CCA Events

Arts, Commentary 12 July 20158 May 2019

An Enemy of the People makes Allies with the Audience

Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Khairillah Irwan (16A01B) and Michelle Zhu (15A01B)

The night started simply enough – supporters, parents, theatre aficionados and casual friends gathered in the Performing Arts Centre to witness Raffles Players’ highly anticipated College Play, An Enemy of the People. Though this year’s turnout did not match the full house of last year, Raffles Players did not fail to impress.

An Enemy of the People brings to the forefront the conflict between the telling of the truth (and the naïve idealism that comes with it) and societal interests. Dr Thomas Stockmann (Naresh Manoj 15A01B), finds himself in conflict with Mayor Peter Stockmann (Rishi Vadrevu 16A01D) over his desire to expose the contamination in the town bath houses. The Doctor’s idealistic conviction to expose the truth and his confidence in the people is contrasted with the Mayor’s pragmatic concerns over how such an exposure would affect town revenue. As the play proceeds, Dr Stockmann finds himself increasingly estranged as the local news agency, the Mayor and the people turn against him despite his efforts to help the city. By the end, Dr Stockmann is lynched, exiled from his town and is left a jaded man, sombrely declaring: “The strongest man is he who stands alone.”

The play’s momentum was effectively sustained from start to finish. The Victorian decorations which adorned the PAC foyer along with a character web generated prior interest and surfaced the key motif of the individual’s relationship to society. The choir piece that was played to the anxious waiting crowd gained significance as it served as an unnerving foreshadowing for the loud and vitriolic scream of the crowd in the lynching they inflicted on Dr Stockmann later on in the play. Props goes to Players for their realistic and creative recreation of a lynching scene by positioning members of the cast in the audience. The shouting and murmuring which the audience heard from the ‘audience members’ around us enhanced the sense of realism, the impression given reminiscent of an election speech gone horribly wrong. If anything, this also aroused our sense of sympathy for the main character whose alienation becomes even more apparent as a further effect.

The lynching scene was a particularly memorable one, allowing us a deeper look into the character of Dr Stockmann. Naresh shone in presenting Stockmann’s desperation and conviction, in the face of an unforgiving and angry crowd. While one admires his zeal towards spreading the truth to the city, one may might also decry his unrealistic idealism and stubborn indecision. This man, presented as a composed man of science, unleashes bursts of raw emotion as he fights against a wall of public opinion in testament to his strong conviction. His consistent claims near the start that he has the ‘people behind him’ become more unconvincing and pitiful as the play progresses – one might even feel some sort of catharsis or grim satisfaction at seeing his illusions shattered and his views irrevocably changed by the end of the play.

The liberal press’ relationship with Dr Stockmann deserves special mention for showing the complex interests determining the actions of societal agents. The idealistic and naïve journalist vibe which Hovstad (Cheang Ko Lyn, 15A01B) the editor of the newspaper channelled showed in the somewhat comical scene where she and her fellow journalist Billing (Rebecca Goh, 15S06O) unveiled dramatically a world in which the ‘liberals would rule’. Yet this idealism is quickly trumped by societal interests and personal interests upon a visit by the Mayor.

Other characters related personally to Doctor Stockmann highlighted further the personal dimension to the conflict. Celine Ng (16A01A) put up a strong performance as the daughter of the protagonist. With her spirited voice and lively presence, her idealism fused with that of the protagonist played by Naresh made for an interesting stage dynamic Her comment about her role as a teacher- “At school we have to stand and tell lies to students!” elicited laughter out of the teachers in the audience. As Mrs Stockmann, Syafiqah Nabilah (15A01B) was versatile in how she oscillated between joyous hospitality and exasperation, resulting in a restrained spunk that reminded the audience of her unwavering, consuming concern for her family. We come to admire her unwavering dedication to her husband, even if it seems a little misplaced, thanks to the strong rendering of both characters.

Aslaksen (Rachel Koh, 15A01A) the moderator for Dr Stockmann’s public speech who piped up every five minutes by saying “Everything in moderation!” brought some much needed comic relief to the play. In the larger scheme of things, especially near the ending, these tendencies highlighted the ability of the artificial and seemingly polite to obscure the often loud and vitriolic Truth, which was a theme the play sought to share multiple times. Manifest in Thomas Stockmann’s interaction with the rest of the characters, the audience is left to reconcile Thomas’ unruly and unbecoming behaviour and the Truth he presents.

Raffles Players with their teacher mentors Mr Ian Tan (extreme left) and Mr Soh (extreme right)

Players impressed with their set, which was both functional and, given its simplicity, did not distract from the characters. This is especially so because the CCA was hit rather harshly by budget cuts, having to cut down significantly on production costs. Nevertheless, this did not affect the quality of the play and one could make the case that the simplicity of the set focused the audience’s attention on the interaction between characters rather than detracting from it.

Of course, as with any production, the play faced its own set of challenges.

Physical and technical issues marred the play somewhat. Very notable were the long transitions between scenes. Their clumsiness had the audience fidgeting uncomfortably with the very visible silhouettes of the actors moving props backstage. The first half of the play felt rather rushed and stilted. From the perspective of some audience members, it felt as though the conflict was set up rather abruptly and without any precluding development. Though of course, this can be attributed to the formidable task Players had of setting the context for the very intricate web of issues that this play confronts.

The College Play elicited praise from audience members, with the HOD of Literature Mrs Nicola Perry remarking effusively that it was “a very strong performance all around.”

Unlike the version of An Enemy of the People recently staged by local theatre company WILD R!CE, the version performed by Raffles Players followed the original text by Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen more closely. An Enemy of the People dealt with political insubordination and one’s man quest to reveal the truth, and the Players did the play justice with their adroit performances. In the words of their director Mr Ian Tan: “No play is as powerful as An Enemy of the People in expressing how lonely the struggle for truth is, and the consequences of bearing [that truth].” It’s safe to say that Players did an excellent job in conveying that message.

Arts, Commentary 2 July 20158 May 2019

Canticum in Natura-lly Good: Vocal Exploits 2015

Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Qiu Kexin (16A13A) and Chew Cheng Yu (16S06L)
Photos courtesy of Mr Toh Ban Sheng, Keane Chua and Raffles Voices

As the smartly dressed performers took their places centre stage, a hush instantly fell over the audience within the newly refurbished space of Victoria Concert Hall. It was thus that the three starring acts for the night – Raffles Chorale, alumni choir Raffles Singers and their Year 1-4 counterpart Raffles Voices – made a sparkling entrance for their annual arts performance Vocal Exploits 2015, immediately filling the hall with comforting, dulcet sighs of one impressive choir overlooking fully-packed turnout.

Held to raise funds for Nepal in the wake of the devastating earthquakes in April, the theme for this year’s concert was Canticum in Natura (Latin for ‘Songs in Nature’). True to its name, the concert showcased a stunning repertoire variously inspired by the beauty and majesty of our natural environment. The theme took on an even deeper throughout the musical extravaganza, as the many songs recalled the joy of appreciating Nature and her vicarious gifts — perhaps an experience made particularly poignant to an audience accustomed to city life in concrete jungles.

The concert started on a high note, opening with Cantate Domino (‘Sing to the Lord’) by Josu Elberdin, which pervaded the atmosphere with pleasant clarity of voices, as the singers passionately produced rousing chants, united as one ensemble.

Following that, in the concert’s first half, the rest of the songs included various works centering around the celebration of the human spirit. I Carry Your Heart with Me (originally a poem by E. E. Cummings) was a gently euphonious song about enduring love, accompanied by sweet felicitous notes played by violinist Carolyn Au (16S03F).

In contrast, Hentakan Jiwa (‘Beat of My Soul’ in Bahasa Indonesia) by Ken Steven was notable for its stirring Indonesian percussionistic rhythm, which Raffles Voices created through clapping and stomping when they took over the stage — evocative of the strength of a beating human heart. In Beati Quorum Via (from Psalm 119:1, Latin for ‘Blessed Are Those Whose Way’), a religious hymn, the choralists blended voices both high and low as well as booming vocals together into one resounding whole.

