By D.Y.

Lesbian voices are front and centre in Wild Rice’s new verbatim play, providing a distinctly Singaporean context to queer storytelling with unapologetic confidence. 

The title of Wild Rice’s newest play is a declaration: the repetition of a single word, GIRLS, three times over. Just in time for Singapore’s unofficial Pride month, the play dons the colours of the lesbian flag and sports an all-female cast, marking a bold declaration of held space for Lesbians with a capital L, not just on the theatrical marquee but also, in the broader Singaporean discourse. It is particularly remarkable considering how often Lesbianism is overlooked in contemporary queer theatre. And so when asked, ‘Who runs the world?’, naturally, a current surges through the audience, meeting the question with a roaring: ‘GIRLS!’

But what exactly is lesbian? From the onset, playwrights Alfian Sa’at and Deonn Yang (who also directs) confront this central question with immediacy and a self-aware cheekiness. From undercuts to carabiners, IKEA’s DIY furniture to convent schools, no Lesbian stereotype is spared as the ensemble (comprising Farah Ong, Mehr Dudeja, Tan Rui Shan, Eve Voigtlander and Yap Yi Kai) attempt to contain the answer in rapid-fire discussion. But beyond the humorous recognition of stereotypes, Alfian and Deonn also point out the complexities of the lesbian experience, weaving in between how certain values like inclusivity may be inextricably tied to a Lesbian identity while other stereotypes like nesting may actually be a product of age and general womanhood, rather than solely sexuality. It is then with this intrepid curiosity that Alfian and Deonn introduce various verbatim sections themed around common lesbian experiences like ‘Discrimination’ and ‘(finding) Community’. 

Bookended with vibrant, scrapbook-inspired multimedia (by Lynette Quek, also the sound designer), each themed section is curated with excerpts of real interviews that are conducted by Alfian and Deonn themselves. The actors then channel different interviewees to recite their words verbatim, lending a palpable layer of authenticity to the storytelling. It often feels like actors are doing less creating and more re-creating. The verbatim theatre genre is not unfamiliar to Alfian, yet in GIRLS, Alfian’s collaboration with Deonn have made the often heavy-handed exposition of the verbatim convention not only accessible but heartfelt.

Seeking to tell varied experiences across the spectrum of Lesbian experiences, the pair effectively navigates the intersections between Lesbianism and other social categories like religion, disability as well as age. GIRLS then steers clear of simply being an intellectual exercise by balancing ideological questioning with the natural charm and wit of its interviewees. Personal anecdotes, which range from recognised figures like singer-songwriter RENE (Tan Rui Shan) to anonymous submissions like Max (Farah Ong), have been aptly curated to maintain the interviewee’s voice while making it suitable for the stage – to the playwrights’ credit. 

However, towards the end of the 100-minute runtime, the expository nature of the verbatim text did continue to bleed through, leaving the audience feeling noticeably restless. Particularly, as the epilogue invites all the interviewees to wrap up their various stories, the show closes on what feels like a laborious stumble for the finish line; as waves of character take center stage with their closing sentiments. Then, perhaps as a last-ditch effort, an uplifting sing-along is thrown in, to some relief, together with a cameo appearance from Wild Rice’s disco ball (gracing the auditorium once again in exhausted celebrity). While the song remains a welcome gesture of celebration, in instances like these, the inconsistencies of the verbatim text become glaringly apparent; therefore prompting this iteration of GIRLS to ask for a surgical interrogation into its excess bulk.

On the other hand, one must also recognise the actors who maintain a tight-knit camaraderie throughout the show. In particular, Yap consistently delivers as a versatile vessel for the people she represents. Be it in the boisterous spirit of standup comedian, Nebulous Niang, or in the charged quietness of a parent unaccepting of their child’s queerness, Yap proves to not only possess a great sensitivity and attunement to her characters, but a remarkable presence throughout the performance. Matching her in this is Tan, who has crafted a commendable level of detail into her characters. Be it silently mouthing the lyrics to Rene’s songs as Rene or the blank-face stare of Niang’s nameless ex, Tan captures a lively truth to her characters that elevates not only her text but energises her shared scenes. 

Dressed in a clean purple pastel (costume designer Theresa Chan), the rest of the ensemble also succeed in delivering flexible performances, navigating each character with distinct choices as they weave in and out of Grace Lin’s set. Playing host to Faith Liu’s lighting design, her set manifests as a row of multicoloured, rainbow chairs on a series of circles and arches which is immediately soft and welcoming. Then, taking into account the idea of Nesting, Lin’s set, together with its cushion stools and curvatures, paints the whole venue as a kind of open nest. 

In that sense, Deonn and Alfian’s living-room theatre or in this case, Nest, invites audiences to be at home – to embrace what we know, to learn more than we do or to simply sit with what we are uncomfortable with. Listening to the stories, Deonn has created an atmosphere of community where we, the audience, are learning alongside the actors in real-time; where the authenticity of the text is given space to resonate into every body. It is with this humility and willingness to both educate and be educated that blurs the boundaries between audience and performer, straight and queer, young and old. It is precisely this humility that towards the end of the play, allows us to see the actors, with no supplementary costumes, as not just a generic ‘girls, girls, girls’, but singular humans carrying their own stories – as we all are. 

Photo Credit: Wild Rice

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS plays from 11th to 27th June 2026 at Wild Rice @ Funan. Tickets available here

Production Credits

Cast Mehr Dudeja, Farah Ong, Tan Rui Shan, Eve Voigtlander, Yap Yi Kai Playwrights Deonn Yang, Alfian Sa’at Director Deonn Yang Set Designer Grace Lin Lighting Designer Faith Liu Yong Huay Sound & Multimedia Designer Lynette Quek Costume Designer Theresa Chan Hair Designer Ashley Lim Make-Up Designer Bobbie Ng