CATFISHED 猫鱼 THEATRE PLAY 2021

Support Needed for my Personal Passion Project

Thank you for considering this fundraising project.

My name is Dennis Toh 卓庆成 and I am a freelance actor and academic in Singapore. You could check out my personal page: https://linktr.ee/dennistohsg

I am turning to Gogetfund to get possible financial support for this passion project of mine. I know that if I don't try, the staging will never materialise.

I have recently applied to NAC Digitalisation Grant and was rejected. The reasons cited was 'content was not suitable for general masses consumption'.

One thing I learnt is that if one door closes on you, go find other doors.

I am hoping to get more support towards this project by raising enough funds to get work started. This entire process has not been an easy one. Writing the script has taken close to 2 years with multiple revisions. I had 2 readings and have also passed the script to a few existing playwrights in Singapore.

I hope to stage this play in June 2021 and help raise more awareness about the perils of technology, and how it potentially could alter the human and social dynamics of love and relationships.

Acting in Singapore

As an actor, I have been working hard to get work in the industry. It is not easy considering the small entertainment scene we have here. Since back in 2015, I have participated in more than 20 commercials, 3-4 Mediacorp Chinese dramas, and a few theatre productions. Having a breakthrough in this career seems to be a more philosophical notion than an actual one. It is hard to quantify one's work from a success standpoint.

In 2020/2021, my personal aim is to fight for my own break throughs. I might have crossed a certain desired age and vibe in chasing after my aspirations; but I like to adopt a never say die attitude in creating opportunities for myself. Thus working on my own plays and music would be upcoming focus in my creative pursuits. Of course, I am still very open to taking on projects - commercials, dramas and theatre plays.

Teaching at local higher level institutions like Curtin, Kaplan, MDIS and Temasek poly will remain as my dedication towards academia and imparting knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation. I hope to be an advocate on areas relating to advertising, PR, social media and arts and theatre,

More about the Play:

The play centers on the lives of 3 women and their relationship woes intertwined in the midst of technological advancements. Facebook, Tinder, Instagram, Whatsapp are modern communication vehicles used to connect people across borders, time, spaces and physicality. The advent of technology has allowed people to find love, relationships and sex in all places we all once felt was impossible.

What happens when these social platforms hinder the building of a healthy relationship instead? Should we blame technology or should we blame ourselves, who are fundamentally responsible for all our own actions?

After a third party who took away the love of her life, Celia turned into a “No String Attached” Cougar. Actively on Tinder, she dates younger guys and frequently arrange ‘ONS’ with them. Emotionless or guarded? No one really knows because even Celia herself is lost in her own web of deceit. A twist of events made her question her life and actions.

In her 20s, Bee Ling was so career minded, she ignored the pursuits of eligible guys who were interested in her. Now that she has reached the big 30 and her high-flying career is set, she decides she is in a good place and it is time for love. After a failed speed dating experience, she decides to start off with baby steps through online dating apps. Can she find true love online? Or is she going to be stringed along?

Forever 21 is Audrey. Very different from her pals who are seeking love, she is very much in love, or so she hopes people think. Married to her boyfriend of five years for two years, the couple has been together for seven going eight years. Yet, it seems that the honeymoon period is over, as theirs become a sexless marriage. Audrey thinks that James loves the Internet more than he loves her, James thinks that Audrey has an unhealthy obsession with posting perfect looking pictures online. As they are more connected online, they are more disconnected offline.

Key Themes explored in this play: Cat Fishing, Cyberbullying and Modern Love.

Key parties/budget required

1 Director

9 Actors

1 Stage Manager & Set | Stylist | Make Up Artist | Sound and Lighting

Blackbox Rental ( 8 Days )