Those present were able to hear a sundry of different languages throughout the various pieces, some comprehensible to us, some completely foreign – but they had not detracted from the audience’s enjoyment of the plaintive music and instead, as the music went on, they managed to move the audience in their seats simply through the emotional passion of the performers’ elegant voices, communicating in the wordless yet inspiringly universal tongue of music. In particular, there was Stars I Shall Find by David Dickau. With a mellow touch of piano accompaniment and spirited expression, it stood out for its optimistic message of keeping oneself afloat and finding hope amidst adversity.

Raffles Chorale performing in the picturesque setting of Victoria Concert Hall.

After the intermission, the audience saw Raffles Singers, comprising of chorale alumni, taking the stage alongside their juniors for some notable performances. There was a noticeable shift in mood due to the transition, through changes in song choice, to a lighter listening experience – while the atmosphere was still solemn during some pieces, most of the works included were contemporary pieces, which made for a musical style more aurally engaging for younger members of the teeming audience.

The sombre ones – fewer in number this time round – included the notable The Lonesome Road arranged by Simon Carrington, which mixed soulful melodies with contemplative lines about solitude (“Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself / Don’t turn your head back over your shoulder”), to create a song which was deeply introspective.

In their rendition of Gloria by contemporary South Korean composer Hyo-Won Woo, the performers brought to life the piece’s richly nuanced and unique fusion of Eastern musical influences with a rearranged, but still quintessentially Latin, hymn. Our choir efficaciously recreated the might and regality associated with Latin chorale music – combined with their execution of traditional Korean music tempos which had been incorporated into the song, the performance was nothing short of a rousing crowdpleaser.

La Cucaracha, a Mexican folk song, livened up the whole venue with its light-hearted and jovial tunes. Pervaded by the catchy repetitions of ‘ba dum da’ that compelled one to dance along with the rhythm, it ended with a loud, enthusiastic shout of “Olé!” which cracked up many in the audience.

Pamugun, from one of the Philippines’ most prominent composers Francisco Feliciano, was unfolded to the expectant listeners by Raffles Singers. It was a challenging piece better suited for the more seasoned alumni; the song (which told the story of a desperate hunter chasing a bird) tested the waters of typical concert fare, not just because of its rapid-speed rhythm which demanded much vocal agility, but also for a few surprises throughout the song, such as a loud, unexpected shriek halfway which shocked the audience. In all, it was one of the more outstanding performances, demonstrating the mastery of our alumni choristers and rounding off the concert well with a delightful dose of what was unusual.

The next piece brought in several new instruments, such as a cymbal, a bass drum, handbells, and many more curious musical implements. Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre — about the breathtaking wonders of nature big and small — was an intriguing piece: snapping fingers became raindrops, a thunder sheet with the bass drum became thunder; the song slowly built a storm to its crescendo, before leaving the sounds to ebb away gradually. With a slight dream-like quality with the ringing of handbells, the audience was entranced by the thunderstorm that grew in the hall, into a storm which received thunderous applause at the end – truly well-deserved in our opinion, considering the song had been one of the most challenging of the lot to choralist Adrian Wang (16A13A), since it had been “substantially long” while necessitating the seamless “weaving together of voices and several instruments”.

Last but not least, the chorale groups concluded the concert by singing the Institution Anthem upon requests for an encore, as per Chorale’s tradition. There was an invitation extended to all Rafflesians present to join in with them – which they did, boldly singing together in what was a joyous and stirring rendition of the Anthem.

All attention is on the performers, as they conclude their song.

Looking back on the eventful night, the first thing one could have praised Raffles Chorale would have been, right off the bat, their ability to work with all the chosen songs from dissimilar composers or artists, and yet still present a coherent and unified theme of celebrating our world overall. The result was a smooth show that had been enjoyable for both the viewers as well as the performers. No less impressively, their performance that night showed no signs of sloppiness or disorganisation despite being prepared within just a few months – the chorale members were all deeply engaged in their own performances, swaying along to the music as they sang. The solo performances were similarly impressive; they supplemented character and depth to the song with much enthusiasm. No wonder it had been enjoyable to such a degree for the performers then, as Adrian Wang also revealed that the chorale groups had found “performing in the Victoria Concert Hall for the first time a highly breathtaking experience.”

