Events
I AM SEAWEED
Mm And Something Happens Here (MASHH)/Cheryl Ho & Rachel Lee
(Singapore/Australia)
Asian PremiereBook Now
It’s a thrill but with a lot to say about mental health and personal reflection and why people with the biggest grins might hide the biggest sadness.
— Keith Gow, Theatre First
Screaming, overwhelmed and frustrated: I just want to tear out my skin and smash my head against a wall!!! Screaming, overwhelmed and frustrated: I just want to tear out my skin and smash my head against a wall!!!We are always pushed to do more work, learn more, and rely on ourselves. What does it really mean to just relax and be yourself? Can we grow while loving and trusting ourselves instead of shaming or comparing ourselves to others?
Meet Sheryl with an 'S.' She lives in Singapore, which also starts with an 'S.' Like us, her life hasn’t been easy. But that’s okay.
Join Sheryl on her journey. She wants to be able to adapt to situations / adaptable/ resourceful and strong like Seaweed. Step into a world with dark and serious images and videos and weird presentations. There’s also a lot of ‘weed’ from the sea...
I Am Seaweed was a Judges’ Pick and nominated for Best in Theatre at Melbourne Fringe 2023. It is a multimedia show that provides a break from the stress of everyday life.
Some audience members will be seated on cushions on the floor during the show, so please dress comfortably.
Artist Statement
“I Am Seaweed looks at how trying to always be strong can hurt us. This can mean working even when you're sick, hurt, or ignoring your feelings just to finish the job.“Freelancers often have to make tough choices. They might have to choose between health and money, finding balance or working very hard, and deciding between relationships and new opportunities.
"I was used to this tiring way of living. To be the 'strong' person I thought I should be, I gave up two important things: my health and my who I really am. I realised I wasn't alone feeling this way.
“Through this show, we hope that you will think about how you approach work and life. What kind of life do you really want? Can we be kinder to ourselves and each other?”
In a society where we are constantly pushed to be more productive, skilful and self-sufficient, what does it mean to 'just be?'. Can we grow from a place of love and trust instead of shame and comparison?
Meet Sheryl with an ‘S’. Sheryl lives in Singapore, which also begins with an ‘S’. Life hasn’t been the smoothest for Sheryl, like for us all. No problemo.
Follow Sheryl on her quest to become as resilient and as versatile as Seaweed. Enter a world of moody projections, quirky presentations, satirical ads, and a lot of the 'weed' from the sea.
A Judges’ Picks and Nominated for Best in Theatre at Melbourne Fringe 2023, I Am Seaweed is a multimedia theatrical show that creates space for respite in an overwhelming world.
Please note that some audience members will be seated on cushions on the floor for the duration of the performance. We advise that you dress comfortably for the show.
I Am Seaweed resonates with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed or persistently pressured to keep striving for more, for better. It's an entertaining and good-humoured show that asks us to look inside ourselves and question why we do everything we do and if it's actually making us happy.
— Myron My, MyMelbourneArts
A joyous work featuring a stunning, off-the-charts-charming performance from Cheryl Ho. Bold, energised, achingly-human and super sharp
—Judge’s Pick, Melbourne Fringe Theatre
With support from Theatre Works (Australia)There will be a dialogue with the artists after each performance, with speech to text interpretation available upon request for the dialogue on 17 January 2025. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com by 6 December 2024.
Artist Statement
“I Am Seaweed looks at the pursuit of resilience at the expense of the self. This can look like pushing through an illness, injury, or numbing one’s emotions just so the work gets done.
“If you’re hustling as a freelancer, there are many trade offs: Health vs Money, Balance vs The Hustle, Relationships vs Opportunities, etc.
“It gets exhausting but this rhythm was what I was used to. I was sacrificing my health and ‘who I was’ to be the ‘resilient’ person I ought to be. And I realised that I was not the only one feeling this way.
“Through this show, we hope audiences might reflect and reconsider how we show up at work and in our lives and choose to live in a way that’s more intentional. What kind of life do you actually want to live? Can we show up with more compassion for others and ourselves?”
Date & Duration
16 to 18 January 2025, 8pm
18 January 2025, 3pm
60 minutes with no intermission
Location
NAFA Studio Theatre
Price
$38
*20% discount for students, NSF, senior citizens and PwD cardholders
Accessibility Features
Open captions in English for all shows.
Singapore Sign Language Interpretation for 8pm show on 17 January 2025.
Rating
To be advised
︎ @MASHH | @CherylHoHoHo
︎ Cheryl Ho Hui Ee