Four centuries ago, alchemists were obsessed with the transmutation of base metals into gold. Unfortunately, their attempts at this impossible task were futile and their failures eventually led to the downfall of alchemy. Yet, their legacy lives on.

Alchemy is based on experimentalism — getting your hands dirty and actually making something. Perhaps you may have found yourself getting frustrated or bored with carrying out countless titrations during Chemistry lessons.  In that case, why not join us for an Alchemy session? At Club Alchemy, we believe that chemistry practical sessions should be fun, fulfilling and provide great learning opportunities. Thus, we place a great emphasis on new, exciting and interactive practical sessions. You will have the opportunity to conduct experiments you don’t normally see in the H2 syllabus, and have a feel of how enjoyable Chemistry practical sessions can be!

What exactly do we do for our practical sessions? No, we don’t try to turn lead into gold; neither do we use fancy chemicals to create explosions. Generally, all our experiments are down-to-earth and centered around phenomena observable in our daily lives. By making our practical sessions easily relatable, our members can gain a greater appreciation of the chemistry that exists all around us. Making alum crystals from Coke cans, making different types of fruit jams (that we actually got to eat!) and investigating the carbonation of soft drinks are just some of the many practical sessions that we had in 2014. Moreover, our members are exposed to chemistry concepts both inside and outside the H2 syllabus. One of the experiments we did actually came out in a J1 Promos question! How’s that for having fun and learning at the same time?

Besides having practical sessions, our club also holds theory sessions, during which we explore slightly beyond the H2 syllabus. Sharing sessions by our members constitute a key component of our theory sessions — we actively encourage members to conduct presentations on chemistry-related areas that interest them. These can range from being extremely serious (Quantum Chemistry, Oscillating Reactions) to being more light-hearted (‘Why movies get all the Chemistry wrong’).

Other than theory and practicals, there are also fun sessions where the club gets together to play some games, such as trivia competitions and chemistry-related scavenger hunts. There are also a variety of other activities lined up for our members throughout the year, such as managing the science Inter-House Competition booths and organizing Eureka!, a biannual science quiz. In 2014, our members also had the opportunity to conduct sessions for international students at the RI-Maurick Water Conference.

As a club, we are a closely knit bunch of people who are passionate and inquisitive about Chemistry, looking to have fun doing what we love. We welcome everyone and there are no prerequisites to join Club Alchemy. So, if you are someone who is interested in learning more about chemistry and carrying out some lab work, do consider joining Club Alchemy. Our sessions are conducted every Monday from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. and we have a whole list of exciting activities planned out for you, so we hope to see you soon!

The black box, lit by the house lights, witnesses audience members streaming in as music plays overhead. The actors are backstage, frantically running through lines while the lights and sounds personnel go through their cues once again. The doors close, and the house lights fade. An announcement reminding the audience of theatre etiquette is made before the spotlight fades in. Its orange glow intensifies, and the audience put their hands together.

The show has started. Welcome to Raffles Players.

Raffles Players is a group of enthusiastic, dynamic and extremely noisy people. Despite our hectic, and sometimes confusing JC schedules, we come together in the big black box known as the Theatre Studies Room to share and experience our common passion for theatre together. And almost inevitably, it’s often a place of relief and solace for us, a kind of weekly (and eventually daily) refuge from everything else.

We have regular CCA sessions on Wednesday afternoons, which include workshops on aspects of theatre ranging from acting to costumes to sets, and many other fun but intensive activities. These workshops are held by different groups of people, be they professional theatre companies, teachers or even our own members with distinct interests, knowledge to share and thoughts to express. Of course, as production nears, session frequencies increase, and the schedule will get more intense. Everybody will get a chance to be involved. Each person will play a valuable role in the CCA during productions, which require publicity, sets and costumes committees, a lights and sounds crew, stage and production managers, the stagehands and, of course, the actors. Don’t worry if you’re only confident of performing one specific role – we have several productions spanning across the year. You’re sure to find something new or something you’re good at, or maybe something you’d like to try a hand at, in Raffles Players. Here, you are free to experiment and explore, unshackled from any kind of logical restraint. At Raffles Players, creativity and freedom of expression are highly valued.

Raffles Players also organises the highly anticipated IHC Remix: Dramafest each year. All five houses’ participants will get the chance and exposure to go through the whole production process, regardless whether you’re a Player or not. During Dramafest, be assured of a whole load of fun, bonding and all things good that theatre can provide. Sure, it will be hectic and stressful at times, as is any production, but Dramafest provides a different kind of platform for you to find new friends and learn about theatre, all in the name of friendly competition.

The most important thing in Raffles Players that we treasure is the friendships forged over intense production periods. The immense amount of effort put in by the members is only possible with the support of each other, and that is what makes every single drop of blood, sweat and tears worth it in the end. The amount of inside jokes stemming from half-dead conversations is only a sign of how much crazy fun we all have while working through arduous times and pursuing what we really want to do – to put on a good show for the audience.

If a part of you was intrigued while you were reading this, or even way before this article was published, do try out at our auditions. They will comprise a simple performance of a given script, which includes elements of improvisational and acting skills. Alternatively, if you’re interested in all the other great aspects of theatre, for example in costumes or sets, please do prepare a portfolio that exhibits your previous work to showcase your talent in that specified domain! As the chairperson of Raffles Players, Mohamad Rafi B Kamsani Chia (15S07D), puts it, “There are some things in Players that will make you mad or upset. But there are just some things that are worth the long nights and tiresome rehearsals – it’s the people you meet along the way that fuels the energy of Players. That’s what’s special.”

On behalf of our members, both Rafi and Rachel, as the chairpersons of Raffles Players, wish that you will follow us into those tiring nights and experience it for yourself. We look forward to seeing you!