Looking to do something meaningful with your teen ahead of National Day?
Catch Musical Theatre Limited’s Unforgotten The Musical, a tale of memory and legacy played out through the lives of a fresh-faced young doctor and six pioneer generation World War II survivors who form his therapy group at the fictitious Kranji Care Home.
Unforgotten The Musical Review
Unforgotten The Musical takes the audience on a riveting journey as the seniors – too proud be forgotten, yet too traumatised to remember – reluctantly relive their wartime memories and discover the healing power of community.
Directed by Jeremiah Choy, the musical is a living history lesson and penetrating social commentary rolled into one. It capitalises on the unmatchable emotive medium of musical theatre to tackle such weighty themes as mental health, aging and dignity, the generational divide and the soul of a nation in a thought-provoking and, ultimately, hopeful way.
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The original Singaporean production is based on the novel Listening to Letter from America by local geriatric psychiatrist Dr Kua Ee Hock. Set in the late 1980s, it follows a young doctor who has to help a group of senior citizens who are struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after surviving the Japanese Occupation.
The show features moving performances by a cast made up of Abby Lai, Amin Alifin, Audrey Luo, Leslie Tay, Miriam Cheong, Nicholas Bloodworth, Rai, Rebekah Sangeetha, Sugie Phua, Timothy Kua and Xavier Kang.
Stand-out lyrics and music by Jonathan Lim and Elaine Chan effortlessly weave in the soundtrack of the yesteryear and our various national languages to poignantly bring to life the stories of individuals whose lives form the colourful tapestry of a generation past.
With our having just marked the 80th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore last year, it is fitting that Unforgotten The Musical honours the resilience and heroism of our pioneer generation by making their often untold wartime experiences accessible to younger generations – lest we forget.
Unforgotten The Musical is a truly worthwhile watch, for their stories are ultimately our nation’s story too.
Unforgotten The Musical runs from now till 6 Aug 2023 at Drama Centre, National Library Building.
Do note that the show comes with an advisory that it contains “mature themes”, primarily found in the graphic war accounts and portrayals of the disturbing mental effects brought about by trauma.
Get more details about Unforgotten The Musical.
