Inspiring other women with their real-life stories

OFFICE manager Molly Lim has always dreamed of acting on stage, but has kept her passion under wraps - until this weekend, that is.

The 61-year-old will be performing in Women of WINGS: Their Stories, Our Inspiration, a theatre production to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Society of WINGS, a non-profit organisation offering women aged 40 and above programmes to empower them to be happy, healthy and financially secure in their retirement and later years.

"My dream finally came true - upsized - (because) never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be part of a major production," she quips, comparing the opportunity to a "package wrapped in a golden bow".

The fund-raiser will feature the real-life stories of 12 women like her, who have had to overcome unexpected challenges and benefited from WINGS.

WINGS president Janice Goh says: "WINGS hopes to inspire more women through this theatre production, by showing what it means to be happy, have meaningful relationships and simply live well."

She adds: "This aligns well with our mission to empower women to embrace ageing with confidence, by enabling them to take responsibility for their happiness, health and security so that they can make a difference for themselves and their communities."

Popular artistes such as singers Rahimah Rahim and Robert Fernando, actresses Yeo Yann Yann and Nora Samosir, and theatre star Frances Lee will also appear in the show, which is directed by Jeffrey Tan and produced by Annie Pek.

Tan, who was approached by WINGS volunteer and ex-television producer Andrea Teo to helm the production, says the audience can expect "a big celebration and a rolling good time with real stories, familiar songs and dances about being a women in Singapore". It will be presented like a 'live' stage chat show hosted by Yeo and Samosir.

Tan is a veteran in Singapore theatre, having previously conceptualised and directed local productions for companies like Act 3 Theatrics, TheatreWorks, The Necessary Stage, Action Theatre, Toy Factory Productions and The Theatre Practice.

More recently, he worked on Open Homes for this year's Singapore International Festival of the Arts and Island Stories for the National Heritage Festival 2017.

He describes working on WINGS: Their Stories, Our Inspiration as a "rewarding experience" because he got to witness, first-hand, the non-professional actors grow in confidence on-stage.

"This project is very different because I am working with real stories from these WINGS women, who have been through many life challenges from family, career and personal choices while evolving through the different stages of womanhood," he says.

As a man, he also saw the show as a unique opportunity to better understand women and how they think, feel, love, work and play: "Their resilience, determination, commitment and love for friends, family and people in need is very inspiring; and it is not every day that we get to hear what women think and go through."

Tan cites his late mother, Betsy Koh, who died suddenly three years ago of a heart attack and major stroke, as the inspiration in his life.

Describing her as a "creative, talented and resourceful person who lived her life fully all the time", he recounts that she gave up her hair salon and make-up business after getting married to look after him and his younger sister; she supplemented the household income by being a nanny and home seamstress.

"Without fail, we would travel to somewhere new every year - imagine, I had been to 13 different countries by the time I was 13 years old!" says Tan.

"I learnt so much about life, love, people and the world through her; (and) I miss her dearly and wish she could watch this heartfelt play by these talented and strong women.

"My mum was always at all my productions. I am sure she will also watch this one from afar."