Having said that, another area that had impressed was definitely the choice of so many — up till then — oft-unheard pieces hailing from a diversity of cultures around the globe. The general consensus was that the repertoire had achieved an enlightening and eye-opening showcase of music which could have largely gone unnoticed by the average music-lover otherwise. The unique and slightly quirky setlist had come about because “Chorale wouldn’t be performing for the Singapore Youth Festival this year,” recalled Mr Toh Ban Sheng, director of Canticum in Natura. “We had more freedom in choosing our repertoire, so [we took] the opportunity to perform long works with various instruments.”

For seasoned music aficionados, the originality of some notable pieces – manifest in the recreation of nature’s sounds in Cloudburst, and the seamless, yet whimsical alternation between fast-paced bars and slow cries of Pamugun – would have delighted. There had been no lack of thrills for the casual listener there either: the songs had taken the audience on an emotional roller-coaster, riding from the high of sprightly jingles, to the sobering melancholy of some sad ballads.

And as for the average student there, there had certainly been some pieces with timbres mostly unfamiliar to them in this day and age (austere works such as Gloria or Beati Quorum via). Still, in the bigger picture, that mattered little because at its core, the whole affair in Victoria Concert Hall had been a sincere performance with the best mix of chosen pieces, marked by the choirs’ emotional conveyance of the human heart and soul through the sheer will of voice alone.

Setlist

Cantate Domino by Josu Elberdin
Stars I Shall Find by David Dickau
The New Moon by Ēriks Ešenvalds
Sonnet 43 by Kelly Tang
Hentakan Jiwa (World Premiere) by Ken Steven
If May I Fall In Love Again (World Premiere) by John Pamintuan
I Carry Your Heart with Me by Randall Stroope
Cantico de Celebración by Leo Brouwer
Beati quorum via by Charles Villiers Stanford
Gloria by Hyo-won Woo
That Lonesome Road by James Taylor, arranged by Simon Carrington
Contrapunto bestiale alla mente by Adriano Banchieri
La Cucaracha arranged by Robert Sund
Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain by Claude Debussy
Pamugun by Francisco Feliciano
Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre
Let the River Run arranged by Craig Hella Johnson

Arts, Commentary 20 June 20158 May 2019

The Greatest Show on Earth: Rockout 2015

Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Karen Cuison (16A01D)
Photos by Jacqueline Yu (16S03L) and Brenda Tan (16S03P) of the Raffles Photographic Society

On the 29th of May, the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) was transformed for the ear-splitting extravaganza that was Rockout 2015. This year’s edition of the annual showcase put up by Raffles Rock was served well by its circus-themed aesthetic, which lent the show a whimsical edge.

Mark Ho (15S06Q) as ringmaster for the night.

After much popcorn and even more raving, Rockout 2015 finally got started. Opening the night was Year 5 act The Diversion, with hearing-loss-inducing renditions of Muse’s Supremacy and The Trooper from the popular Iron Maiden. Tee Ming Zee (16A01A), newly-elected chairperson of Raffles Rock and guitarist for The Diversion, explained that the rock-focused song picks were meant to showcase the technical proficiency of each and every band member. She adds, “Supremacy was our choice to open because it has a very grand, theatrical feel that set the stage for the rest of Rockout!” By their final song, the quintessentially ‘80s Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses, they were clearly at home on stage.

Next up was Austere, the Year 5 act that got the audience head-banging to Make Me Wanna Die (The Pretty Reckless) and Bring Me To Life (Evanescence). Like The Diversion, Austere also rounded off their set with a sing-along friendly Guns N’ Roses number, Sweet Child O’ Mine. Vocalist Jemi Lu (16S07B) quipped that Rockout had been an “exhilarating” experience, and that “being able to do what we love together made the hard work worthwhile.”

Both Year 5 bands got off to a mildly shaky start, but both bands soon eased into controlling the stage and hyping the audience up well before their respective sets were over. They also demonstrated a remarkable chemistry, which was no mean feat given that their bands were formed just over two months ago.

The next act to inherit the stage was The Misfit March, the first of two Year 6 bands. Buoyed by the strong performances of the previous acts, the band of ‘Cinderellas and Tin Soldiers’ shone during their powerful renditions of pop hit Chandelier (Sia) and a mash-up of Lady Marmalade (Christina Aguilera) and Back in Black (ACDC).

