“Manifesto,” a play split into four parts that explores the relationship between artists and the government, has been given a rating that restricts viewers younger than 18 years old from seeing it. This rating was given to the show a day before its opening night and on the same day its final script was submitted to the Media Development Authority. The reasoning behind the rating was that the play offered a take on mature social and political themes.
One of the founders of the theater who is also helping to direct the play disputes this, saying that young people deserve to take on challenging art by themselves and without the intercession of the ratings system. However, the theater is issuing refunds to individuals under the age of 18 who had previously purchased tickets, as they will not be able to see the show. Schools that had also purchased tickets for underaged students to see the play will also be receiving refunds.
The show’s four parts all explore the relationship between art and government control in different ways. The first part examines the story of a young artist who must leave his loved ones during a stage of political upheaval. The second part shows writes who have been detained by government security forces. The third part of the play reflects on artists looking for a place to freely express their creativity without interference from the government. The fourth part takes place some time in the future with a theater collective learning about their secret past.
The play is challenging in of itself regardless of its politically tinged script. Tweaks to the script and plans for the show were made time and time again to accommodate the diverse cast of actors. The production has been working with the Media Development Authority for some time on the play, including involving the group with the changes to the script and multimedia aspects of the show. The Media Development Authority had warned organizers that the stringent rating was a strong possibility, but final word was not received until the submission of the final script — made after deadline, and just one day before the opening night of the play. Works of art can receive this rating if they depict contentious race or religious issues, feature lifestyles outside the most widely accepted norm, high sexual content or nudity, egregious violence, and cursing.
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To read more about the play, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/singapore-play-about-role-of-artists-gets-r18-rating.