The Lesson: A Workshop

“The Lesson: A Workshop” begins with an experiential encounter with “The Lesson”, a participatory theatre piece exploring land issues and democratic processes in Singapore. “The Lesson” was first performed at the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2015 to critical acclaim. Together as part of the trilogy of It Won’t Be Too Long, the impactful participatory performance was lauded by local media as one of the best productions of the year in 2015.  The encounter is followed by a dialogue and discussion exploring the aesthetic qualities of participatory work, as well as to have an understanding on the dramaturgical structure of such works.   ABOUT THE LESSON In any place where land is limited, space – both physical and psychological – comes at a premium. The Lesson asks questions about what forces are at work in shaping our space, and whether there is enough space for a shared heterotopia. The audience of The Lesson is presented with a scenario whereby the city has made plans for the development of an old housing estate. However, there is little space left and therefore an existing facility in the area must be demolished. What will stay, and what will go? The audience enters this scenario and participates in the decision-making process. Under the guidance of the facilitators, the audience will learn about the costs, risks, stakes and sacrifices that come with creating a community.