Review
We went in deep with this highly personal performance organised by local nonprofit startup Split Theatre (supported by the National Arts Council). "Don't Cancer Me Can" is the culmination of the theatre group's inaugural “Work On The Self” programme, a recurring 10-week initiative funded by the National Youth Council (NYC) – and features the Split Theatre Ensemble.
Stepping into the Play Den at the Arts House, the cast was already on stage, unbothered about the audience walking in. They are the permanent artistes of Split Theatre who was part of the Work On The Self pilot programme – who are now serving as facilitators for the inaugural intake of participants. The Ensemble includes a voiceover talent and stunt performer with Autism Spectrum Disorder; a circus contortionist; as well as current undergraduates at the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and LASALLE College of the Arts, among others.
If you're expecting a conventional theatre performance, you might just be surprised. "Don't Cancer Me Can" invites both the actors and audiences to go deep within; the script is up to interpretation. In fact, the script was devised from the actors' real-life anecdotes, with lines from current affairs interspersed in between – from the NOC saga to parliament debates.
"Don't Cancer Me Can" is still running until December 21 – so it's still not too late to get your tickets at splittheatre.com.