Sound Plot: Ulu

Background of an old map rendered in green and orange with superimposed white text

 

NTU Museum collaborated with theatre development company Centre 42 for the 3rd edition of their audio plays series Sound Plot, where each edition draws on a certain geographic area in Singapore. This edition zooms in on Jurong West and its surrounding area, where the university is located. 

Writers were invited to respond through audio drama to this fascinating area, guided by the curatorial prompt “Ulu”. Selected writers will work on an intensive 3-week script development phase in October 2024, and will work with a director during the recording and production process in November & December 2024. Audio production will be done in collaboration with Artwave Studio, and slated for release online in January 2025.

Two writers will be selected through an open call, and one writer will be picked from the participants of the NTU Student workshop held in September 2024.

 

Curatorial Prompt

ULU

Jurong West tends to be the butt of our “ulu” jokes. After all, it’s where we seem to tuck away things we’d rather not see: cemeteries, a man-made island heaving with chemicals, and secretive military bases.

But if we look beneath this industrial veneer - always building, always reclaiming - what other stories might we find? Here thrum large swathes of undeveloped secondary forest, rewilding over the memories of the gambier plantations that kickstarted Singapore’s endless development. Here, the coast hugs the mouth of the Straits of Johor, where we can still imagine our deep connections to ancient kingdoms. Here lies a large university town, filled with utopian architecture that tells a story about a world that could be so much better and kinder to the earth. And here lie the hopes and dreams of new families looking to build lives in one of the fastest-growing residential zones on the island, each built-to-order flat remaking the “ulu” face of the Western region. 

We invite you to write a play that reckons in any way with these ideas. Whether you’re curious about the many layers of history in Jurong West; have a story to tell about the diverse range of people who live, work, and play here; or have a speculative tale about its future, we want to hear your ideas!

Student Workshop

Audio Drama Writing Workshop

In September 2024, NTU students were invited to participate in an Audio Drama Writing Workshop series conducted by Centre 42 to learn about writing and producing audio dramas, using the environment surrounding NTU as a source of inspiration.

11 students across the different schools and levels in NTU participated in these three workshops. One writer from the workshop will be selected to further develop their play and have it produced as part of the main Sound Plot series of audio plays.

Workshop 1 was facilitated by playwrights Joel Tan and Danial Matin, introducing the potential of audio and storytelling techniques involved in writing audio plays. They led the students in a walk-and write around some of NTU's architectural highlights like The Hive, Gaia and Yunnan Garden to get them thinking deeply and creatively about the sonic and built environment around NTU, and how it could inspire their stories.

Workshop 2 saw Joel introduce more examples of audio drama writing samples and techniques used to build stories on a sonic level. The students had a chance to write their own short snippets in a creative writing exercise and share their works with the group in a collaborative discussion.

Workshop 3 was conducted by music producer Pan Zai'En of Artwave Studio with an overview of working with digital audio workstations and basic techniques and considerations in creating audio soundscapes to enhance their stories. The workshop concluded with a hands-on session where the students got to try their hand at creating their own mini trailers. 

of 9

Info

Open call for writers (5 Aug - 15 Sep 2024) – open call details at Centre 42.

NTU student 3-workshop series (5 Sep, 9 Sep, 12 Sep 2024) - workshop details at Centre 42.

Launch of audio plays – Jan/Feb 2025 (TBC)

 

Other NTU Museum events:

OneNTU Mural in full - A lion representing NTU on the left with various people to the right

OneNTU Mural 

NTU Museum presents a community mural painted by students, staff and their families for OneNTU Day 2024. Located at AIA Canopy in North Spine, this 11m-long mural designed by Jaxton Su was inspired by NTU and its diverse and inclusive community.

Sound Plot: Ulu

Sound Plot: Ulu is presented by NTU Museum and theatre development company Centre 42 in 2024/2025, an audio drama series paying homage to the diversity of people and the layers of history in the Jurong West region where the main campus is located.
Keyart for NTU Museum exhibition - Sites & Nature: A Collection of Remembering

Sites & Nature: A Collection of Remembering

NTU Museum's 2023 exhibition held at the NIE Art Gallery was an immersive experience tracing Singapore’s journey from a bustling port city to a flourishing garden metropolis inspired by the permanent art collections of NTU and NIE.
Loop Unveiling

A Convergence of Art & Science

The 4.5m tall Loop outdoor sculpture with 1,200 butterflies was created by the NTU Community for The Arc and launched in 2019 with an exhibition 'A Convergence of Art and Science' providing a glimpse into Loop's project development from start to end.
NTU Campus Art Trail illustrated map keyart

Campus Art Trail Launch

NTU Museum marked its 10th anniversary in 2018 with the launch of an art trail around campus with over 40 diverse artworks by students and faculty to state-of-the-art buildings designed by world famous architects and state-gazetted heritage buildings.

NTU Trees: Upcycled - Han Sai Por

NTU Trees: Upcycled

NTU Trees: Upcycled was a collaborative project between NTU Museum and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in 2016 where trees felled to make way for development on campus were given a new lease of life and turned into unique and functional works of art.