“I can’t believe they wrote a song about Buona Vista!” “WHAT?!” “The Ballad of Buona Vista right?” (overheard in the crowd)

Taking turns to take the stage with The Misfit March was Debonair. An enthusiastic mosh mob lapped up the more contemporary, crowd-pleasing hits they played like Locked Out of Heaven (Bruno Mars), and The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! At the Disco. Debonair lived up to its moniker, delivering numbers ably and confidently.

The Year 6 rockers were clearly seasoned performers, and it showed in their constant awareness of each other as well as their ability to engage the crowd. It was a real pity that as Rockout’s ante was being upped exponentially, the crackly sound system and uneven mix were becoming increasingly apparent. Tee Ming Zee shared that this was a result of changes in venues and sound operators – part and parcel of preparing for a live gig. Nonetheless, the Year 6 bands remained undeterred, and moved on to deliver a lovely, rousing performance finale in the form of Carry On by fun.

This year, instead of leaning towards the standard eclectic modern rock and alternative music, Rockout 2015 brought with it a more diverse range of songs, with the inclusion of pop tracks, which in turn increased the general appeal of the set. Some might have found the move towards pop music too populist (and opposed to the non-conformist ethos of rock music), but as Mark Ho revealed, “We chose our songs because we wanted to give the audience a good time, since we were the closing band, and I think we were able to do that. For that, we’re proud of ourselves and our setlist.”

Reflecting on the process of organising this big gig, Ming Zee revealed that they had faced many obstacles, including the General Paper Common Tests and working with external sound vendors for the first time on the day of the gig itself. This year’s event had brought new challenges, because on top of just managing the music, Rock also “had to manage publicity, merchandise, videos, logistics and costumes.” Instrumental to accomplishing all that and more was Mr Ian Toh, Rock’s music teacher, who provided “guidance in thematic direction”, and Mrs Lena Lui, Rock’s teacher in-charge, who coordinated and supported the entire Rockout planning process.

And finally, we bring you some closing words about Rockout’s experience in this quote from Jemi: “The atmosphere and audience was amazing, we had a blast and we hope you guys did too!” We did.

Setlist
The Diversion:
• Supremacy by Muse
• The Trooper by Iron Maiden
• Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses

Austere:
• Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless
• Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
• Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses

The Misfit March:
• Chandelier by Sia
• Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• Lady Marmalade/Back in Black (Mashup) by Christina Aguilera/ACDC
• Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
• Plug in Baby by Muse

Debonair:
• Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! at the Disco
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon
• Panic Station by Muse
• Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
• Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars
• Beggin’/Toxic/Can’t Hold Us (Mashup) by Madcon/Britney Spears/Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Postscript:

Reflecting on his experience performing for the Raffles Model United Nations Dinner & Dance just five days after The Greatest Show on Earth, Raffles Rock drummer Leo said “I have cellulites.”

Rock member Bing Tian quipped, “Dumbledore’s sock!”

Guitarist Keming, deeply moved by the audience’s encouraging cheers, said tearily, “Banroc Funnels!”

Clubs, Commentary 7 June 20158 May 2019

Step Up for Gear Up 2015

Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Daphne Tang (16S03M) and Samuel Loh (16A01A)

gear up — ODAC’s annual Gear Up event never fails to excite Rafflesians, cycling amateurs and well-traveled pros alike.

Really, what better way is there to spend the mid-term break’s first weekend other than covering 67.74 kilometres (although it certainly felt longer than that) of Singapore’s most exciting biking trails with friends? Raffles Institution’s Outdoor Activities Club (ODAC) offered many treats at their annual overnight cycling event Gear Up – including paths along homely farmsteads in Lorong Halus (almost anomalous to the kind of urban ubiquity we’re used to seeing everyday), stunning city sights along Marina Bay – no less awe-inspiring than they usually are – and Park Connectors around the heartlands. Gear Up began at East Coast Park and traced Singapore’s eastern perimeter, then cut a path through Ang Mo Kio-Bishan, Marina Bay, to return back to the starting point. The journey was expected to take an estimated 7 to 8 hours with four brief rest stops, and ahead of us lay several daunting challenges, like seemingly endless inclines, staircases, and a sleepless night. Participants were split into groups of 10, each led by several ODAC members who, having cycled the route up to 4 times prior in preparation, were more than acquainted with its challenges and well-qualified to guide the motley pack. “The practice runs mainly helped us build stamina for the long distance trip. It’s a really great opportunity to bond as an ODAC batch and get to know each other better as well,” Ryan Chua (16A01A) laughs, “It’s also meant to get us properly familiarized with the route so we don’t lead y’all into a ditch!” Sure enough, our ODAC guides exuded just the kind of confidence and leadership we needed to keep the pedals going. They were serious when it came to safety and ensured each group member was coping well, but that didn’t stop them from being great sports as well — laughing and joking along with the rest of us.

The 67.74 kilometres journey took us around Singapore’s eastern end through vibrant cityscapes and quiet, empty roads.

The night began at East Coast Park, where close to a hundred rented bicycles had been lined up neatly in rows outside the bike rental station, safety lights twinkling in what seemed almost to be an early Christmas. By the time we arrived to find our groups, Rafflesians were already milling about performing bike checks and taking photographs together as they awaited their turns to set off. ODAC members distributed energy bars and glowsticks, the latter of which quickly adorned wrists, bike handles, or backpacks, adding to the medley of bright colors in the blackness of night. Between the starting line and the first rest stop lay 20 kilometres of road to cover. Encouraged by a gentle sea breeze, participants cycled through East Coast Park on a straight path out, then moved along the seemingly ever-lasting Changi Coast Road as the deafening whir of planes roared overhead. Close to 2 hours had passed when the groups first arrived at Changi Village for a short stay to cool off their sore limbs. Shortly after, we were off once more, this time up the north-eastern road towards Punggol Waterway, cycling through scenic boulevards surrounding by domineering housing estates only recently completed, and thus still unoccupied. The tranquility offered a serene and enjoyable calm, but also a strange sense of solitude. Nevertheless, we sought comfort and security in the companionship of our fellow groupmates and soon found ourselves on deserted roads past Lorong Halus’ farms. The lack of high-rise buildings and relatively little lighting allowed us to view the moon and stars in their fullest, unreserved grandeur — a privilege rarely found in Singapore’s densely urban environments. As we began to tire out, every bit of encouragement from our peers became even more important to give us just that little boost we needed to finish the trip. Entering the heartlands, the groups weaved past familiar neighbourhoods and reached another rest stop nestled within Bishan Park, greeted by ODAC members handing out drinks and bananas before the journey’s final leg. Another 2-3 hours later, we were breezing down the expansive Formula One racetrack towards the Singapore Flyer. Finally, each groups lined up for pretty pictures by the cityscape before making their way slowly back to East Coast Park. “The night was really cold,” Syazwani Nonis (16S03B) said, “But it also felt warm on the inside because of the comfort and freedom we had at Gear Up and I’m really glad the group I was with enjoyed it so much too!”

The stunning night cityscape greeted us at our final pitstop before the last leg to Gear Up 2015’s finishing line.

Although Gear Up 2015 gave participants just as much physical and mental exhaustion as it did good sights, if not more, you can be doubly sure Raffles ODAC easily fulfilled its promise to deliver 68 kilometres’ worth of amazing memories riding the stars and racing the night together.

Clubs, Commentary 6 June 20158 May 2019

Dine In the Dark 2015: Food for Thought

Reading Time: 7 minutes

By Tasharani Palani (16S03P), and Trudy Chak (16S03D)

Photos by Raffles Interact, and Bryan Goh (16A13A)

“Good luck, and don’t get lost!”

The usher at the door chirped before we plunged into almost-swallowing darkness. I could barely make out the faint outlines of bulky banners surrounding the entranceway. Well, how bad could it be?

Once the door had shut, we were plunged into swallowing darkness. Even more, we were sent into complete disorientation. The mild buzz and hullabaloo within the hall mirrored that of turmoil, all in a dither. Faint yet shrill rings of traffic light beeping, high-pitched jingles and clanging of tambourines and bells all clamoured for attention. Is this confusing mess what the blind deal with everyday? How do they garner the patience and strength to handle such stress and disorientation over and over again?

With the lives of a human train of eight participants as my responsibility, I walked and groped around in the pitch-blackness, trepidation and mild excitement overlapped each other at the back of my mind. What if I fell? Would everyone come tumbling behind me and end up in a massive heap of impossible-to-disentangle flailing limbs? How could I make sure everyone- a jolting pain smothered my face– I had hit a wall.

Confusion erupted behind me, a chain reaction resulting from my vocal yelp and jerky halt. From then on, prioritizing the safety and well-being for my diners became my sole mission for the night. Get them to the table. Actually get each of them on the seats. Get them talking. Get them food, drinks, ice cream, second-helpings, tissue, anything and everything. Get them to the washroom. Get them back safely. Satisfy all the needs, and prioritize their well-being above all else.

Behind the scenes, the set-up in Albert Hong Hall just before the arrival of the diners.

It’s interesting to look behind the scenes of Dine In The Dark such as the above described ushering experience and wonder how the entire event was pulled off in pitch-black darkness. “How on earth did they manage to make the hall completely dark?”, “How do they even find their way around?” and other murmurings along those lines were common questions overheard from the diners throughout the event. For all they knew, maybe each one of us Interactors wielded Deluminators. In particular, the self-assembled obstacle course segment, In Their Shoes, raised a lot of buzz amongst diners.

The obstacle course was designed with the idea of experiencing walking in the shoes of the visually handicapped on a daily basis in mind, incorporating activities such as crossing a road and using tactile paving for guidance. In the words of the Organizing Team, they “wanted to simulate how bewildering it is to navigate in a crowd of noise and people without sight.” It clearly served its purpose well though. During the event dry-runs, us Interactors realised that even with practice and familiarity, it doesn’t get any easier. What more for first-time diners? A J1 diner mentioned that she found it difficult “because I really couldn’t navigate my way through” and “felt vulnerable and helpless”, and finally came to the conclusion that “sometimes as normal people, we can’t really empathize with the blind so I felt that really was an eye-opener for me”.

To add on to that sentiment, most are unaware that the term ‘visually impaired’ doesn’t necessarily mean being completely blind. Most of the visually handicapped suffer from eye conditions that still allow them to see, albeit partially. As a result, they require costly visual aids and do face a fair amount of stigma in society for not being ‘truly’ blind. The hugely insightful sharings by Mr Leow and Ms Christina, who are both representatives from SAVH, gave both Interactors and diners a deeper perspective of how a visually impaired person’s daily life is like and any challenges they may face. The Q&A session in particular received quite a few laughs especially when we heard about Ms Christina’s encounter with a stranger off the streets of New York. However, I was most struck by Mr Leow’s empowering sharing that while he may have lost his sight, he didn’t lose his vision. It gave me renewed respect for the visually impaired and reminded me that they too have their own hopes and dreams in spite of the huge challenge they face.

Following that, the presentation of audio-described movies Up, and The Avengers, was a unique highlight of the event which added another dimension to the experience for diners. It allowed them to further better understand the lives of the blind via experiencing first-hand how audio description is capable of making visual media such as theatre, cinema, and television, more accessible for the blind and partially sighted people. For the curious, audio description is a form of narration that involves a narrator describing happenings on screen during natural pauses in the audio, or otherwise, for those who may have difficulty seeing what goes on on screen.

With a creative twist, the programme continued on with wittily-named games such as ‘Blind-Fold’, where all diners were unknowingly tasked with folding origami hearts and paper planes, ‘Private Eye’, where during dinner, diners were encouraged to take a stab and pen down their guesses about the enigmatic mystery dishes. In addition to that, the lottery ‘Spot On!’ had diners scrambling for their tickets in an attempt to decipher what their numbers were. The lucky numbers were printed in Braille lettering onto diners’ official tickets, an innovative addition to the concept behind the event as a whole, which aspired to provided diners with more insights into the lives of the blind.

