My emotions blurred as I watched my play from ‘The Other Side’
I want to continue writing stories about rare disease survivors
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In my previous column, I shared my experience of stepping away from performing in my own play, “The Other Side,” and trusting that the work could continue without me at its center.
This column picks up where the last left off: the moment the play met its audience, and I found myself watching from an unexpected perspective. “The Other Side” was developed through BEYOND DIS:PLAY, an inclusive theater program for disabled artists at ART:DIS, Singapore’s leading arts charity dedicated to creating opportunities for disabled individuals in the arts.
I originally wrote the play with the intention of performing the lead role myself, but by the time the showcase arrived, that was no longer possible. My dear friend Sherry Toh, an SMA News Today columnist, stepped into the role. With this recasting, the character’s name changed from male to female. The story remained unchanged, but the body that carried it did not.
Last-minute change pays off
The production was directed by Claire Teo, a Singaporean thespian with vision impairment who took on her first directing role alongside veteran local actor Karen Tan. Because the recast occurred just three months before the show, a full-scale rebuild of the production wasn’t realistic.
The team decided to present the work as a dramatized reading rather than a fully staged piece — a decision that proved to be correct. Without elaborate staging, the focus remained on the text and the relationships. For the first time, I experienced my own writing without having to manage breath, posture, or physical limitations. This time, I was listening, not performing.
The title, “The Other Side,” shifted from a metaphor to a lived reality.
The play follows a young adult with muscular dystrophy and their older sister, who is also their primary caregiver. Set in a near-future Singapore where assisted dying has been legalized under strict conditions, the story unfolds after a terminal diagnosis compels the siblings to confront decisions neither wishes to face.
The play doesn’t take sides; instead, it dwells in uncertainty, care, fear, and love, exploring how quickly these emotions blur together. An AI companion, voiced by creative narrator Su Paing Tun, serves as a reflective presence, giving shape to the questions the characters cannot voice.
I am deeply grateful to Claire for steering the production through unforeseen challenges; to Sherry for embracing a demanding role despite limited training and rehearsal time; to Karen for her steadiness and professionalism; to Su for grounding the narration; to veteran playwright Verena Tay for her guidance; and to BEYOND DIS:PLAY lead trainer Peter Sau for holding everything together behind the scenes.
As Rare Disease Day approaches at the end of February, this experience has clarified my direction. I want to continue writing stories about rare disease survivors and using theater to foster awareness and representation for our community in Singapore — even when I am standing on the other side.
Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.
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