We’ll fight, we’ll fight! Win or die!

Our war cry rings loud and true. Three months of sweat and tears saw to the birth of our SYF piece, The Runner of Marathon by Stella Kon, depicting war in ancient Greek. The play speaks of freedom, of victory, of passion, and armed this very same set of core beliefs; we had set off towards the conquest for glory.

The journey, perhaps, had begun back in Secondary Two, where with crossed fingers and bated breath, we had watched our Red Badge seniors walk up the very same route we would take in two years to come. Needless to say, the Singapore Youth Festival Competition holds utmost significance within the Performing Arts circle, that even back then we had understood its prestige.

Pardon me such an unbecoming metaphor; but the SYF preparations, it happened like a whirlwind. In the hustle and bustle of Secondary Four life, we were presented with the script, and met with our director, our beloved Ms Serena, for the first time. The following months saw the progression and development of both us as performers, and our character counterparts, concurrently.

Of course, what is drama without some backstage drama? The intensity of our rehearsals steeped to a crescendo, and heightened tensions coupled with self-induced pressure and expectations were the catalysts for numerous breakdowns (and even several anatomical injuries). I am proud to say, however, that despite all these, we held on to each other. Be it a pat on the back or a simple nod of reassurance, it worked wonders in keeping our sanity.

We end our rehearsals physically exhausted, mentally drained. Throbbing aches develop in our sore joints from going through the motions repeatedly, and not to mention from transporting our ten ton sets from one place to another. Now, who is to say producing a Drama piece is a task for “slackers”?

Ironically, our SYF date was scheduled on 1^st April (and no, this is not a joke). Our mounting anxiety was evident, and on our final rehearsal the day before, we were a bag of rattling nerves. When 1^st April finally arrived, we were champing at the bit. Decked out in our costumes, galleons of gel coagulated in our hair, and with our hearts racing and palms clammy with excitement, we piled onto the bus to the destination where we will showcase the fruits of our three month labour.

Backstage, behind curtains, we took our places. Yes we have gone through this twenty, thirty, forty times, but this one run would determine the ultimate results. In typical St. Nicholas fashion, we sent about a round of whispered prayers and well-wishes. The adrenaline coursed through our blood as the curtains were drawn. We fell silent, narrowing our focus to the very moment, to this very play.

It felt like mere minutes. We filled the stage with resonating energy, injecting our love for drama, our passion for ELDDS into every line, every rise and fall of an action. As the very last word, “freedom”, permeated the area, each of us in the SYF group must have felt a burst of emotion within them. We have done it, and more importantly, we have done it together, for LD!

No matter the results, we have returned in triumph! ;D

Here, on behalf of the SYF cast and crew, I would like to thank all our teachers and friends for their unwavering support throughout the rehearsal period, as well as the thoughtful notes and messages left for us on the day of SYF. Also, we would like to give a huge THANK YOU to Ms Serena, our director, and Mr Adrian Wong, teacher in charge, for the guidance, the pep talks, and much more. WE LOVE YOU ALL!