ABSTRACT
As the writer and performer of Details Cannot Body Wants, which holds the distinction of being the first R-rated play ever to be produced in Singapore, Chin Woon Ping has made an unusual mark on the contemporary theatre history of this island-state. While Chin’s work would not have raised many eyebrows among audiences familiar with feminist performance art, Singapore’s Public Entertainment Licensing Unit considered aspects of the script offensive, most notably the use of ‘adult language’ and ‘taboo gestures’ such as crotch-grabbing and breast examination. The premiere production in 1992 was therefore promoted with a disclaimer noting its adult content, which was deemed suitable only for viewers over the age of twenty. Not surprisingly, this publicity ensured a sell-out season.
