he met his greatest love – Mei Ling, and how they struggled through thick and thin, and to the very end. Together with their courageous friends, they weathered crisis after crisis and coped with the uncertainties that were created after the withdrawal of the British Troops in the 1960s and the need to modernise the workforce and upgrade their skills in the 1970s. Things were going well for a while until the recession struck again in the 1980s. But as they were well prepared, they picked up fast and enjoyed the boom in the 1990s. However the dawn of the new millennia brought other challenges. The love between Ah Keong and Mei Ling blossoms and grows stronger as they build their lives on faith, hope and a little luck. A newly-commissioned work, A Labour of Love, is a contemporary pop musical which explores love, friendship and camaraderie of the unsung heroes who took up the challenge of trade union work. Though set against the expansive backdrop of the Labour Movement’s history through time and activities, it is, above all, a love story of two persons who are dedicated to each other, knowing that they will always be there for each other. Written and directed by Mr Jeremiah Choy with music composed by Ms Babes Conde and choreographed by Mr Gani Karim, the musical features 27 non-professional yet aspiring and enthusiastic performers, aged between 17 to 57, from p.L.a.Y! (or Performing with Love, by Active Youth!). p.L.a.Y! is Young NTUC’s newly-formed performing arts group, which currently comprises more than 100 members who are union members and friends.
Main Cast Spencer Tan as Young Ah Keong
Mr Spencer Tan works as an Associate Consultant. He has been singing in the church choir since he was 12 years old and has participated in numerous church pageants involving group and solo performances. He has also performed as a soloist for Christmas outdoor performances in old folk’s homes, at shopping centres and homes of friends and relatives. Happily married with a just over four-month old baby, Spencer enjoys playing basketball and jogging in his free time. He also enjoys surfing the net and playing online games. Spencer eats just about anything and loves noodles especially. He enjoys going out for window / grocery shopping with his wife on a fortnightly basis, and watching DVDs / VCDs at home with my family. He loves meeting up with new friends and making new acquaintances. Spencer is out-going, daring and an adventurous sort who would dare to try anything if given the opportunity to do so. This is his first musical and debut on stage. Spencer is also a pioneer member of p.L.aY!, Young NTUC’s performing arts group.
Selly Marina as Mei Ling
Ms Selly Marina started singing at the age of two, when her Ah Kong first taught her his favorite Theresa Teng song, Ni Zhen Me Shuo.
Born and bred in Jakarta, Selly joined Sanggar Sangrila, a performing arts school for youngsters where she got her first taste of vocal, acting, and dance trainings, for the most part of her childhood. She came to Singapore on ASEAN scholarship at the age of 15, attended CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) and joined the girl school's choir under the leadership of Mr. Nelson Kwei.
In 2001, she was part of the chorus for Action Theatre's Chang and Eng, The Musical and was cast member in TheatreWorks' Festival 30 Plays in 30 Days. She played the role of a Muslim-Chinese Salamah in Suria's telemovie, Akar Berbunga (2001).
During her studies in Columbia University, New York, she took part in Columbia Musical Theatre Society's production of Kiss Me, Kate (2003) and enrolled in performing arts classes in the affiliated Barnard College. Upon her return to Singapore, she had the chance to perform with the Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd Cast and worked with choreographer Bill Calhoun as a chorus member in PCK, The Musical (2005). She is a pioneer member of p.L.a.Y!, the performing arts group of Young NTUC.
Featuring Cyrille Tan as Old Ah Keong
Mr Cyrille Tan is the General Secretary, United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries (UWEEI) and General Secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation-Singapore Council. He is employed by Murata Electronics (S) Pte Ltd and is seconded as a full-time unionist. A veteran unionist, Cyrille is also Vice-President of NTUC. He has been serving in the Labour Movement since 1981.
Cyrille exemplifies the spirit of lifelong learning by showing that age is no barrier to upgrading oneself. He attained his Diploma in Industrial Relations at the age of 40 and his Bachelor of Science at the age of 47.
Cyrille’s current focus in the union is to enhance the employability of electronics workers through skills training and re-skilling programme as the electronics sector continues to restructure.
This is Cyrille’s first time participation in a musical and foray onto stage.
Date and Time
The musical will be presented on the following dates and time:
a) 30 April 2007, Monday, 8.00 pm
b) 1 May 2007, Tuesday, 4.30 pm (By invitation only)
c) 2 May 2007, Wednesday, 3.30 pm (By invitation only)
d) 2 May 2007, Wednesday, 8.00 pm
Venue
The musical will be presented at the University Cultural Centre, 50, Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119279
Ticket Prices
The ticket prices for the musical (Additional $1 TicketCharge fee is payable) are:
a) Category 1: $60
b) Category 2: $40
c) Category 3: $20
Discount Scheme
The discounted ticket prices for the musical (Additional $1 TicketCharge fee is payable) are:
a) Union Members:
i) Category 1: $42
ii) Category 2: $28
iii) Category 3: $14
b) OCBC Card Members:
i) Category 1: $51
ii) Category 2: $34
iii) Category 3: $20
c) Bulk discounts are available with a minimum purchase of 15 tickets for Category 1 only. Discounted package prices are:
i) Package A (15 Category 1 tickets): $600
ii) Package B (30 Category 1 tickets): $1,200
iii) Package C (50 Category 1 tickets): $2,000
Ticket Sales
The musical’s tickets will be on sale starting from 21 March 2007 at all Ticketcharge outlets islandwide. Ticketcharge can be reached at Hotline: 6296 2929 / Website: www.ticketcharge.com.sg.
For Corporate and Group bookings, please contact:
Ms Rathika (Young NTUC) – email rathikasm@ntuc.org.sg or DID 6213 8096
Queries
For more information about the musical, log on to www.youngntuc.org.sg.
For queries on the musical production, please contact Orangedot Productions Pte Ltd:
Mr Freddy Lai – email freddy@odp.com.sg or DID 6534 4423 / HP 9766 6410
Mr Rabil Lian – email rabil@odp.com.sg or HP 9747 0640
For queries on NTUC and Young NTUC, please contact:
Mr Alex Yam (Young NTUC) – email yamz@ntuc.org.sg or DID 6213 8253
Mr Goy Kae Lip – email goykl@ntuc.org.sg or DID 6213 8184 / HP 9792 0650
Sponsors
Young NTUC wishes to thank the following organisations for their kind and generous support:
Patron Sponsor
National Trades Union Congress
Corporate Sponsors
NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd
Singapore Labour Foundation
NTUC Club
NTUC Income Co-operative Ltd
Official Venue Partner
NUS Centre For the Arts
With Support From
OCBC Bank