Throughout the night, there was a general feel-good buzz in the atmosphere and a distinct energy pulsing in the hall. Perhaps it was the good music that brought it about, thanks to the astounding musical talent performing, with the likes of Ampersand, Triumviratus, and our very own Interact Band taking to the stage with upbeat crowd pleasers. Ampersand ignited the good vibes for the night with a soul-searching rendition of Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men. Across the afternoon and evening, Take One took us back to the instrumental basics for both lunch and dinner, performing their creative takes on various songs such as Somewhere Beyond The Sea by Frank Sinatra and Oppa Gangnam Style by PSY, as well many others between lunch and dinner.

From the Faith Music Centre, we had the pleasure of hosting Cactus Rose and the Visually Impaired Band (VIB), both of which gave outstanding performances. Notably, one of the performers in the VIB hit the ripe old age of seventy-three this year, yet he still continues to perform with gusto and delight.

Possibly the brightest part of the event was right before it ended, diners were told about the hidden light sticks under their chairs and pulled them out just as the Interact Band burst into a rousing performance of See You Again. Amidst good music and a glowing sea of lights, Raffles Interact had its first Dine In The Dark photo!

However, due credit must be given to our esteemed seniors who ensured that the event went along smoothly without a hitch. We asked Vint Seng (15S03H), one of the OT members, about his experience and speaking on behalf of the OT, he shared that, “For this year, we wanted to go back to DITD’s roots; it was always meant to illuminate a world of darkness so we can see the light that is the courage of the visually handicapped.” Judy Hong Ruilan (15S03R) noted that “When we were conceptualising the experience for 2015, we wanted it to be more than just the food or the performances; We wanted to showcase the strength and the talents of the visually handicapped. We hope that DITD provided some “Food for Thought”, and motivated diners to act in whatever capacity they can- be it by donating, volunteering, or offering help to any of the visually handicapped who cross their paths.”

The J2 Organizing Team at DITD! (Not pictured: Abraham Lee, Gabrielle Ong, Goh Yiling, Joyce Lee, Kathleen Ng, Megan John, Nadia Nasuha, Nicholas Tan)

The unanimous echoed sentiment of an eye-opening, enlightening and extremely meaningful experience was evident we asked diners about their experiences. If any indication of the event’s success, people have mentioned that it really lent greater awareness as to how the visually impaired feel and how they now have added respect for their independence and even greater appreciation for sight.

To quote Tan Kai Wei Felix (15S03U), he mentioned that he “definitely got a better idea of what it is like being completely blind and the difficulties that they face.” Jia Wei (16S03O), another J1 diner noted that “there are many things that we take for granted but should actually be thankful for”. Along the same lines, a few J1 Interactors reaffirmed the hope for diners to be able to “now empathize a bit more with the visually impaired”. Apart from all the fun and games, they wished for diners to “realize just how hard it is to be visually handicapped, so that they may cherish their vision more.”

Personally, as an Interactor, the entire experience raised an extensive number of questions and provided a thought-provoking range of insights into the difficulties faced by the blind. It has compelled me to reflect and build upon my at best- skimpy understanding of the very real challenges faced by them.
In retrospect, Dine In The Dark 2015 will be remembered for its good food, great music, and most importantly, the very best of dining experiences- where dining is more than just a meal. Raffles Interact would like to thank all who came down to show their support and hopes that everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously! We will (not) see you next year!

In addition, Raffles Interact would like to thank these talented student performers for coming down to perform!

Ampersand: Wu Bing Anthony (15S06L). Ian Ho Jin Yi (15S06H), Thia Zhang Wei (15S03G), Lorraine Fong Rei (15A01C) and Jonathan Pong (15S03G)

Take One: Ding Yu Chen (15S06E), Casey Chan Fay Ching (15S06H), Ian Ho Jin Yi (15S06H), Wu Bing Anthony (15S06L) and Chua Zhe Xuan (15S06J)

Interact Band: Pong Jia Jing, Jonathan (15S03G), Saik Chin Wen, Sharon (15S03O), Daniel George (15S06D), Megan John (15S03F), Gabrielle Ong Hui Min (15S06A)

Triumviratus: Ethan Ong 4P, Muhammad Syazwan Bin Ramli 4C, Yeo Jun Wei 4C, Ganesh Gunasekeran 4D

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