Play It Write With Alfian Sa’at

He’s met Sir Ian McKellen and written plays that defy Singapore’s censorship laws. Playwright Alfian Sa’at muses about the pressures of being controversial and finding his place in Singapore
By Selene Yap

CHEEKILY flamboyant yet down-to-earth, Alfian Sa’at a lover of traditional teh-o [tea without milk], is Uniquely Singapore(an). He’s a candidly capable overachiever, having his first play produced at the age of 19, and first book published at 21.

The 30-year-old’s illustrious decade-long career started when he was chairman of the Raffles Junior College Drama Society. He’s since written notable productions like sex.violence.blood.gore, which underwent the scrutiny of censorship laws, and Homesick, which, with its theme of biculturalism and family, opened the 2006 Singapore Theatre Festival.

The recipient of the 2001 National Arts Council Young Artist Award for Literature, and the 2005 DBS-Life! Theatre Awards for Best Script, also penned the final installment of the critically-acclaimed Asian Boys Trilogy, a series of plays exploring homosexuality and society.

Get to know Alfian Sa’at.