Holiday in my Head - September 18

Asylum Theatre

 Acknowledgements 

ASYLUM theatre would like to thank the following theatre nuts for thier generous contributions:

 

Seth Adams, Alex Broun, Joyce Khoo, Iris Koh, Yee Yang 'Square' Lee, G.L. Lundquist, Lian Norman, Oon Shu An, Frederic Soumare, Angelin Tan Lucy, Dora Tan,  Tan Suet Lee, and all the other theatre nuts who wish to remain anonymous.  We know who you are even if the public doesn't--and we love you.

 

Special thanks to: Ivan Heng, Tracie Pang and Emily Hoe.

 

ASYLUM THEATRE LTD. is a registered non-profit organization.  If you would like to be volunteer or make a donation, please contact us at www.asylum-theatre.com.

 

THE STORY OF ASYLUM THEATRE

        The seeds for "Holiday in my Head" were sewn around six years ago when I was visiting my good friend and prolific playwright Alex Broun at a playwriting weekend in Sydney. Alex has been called the "Shakespeare of the ten-minute play," so when he suggested I put together a showcase of some of my work, I took notice. However, at the time I only had a couple of plays I thought were any good. Even though I had success as a director, as a playwright I didn't think very highly of my writing. So, I decided to enroll in the dramatic writing program at NYU in order to learn how to write properly--whatever that means. 

        At the end of three years I had become a father, spent thousands of dollars on an education, gained seventy pounds and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown-- and I literally had become my own worst critic. I had such a low opinion of my ability as a writer that I became extremely depressed--nearly despondent. I began questioning my sanity, and I wondered what in the world made me think I could actually write in the first place. I no longer wanted to write anything: not an email, a Christmas card, a shopping list, not even my name!  The prospect of trying to write a play filled me with such self-loathing I wondered if the nut house was where I rightfully belonged. 

        Thankfully, my friends and family convinced me that my little plays were not the stinking turds I was convinced they were. Since the prospect of actually spending time in a padded cell, coupled with the fact that making theatre was really the only thing I knew how to do, I decided to commit myself to my own little loony bin--Asylum Theatre Ltd.  The idea was that it would be a safe place for people who were crazy about theatre.

        I thought doing a suite of some of my short plays with a group of friends, former students and artists I admired would be a great coming out party.  However, when trying to devise a concept for the show, I couldn't find enough connective tissue in my plays to have a theme. However, Christmas was mentioned in a number of them and they were all the product of my own wacky imagination.  And so, "Holiday in my Head" was born.  I hope you like it.  If you do, please tell your friends.  If you don't, please tell your enemies. 

 

        In the near future we hope to continue serving up high quality theatre that is socially relevant, family-friendly and by all means fun. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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