Talks & Workshops

​Middle (working title)

by National Library Board
20 May • 07:30pm

​Middle (working title) explores identity and the struggle between cultural and national belonging through the playwright’s experience growing up in Singapore. It examines language as both a bridge and barrier, performed in Mandarin with a mix of English and dialect.

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Middle (working title)
Middle (working title) delves into the complexities of identity and the tension between cultural and national belonging. Through the playwright’s personal experiences growing up in Singapore, the play explores the challenges of navigating multiple languages—English, Chinese, and dialect—and how they shape one’s sense of self. From the rigid structures of the education system to the unspoken expectations of family and society, the work examines how language becomes both a bridge and a barrier in understanding identity. As the playwright reflects on her journey of learning English and Chinese in school, she grapples with questions of belonging, heritage, and self-expression. Performed in Mandarin with a mix of English and dialect, this reading invites audiences to consider the deep connections between language and identity, as well as the evolving nature of cultural identity in a multilingual society.
National Library Board

The National Library Board (NLB) manages a network of 27 public libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB promotes reading, learning and information literacy by providing a trusted, accessible and globally-connected library and information service through the National Library and a comprehensive network of Public Libraries.





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