By Zenneth Lim (Chairperson), Gu Jiaqi (Vice-Chairperson), Lim Xin Ci (Secretary), Tong You Hong (Drama Section Leader), Liu Xiuping (Songwriting Section Leader), Vera Ong Liwen
Have you ever wondered how your favourite Chinese songs are written? Do you love watching Chinese dramas? Or have you ever wished to meet people like you, who appreciate Chinese language and culture? If this sounds like you, then Chinese Literary Drama Cultural Society (CLDCS) is definitely the CCA for you!
CLDCS consists of the Songwriting and Drama sections, and both are closely linked. You can choose to join either one or both sections (highly encouraged!). Regardless of your choice, we guarantee you will make lasting memories, forge strong friendships with like-minded individuals, and ultimately, have loads of fun!
Songwriting
Ever dreamed of singing your own handwritten, self-composed songs on stage? Our songwriting section is the one for you! Songwriting sessions are held once a week, on Tuesdays 4pm-6pm, in the MEP studio.
As long as you enjoy vibing to music and are interested in creating your own songs, our instructor Mr Keith Kwok will definitely help you in your songwriting journey even if music theory and composition are not your forte. Fun Fact: Mr Kwok has previously worked with big names like JJ Lin, Kit Chan, and many more!
Through light-hearted and interactive CCA sessions, members are encouraged to share and collaborate with one another. Takeaways from our sessions include (but not limited to) chord progressions, harmonies, and motifs, which are key elements of any pop song. Members also write their own songs, both individually and in small groups. There are no limits on what your songs can be about, from the highs of youthful pleasure to the lows of unrequited love.
Previous batches of songwriting members got to record their songs in Mr Keith’s recording studio, which would then be professionally mixed and mastered, just like any other pop song.
During special events like National Day or Chinese New Year, CLDCS is proud to be involved in creating special covers to hype up the festive atmosphere! There are also many opportunities to perform and sing your heart out onstage!
Our performance at Bishan CC during National Day 2023!
Recently, CLDCS had even managed to invite Xiaohan, an award-winning Singaporean lyricist who has written many popular songs for JJ Lin, Tanya Chua and A-Mei, to conduct a workshop for us! We had an enjoyable time learning about the intricacies of writing lyrics in Mandarin! Look forward to potential similar opportunities during your journey in CLDCS!
What’s a better memento to take away from your JC life than your very own hand-crafted songs? Perhaps only the everlasting memories with your batchmates on- and off-stage!
Drama
“Must I be good at acting to join the CLDCS drama section?” Fret not! A complete play requires a lot more than just actors. From directors, scriptwriters, to makeup artists, and prop managers, there are many roles that you can choose to take on in the drama section.
Our drama sessions are conducted every Wednesday, 3pm-5pm, in the Theatre Studies Room, with the occasional extra practices on Friday afternoons just before productions and SYF (which you can look forward to in 2024!)
The theme of drama sessions varies based on the time periods—from rehearsals before our annual production or SYF to acting and direction sessions. Mr. David Wong, our drama instructor who’s a veteran theatre practitioner, provides advice and tips on how we can write our own scripts and teaches us the most expressive ways to channel our inner emotions onstage.
《珊珊来迟》presented by our drama section for annual production
Apart from what one sees onstage, our production thrives with a committed crew of makeup artists, lights and sounds managers, and prop producers. Other than fun memories that you might take away from your time in CLDCS, we hope that your venture into our drama section will provide valuable insights into the workings of a complete production and equip you with valuable drama skills, from writing a good script and acting in it, to directing a production and working backstage.
Beyond the stage, our in-house script writers and directors are the heart of each play, giving life to a variety of stories. From deep family dramas to sweet teenage romances, our team works hard to transport audiences into the magical world of theatre. No theatre experience? No problem! You’re wholeheartedly welcomed!
CLDCS as a Whole
In our annual production, 翠谷回响 (Cui Gu Hui Xiang), members of the songwriting section get to perform their songs live and the drama section showcases plays which they have worked on tirelessly. Everyone in CLDCS has a role to play and are all key to the success of our concert.
This year, our production was another major success, seeing a nearly full-house performance. In 2024, we hope that you can become a part of us so that we can create even greater harmonies and more captivating stories for the audience, and more importantly, fun memories for ourselves!
To many of our existing members, CLDCS feels like a big family, where most of us find comfort after our tiring school days and JC workload. Outside of CCA times, many of our members also meet up during holidays for batch outings and bonding sessions. Love belting out to Mandopop, but your friends have different music tastes from you? Our batch karaoke sessions are definitely the ones for you!
Batch of 24’s CCA outing!
You don’t have to fret about language proficiency! You need not be a language expert to join our CCA. Our goal is to nurture a love for Chinese culture, no matter your language skills. What matters most is your willingness to learn from peers and mentors.
Our CCA trials involve enjoyable activities to connect with seniors and experience our usual CCA sessions. CLDCS boasts a welcoming and enjoyable environment – everyone is welcomed to join our close-knit CCA family! For a deeper glimpse into CLDCS, do visit our Instagram page: @ri_cldcs!
We hope to see you in 2024!
