As part of the Singapore Theatre Festival 2011, Cooling Off Day, written by Alfian Sa’at and directed by Ivan Heng and Jo Kukathas, was originally staged shortly after the General Election 2011. Rare in Singapore, Cooling Off Day is an excellent example of the relativity new form of theatre known as ‘Verbatim Theatre’, what the Americans call ‘Documentary Theatre’, where the text consists of real words spoken by real people, collected and edited by the writer and then performed by actors.
In the electrifying months leading up to the watershed 2011 General Elections, and in the tumultuous months after, playwright Alfian Sa'at interviewed Singaporeans to discover their responses to these searching questions. Boldly putting aside concerns about secrecy, the interviewees opened their hearts to share what they honestly felt and what they truly believe.
An ensemble of six of Singapore’s most versatile actors, play a range of real-life characters, aged from 17 to 70. The result is a playful and poignant piece of testimony theatre that proves how political views are not just the “hot air of coffee-shop talk” but are revealing of both people and a nation.
(Synopsis and Theme)
Why do you vote?
What issues influenced your vote? What does citizenship mean to you?
Covering a wide social and political spectrum, the candid interviews capture the GE experience through the voices of individual Singaporeans – from election candidates to pro-establishment civil servants; from taxi-drivers to teachers; from diehard opposition supporters to young people casting their virgin votes. From the transcripts of these real-life interviews emerges a script that chronicles the momentous event that not only rocked the boat, but created startling ripples that are still widening even now.
The private clashes behind the public debates... the personal convictions behind the party politics... even that unforgettable moment as they finally stood alone in the polling booth with pen in hand, poised to make their mark. These interviews – some hopeful, some fearful, some hilariously frank, some achingly honest – form a portrait of Singaporeans confronting the real meaning of democracy and rediscovering their role in shaping the country's future.

CAST

Performer ......... Jo Kukathas
Performer ......... Najib Soiman
Performer ......... Neo Swee Lin
Performer ......... Rodney Oliveiro
Performer ......... Peter Sau
Performer ......... Tan Kheng Hua

PRODUCTION

Playwright ......... Alfian Sa'at
Directors ......... Ivan Heng, Jo Kukathas
Set Designer ......... Ivan Heng
Lighting Designer/ Technical Manager ......... Teo Kuang Han
Photo/ Multi-Media Artist ......... Chris Yap
Hair Designer ......... Ashley Lim
Festival Team Artistic Director ......... Ivan Heng
Festival Team Dramaturg ......... Alfian Sa’at
Festival Team Producer ......... Tony Trickett
Production Manager ......... Koh Bee Bee
Production Co-ordinator ......... Phua Yun Yun
Stage Manager ......... Keira Lee
Assistant Stage Manager/ Props Mistress ......... Mirabel Neo
Video Operator ......... Samantha Chua
Wardrobe Mistress ......... Nurhidayah Mahadi
Assistant to Director/ Stage Assistant ......... Barney Gopalakrishnen
Stage Assistant ......... Fang Lu