Oil spill: ‘Are we all complicit?’

WHEN news broke last weekend of the oil spill in Singapore waters, playwright Cheyenne Alexandria Phillips was heartbroken. For years, Singapore has had great success in cleaning its waters, so much so that even the endangered hawksbill turtles have returned to its beaches to lay their eggs.

“But when I saw the news image of the kingfisher drenched in black oil, I couldn’t bring myself to think about all the wildlife species that’ve been impacted by the 400-tonne spill,” she says.  

Phillips is currently preparing for her new play Playing With Fire. It explores the country’s petrochemical industry and its widespread implications on the environment, as no other Singapore play has done. Produced by Checkpoint Theatre, it is the result of several interviews she carried out over months with different people who work or have worked in the oil and gas industry.

“I spoke with a process engineer, a refinery manager and a few others. What I’ve learnt is that many people are proud of the work they do. They see themselves as helping Singapore industrialise successfully to the point that we can have a high standard of living.”

On the other hand, the interviewees are also aware of the long-term implications of fossil fuels on the environment, and the need to move towards sustainable sources such as solar energy.

“For ordinary Singaporeans who have benefited from the country’s success as a top-ranking petrochemical exporter – are we all complicit in the environmental impact that comes with it? That’s one question the play seeks to explore,” she says. “It’s not about pointing fingers, but about understanding our shared responsibility.”

All the interviewees spoke to Philips on conditions of anonymity. She says it was a struggle for her initially to respect their points of view, because of her own passionate feelings about the environment.

“But at the same time, I recognise that if we don’t relate to these people and their human needs (to work, to feed their families, and so on), how are we going to convince them to transition to green energy? How are we going to persuade people who have worked in the petrochemical industry for years to retrain and work for, say, a solar energy company instead?”

In the play, a young writer (played by Rebecca Ashley Dass) investigates the oil and gas industry – only to find troubling connections between it and her own family history. The other actors are Cheryl Lee, Gosteloa Spancer, Nora Samosir and Rafaat Hamzah, who play various characters related to the industry. The play is directed by Claire Wong.

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Phillips says: “I hope the audience comes away with the understanding that there are different stakeholders here, who – whether we realise it or not – include the man on the ground. Because of that, there is so much foundational and ground effort that needs to be put in place before Singapore can make a transition into a different energy source.”

Playing With Fire runs from Aug 15 to 26 at the Drama Centre Black Box. Tickets from Sistic.