2023


A Triple Bill
The Puppets Are Alright
“Peepbird cuts right into the chrysalis of whatever this current time is, and made a space for me to confront this strange new world as it swivels, in all its decays and joys.” – Centre 42
Synopsis
The Puppets Are Alright is a celebration of all things puppetry. Featuring a triple bill of puppetry-led works, The Puppets Are Alright marks the final production of Ellison Tan and Myra Loke’s 2019-2023 stint as The Finger Players’ Co-Artistic Directors.
The show is a culmination of The Maker’s Lab from 2020 to 2023, an initiative by TFP to nurture and grow builders and designers of puppets and objects.
ARTIST’S LINE UP

THE BENCH
Playwright: Ellison Tan
Director: Myra Loke
TML Maker / Puppet Designer & Maker: Marilyn Ang
Performers / Puppeteers: Ian Tan, T. Sasitharan
On a bench, Paul and his father tell each other stories, disregard their unhappiness with reckless abandon, and allowed their souls to be healed by each other.

PARTING
Playwright & Director: Oliver Chong
Puppet Designer & Maker: Loo An Ni
Performers / Puppeteers: Alvin Chiam, Angelina Chandra, Jo Kwek, Rachel Nip
A relationship has run its course and a man sits at his desk to finalize a separation.

MY FATHER THE AI MACHINE
Playwright: Chong Tze Chien
Director: Liew Jia Yi
Puppet Designer & Maker: Sim Xin Feng
Performers / Puppeteers: Doreen Toh, Neo Hai Bin
She clings on to her dead husband’s memories, lovingly preserved in an electronic shell of him in her house. He lives on in a fictional world that she tenderly and tirelessly recreates, while their son is caught in between, unable to move on.
DATE & TIME
22–25 Feb 2023 | 8PM
26 Feb 2023 | 3PM
VENUE
Drama Centre Black Box, NLB Level 5
100 Victoria St, National Library, S188064
Find on map 🌐
DURATION
2 hrs with 15 mins intermission
LANGUAGE
English and Mandarin (with English surtitles)
ADVISORY
Advisory (Some Mature Content)
PRODUCTION CREDITS
THE BENCH
Playwright
Ellison Tan
Director
Myra Loke
Puppet Designer & Maker
Marilyn Ang
Performers / Puppeteers
Ian Tan
T. Sasitharan
Assistant Makers
Bernice Ong
Prop-erly
Ray Ng
PARTING
Playwright & Director
Oliver Chong
Puppet Designer & Maker
Loo An Ni
Performers / Puppeteers
Alvin Chiam
Angeline Chandra
Jo Kwek
Rachel Nip
MY FATHER THE AI MACHINE
Playwright & Mentor to Director
Chong Tze Chien
Director
Liew Jia Yi
Puppet Designer & Maker
Sim Xin Feng
Performers
Doreen Toh
Neo Hai Bin
Co-Artistic Directors
Ellison Tan
Myra Loke
Programme Manager (The Maker’s Lab)
Daniel Sim
Costume Designer
Lim Chin Huat
Lighting Designer
Faith Liu Yong Huay
Set Designer
Azy Alias
Sound Designer
Serene Tan (Stan)
Production Manager
Lam Dan Fong (The Backstage Affair)
Production Coordinator
Alethea Koh
Stage Manager
Tennie Su
Asst. Stage Manager
Saffa’ Afiqah
Crew
Basil Wan
Surtitle Operator
Shang Dianjun
Sound Operator
Raymond Goei
Key Visual Photographer
Tuckys Photography
Key Visual Design
Goh Cher See
Photography Archival
Benson Lim
Videography Archival
Eric Lee Yuen Loong
Grace Baey
Special Thanks
Jed Lim
Edmund Khong
GALLERY
REVIEWS
“The Puppets Are Alright is sophisticated storytelling about grief and love“
– The Straits Times
SUPPORTED BY:
