First Ever LASALLE Creative Writing Graduands Take the Stage
Year 2 Diploma in Mass Communication
Module: News Writing
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Writing was the final art form that needed to come into the picture’: LASALLE Provost.
By Karin Chew Shi Yun
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LASELLE’s first cohort of MA Creative Writing graduands read their works aloud for the school’s annual graduation showcase on May 19, with supporters filling the Student Lounge.
Graduand’s expression and tone of voice changes as she slips into character while reading her story “Carpe Diem”.
Established last year, MA Creative Writing in LASELLE College of the Arts is the first Creative Writing Master’s degree offered in Singapore. As one of the people who pushed for the implementation of the programme, Mr Venka Purushothaman, the school’s provost, said the plans for the introduction of the programme took seven years to see the light of day.
“LASALLE offers dance, music, theatre, visual arts, design, fashion. It offers all the art forms, but then writing was the final art form that needed to come into the picture,” he said. “But it’s also important to find the right people to lead it. Hence, we took time to do that.”
Dr Darryl Whetter who is now the programme leader of MA Creative Writing and the organiser of the public reading said the purpose of the event is not only to showcase the works of the Creative Writing students, but also to train them “to be able to entertain a crowd” by reading their works publicly because it is “a crucial skill for a writer”.
Ms Vicky Chong, 52, a graduand who was taught by Dr Whetter, expressed how glad she was to have come to MA Creative Writing. She said that “writing is a very lonely journey” and she was very lucky to “have this group of people to walk this journey with”.
As a special event of The LASALLE Show, the annual graduation exhibition that showcases final projects of students in their final year, Shophouse: A Reading by the First Cohort of MA Creative Writing received a roomful of supporters which included the graduands’ family and friends.
With each presenting their stories in expressive tones that changed with every character they voiced, many in the audience felt that the graduands gave evocative performances. In an hour, the event came to an end. However, the crowd did not disperse until almost two hours later, with friends and family of the graduands sticking around to congratulate and catch up with them.
When asked if he will be continuing to organise such readings in subsequent years, Dr Whetter said, “Yes, I’m delighted that LASALLE has this annual showcase for its graduates, and I want to have our students be a part of it."
From left: Dr Whetter and Mr Purushothamann are impressed by and proud of the graduating MA Creative Writing students