Sean Tobin
Theatre Practitioner
When I announced that I intended to do one-on-one Drama Mama portraits, Sean Tobin was the first person to volunteer himself. Years ago, I met him in the corridors of The Necessary Stage, and we worked together on a small play called True Deep Blue (2000; directed by Jeffrey Tan). Since then, we have worked together at the School of the Arts and the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. I also documented his play Tongues (2012) for my Work in Process project. Sean is also a friend, someone who I meet up and engage with on many levels, from the arts to family life. Thank goodness for good friends.
I have lost track of how many great conversations Ngiap Heng and I have shared in his studio, in theatres, hallways, rehearsal rooms, galleries, and cafes over the past 25 or so years. It’s great when you can connect with someone who moves so comfortably and humbly between the real world and the art world. I always love how there is no pretence when I connect with Ngiap Heng, regardless of the context. I appreciate being able to sit with him and acknowledge all aspects of life: art-making, politics, family life, being a dad, working through challenges and depression, and always finding humour where it’s to be found.