Continuing with its efforts to produce new and original Singapore plays, ACTION Theatre proudly present the premiere production of Postcards from Rosa by award-winning playwright Desmond Sim (Beautiful Boxer) as part of its Singapore Theatre Oasis programme.

A handmade comedy of Peranakan proportions produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham (Pleasure Factory) and directed by Loretta Chen (The Swimming Instructor), Postcards From Rosa is a hilarious, heartfelt and magical play about Bibik Rosa, a Peranakan grandma from Singapore’s Katong, who decides to go all the way ‘down under’ to visit her grandson after he’s stopped writing her.

Bibik Rosa carries with her a little suitcase containing a stack of postcards her grandson Benny has sent her from all over the world. Through her grandson, Rosa has ‘seen’ the Pyramids of Egypt, the Niagra Falls of America, the Big Ben of London, the Great Wall of China – all without ever leaving her little estate Joo Chiat, right in the heart of Katong. For years, they keep in contact through their postcards. Rosa writes to tell Benny about the good old days. Benny writes to let his grandma know what the future holds.

But one day, the postcards from Benny stop arriving.

As Rosa is growing old, and a little less sure of “living to a hundred”, she decides to take the trip of her life. There are a few important things she has to personally tell her grandson before her memory becomes too misty from the years’ passing.

Award-winning veteran actress, Neo Swee Lin (Phua Chu Kang), stages a one-woman show as she takes on the role of Bibik Rosa – from a 7-year-old to a 70-year-old – as well as every character which Rosa chances upon in her journey to discover.

A magical journey of laughter, hope, tears and discovery, Postcards From Rosa is also about life seen through a pair of cataract-clouded, but still sharp-as-an-eagle Peranakan eyes. Inspired by the memory of the playwright’s own grandmother, this is a most lovingly written Singapore play with an abundance of humour, pathos and beautiful lyricism.

Come see it with your whole family and all your friends. Postcards From Rosa opens an enchanting and nostalgic window into one of our nation’s most unique and treasured cultures so we can experience it together in all their warmest glow and most glorious colours.

 

Production Details:

Running Time: 75 mins

Cast: Neo Swee Lin

Director: Loretta Chen

Playwright: Desmond Sim

Tickets are being sold at Sistic the following prices:

Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday Evening, 8pm
Standard – $40

Friday & Saturday Evening, 8pm
Standard – $45

Saturday & Sunday Matinee, 3pm
Standard – $35

For more information, please visit the Sistic website.

Postcards From Rosa will be staged at The Room Upstairs @ ACTION Theatre’s 42 Waterloo Street from Nov 15 to Nov 25.