Local theatre company Nine Years Theatre (NYT) is venturing into Theatre for Young Audiences for the first time ever this July, with their new Mandarin play Phinny & Wally. Recommended for ages five to seven, Phinny & Wally invites you to dive into an enchanting underwater world with Phinny, a gentle dolphin, and Wally, an enthusiastic whale.

In their vibrant ocean home, filled with coral figurines and playful adventures, these unlikely friends explore the wonders and face the challenges of the sea. With ship threats and pollution encroaching on their home, Phinny and Wally discover that unity and friendship are their greatest allies. Together, their unbreakable bond reminds us that true friends never leave each other behind, no matter the tide.

Through producing plays made for young audiences, NYT hopes to expose children to high-quality Mandarin theatre, and grow a future audience that appreciates Mandarin theatre in Singapore. Co-founder and Artistic Director of NYT, Nelson Chia said: “NYT has a long-term vision of theatre being a part of Singaporeans’ everyday lives. We hope that exposing children to theatre, especially Mandarin theatre, at a young age would be a step towards achieving this vision. ”

Phinny & Wally is a reminder of the importance of relationships – both human relationships with our friends and family members, as well as the relationship we have with the environment around us, and draws attention to ocean pollution issues that the two characters face such as plastic waste and oil spills which threaten to destroy their homes. As such, NYT is collaborating with Plastify to create part of the set with found and recycled items. “We want to encourage children to be mindful that there are such issues going on, think about whose homes we are intruding into, and for them to care about the environment,” said Cherilyn Woo, Playwright and Director of Phinny & Wally, also Associate Director of NYT.

Besides exposing children to arts and cultural performances, this performance provides an opportunity to expose children to the Mandarin language outside of a classroom setting, in turn sparking their interest in the language, and is a fun and interactive play that allows young parents to bond with their children. In addition, at the foyer, a bounty of plastic awaits the audience, reminding them of the environmental issues we face today. This is part of the pre-show experience, which promises to be interactive and educational, inviting the audience to be invested in environmental responsibility, and preparing them for the magical underwater world experience ahead.

“There’s a lot that can be learned through friendship, like the importance of embracing different personalities. We all need human connection, and friends can give you courage and help you do greater things,” says Cherilyn.

Phinny & Wally plays from 27th July to 4th August 2024 at the Drama Centre Black Box. Tickets available from Peatix