Image caption: Shook official promotional photo. Credit: Li Wanjie

By Tan Wei Mei

Digital domination, gender upheaval, cancel culture, and environmental doom — these are some of the issues explored in the contemporary theatrical performance Shook by NUS Stage.  

Shook dramatises the difficulties and nuances of the relationship between the youth and the generation above them, wherein both generations are confronted with the polarising issues of today. Ariel Lim, a student performer, noted, “I can say that certain themes like identity and the desire to be heard by the older generation are some things that resonate with me. Even in my early 20s, I struggle with finding my identity and purpose in life.” Indeed, the younger generation’s journey of life is certainly not easy, not when their dreams often clash with the more traditional values of their upbringing, and their perspectives dismissed by those older than them.  

The storylines are brought to life by an eye-catching integration of music, multimedia and masks, the latter courtesy of the pandemic. The crew sought to use film to complement their production. As a consistent medium throughout the show, film was apt in tying the show and its numerous mutually exclusive scenes together. With their quirks and hypocrisies, the characters are complex and perhaps even similar to people we have encountered, hence diversifying the perspectives in the show. Despite the challenge of keeping the scenes short, humorous and witty, Shook does not fall short in its self-reflective exploration of various issues.  

Like its characters, the issues explored in Shook are truly complex and nuanced. Therein lies the issue of representation: not every detail can be covered, not everyone can be represented, and not every message is heard. Lim reflects, “The most we can do is present our perspective and acknowledge that it is, to some extent, a privileged one. There is definitely much more than can be explored so it is important to stay critical of what you create and as an audience, what you consume.” 

Shook was staged live on 19 and 20 March at University Cultural Centre Theatre and will be screened online for free from 29 March – 11 April. Please click here to find out more.