Synopsis:

Sound Plot is Centre 42's audio plays series, each edition drawing on a certain geographic area in Singapore. This edition, produced in collaboration with the NTU Museum, zooms in on Jurong West and its surrounding area, where the university is located.

This is an invitation for two writers to respond through audio drama to this fascinating area, guided by the curatorial prompt "Ulu". Selected writers will need to be available for 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.

This is a paid opportunity, and commissioned writers will receive $1,000 each.

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!