Singapore theatre actress and radio DJ Denise Tan shares her thoughts on the romantic-comedy as well as the local theatre scene
Denise Tan wears many hats. The bubbly actress doesn’t only play the leading role in Singapore Repertory Theatre’s latest rom-com play, Hello Goodbye, she also hosts Gold 90.5 FM’s entertaining radio show Lunchtime Jukebox. Furthermore, she was recently appointed as the newest member of local musical cabaret group Dim Sum Dollies, filling the huge shoes left behind by the late local thespian Emma Yong. Clearly, the veteran entertainer is never one to shy away from challenges. We picked her brains for an inside scoop on Hello Goodbye, her thoughts on Singapore’s theatre scene, as well as her dream man.
Hi Denise! Does being a DJ help with acting?
I’ve always considered radio as an extension of performance. While I’m not playing a character on-air, the skills I use when I’m trying to communicate with my listeners are the same as the ones I’ve developed as an actor – both steer me towards learning to communicate better and more intimately. The only difference is that people can’t see me on air; but my tone of voice and how I project it out is still similar to acting.
What can we expect from Hello Goodbye?
Definitely tons of laughter from the witty banter between Alex and Juliet, two dysfunctional souls who are trying to find their way in and out of love. Look forward to lots of humour and heart – with a dash of loathing on the side.
Would you date someone like Alex in real life? If not, describe your dream man.
At this point, any man with a pulse would be a dream date! Dabbling in both acting and DJ-ing doesn’t leave a lot of time for dating.
Do you share any similarities with your character, Juliet?
Her slightly disastrous hair, that’s for sure. I actually identify more with Alex’s character and his nerdy tendencies to collecting trinkets and being a repository of useless trivia. That said, exploring Juliet and playing her is a lot more interesting and challenging.
What are five songs that best describe Alex and Juliet’s relationship?
Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”; Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine”; Aretha Franklin’s “Respect”; Queen’s “Bicycle Race”; and Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract”.
Are these songs a reflection of your favourite music genre?
No, not really. I listen to all kinds – that’s why I became a DJ. I especially love the songs my dad played when I was growing up – Beatles, Elvis, and 60’s Motown. I also dig disco, 80’s pop, jazz by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne, Amy Winehouse, as well as folk and blues by Joni Mitchell & Janis Joplin. A bit of 90s alternate rock sure doesn’t hurt, and my latest obsession is George Ezra’s “Budapest”. I just love music.
What was the weirdest thing you had to do on-stage and on air?
Wearing a skin-tight white spandex body suit with a hood on stage, singing and dancing to the naughty Taiwanese song “超级白” (Super White) under UV lights for Broadway Beng. We looked like glowing tubes of toothpaste! On-air, I had to wolf down as many siew mais under 30 seconds for a dim sum eating game – imagine stuffing your face and talking at the same time!
Do you have any pre-performance rituals before you take the stage?
Shots of tequila! I kid. For musicals like Dim Sum Dollies or Broadway Beng, I tend to get pretty obsessive with vocal warm-ups and physical stretches. But for performances like Hello Goodbye, I am usually more relaxed and prefer a moment of silence and complete solitude before stepping on stage. And a little prayer of thanks, of course!
Name a Broadway actor you would love to star alongside with.
This is a few years too late, but I would have LOVED to share the stage with Gavin Creel in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair. Not so much because I’m a huge fan (talented as he is), but because it was an amazing production that won a Tony for best revival of a musical. It’s also one of my all-time favourite production, as well as the very first show I auditioned for and performed while in university.
How has Singapore’s theatre scene evolved?
I started my professional theatre career in 1997, took a break in 2000, and returned to it in 2005. In that short five years hiatus from theatre, the industry became more viable to work full-time – you won’t starve! Theatre companies are now able to pay better, and even take pains to make sure there’s some form of welfare for performers, such as providing drinking water or biscuits during break-time. Overall, the industry is more organised today and there are far more opportunities to do more creative and artistic work.
There is also a growing demand for performing arts – both commercial and experimental – and it’s a great feeling being part of the supply! A lot of very exciting new companies have also cropped up and there are far more talented young entertainers entering the scene. Of course, with more theatre companies, more performances, and more performers, competition has also gotten much stiffer. Everyone’s slice of the pie is shrinking; entertainers are challenged to work harder to come up with meaningful productions – something audiences would pay to watch.
What do you hope to see more in Singapore’s theatre scene?
I hope to see more original work that has legs to travel because it’s world-class in quality and universal in message; original work that has the funding, space, and time to grow and develop to become a hit with audiences and critics alike. Right now, our practice is that we tend to stick to short runs and even shorter rehearsal periods to prepare for a show; we usually only have a month of rehearsals before performing for two weeks – then it’s over. There isn’t enough time given to a performance for it to really get honed to perfection. Also, more meaty, complex roles for older women (is my age showing? *laughs*), please! There’s still a big emphasis on casting hot young things – who of course have their place and should be given the same opportunities – but women past their 30s still have a lot to offer, too!
Any tips for aspiring actors?
Start small and work your way up; observe and soak up as much as you can learn from other practitioners – from fellow actors, to directors, crew, and tech. Never be afraid to ask questions and always stay humble.
What’s next on your agenda?
Right after Hello Goodbye, I will resume Dim Sum Dollies duties and start rehearsals for my next theatre production with Dream Academy in Crazy Christmas: A Ground Nutcracker. The musical features other familiar faces like Broadway Beng, Judee Tan, Karen Tan, Vocaluptuous and Kumar.
If you were a local dish, what dish would you be and why?
Mee pok tah (dry noodles) with a bowl of fishball soup on the side. This is what I call a pow kah liao (covers everything) local dish – there’s a little bit of everything in this; meat, fish, veg, sauce, chilli, soup. It’s like the noodle version of rojak, except I much prefer mee pok! Just like the dish, I can’t be pinned down to one or two ingredients. But I might have chosen this because it’s my fave local dish. I crave it. I love it.
What do you do during your free time in Singapore?
I read – A LOT. And I always find myself going back to MacRitchie Reservoir for solo hikes – it’s gorgeous there and being one with nature really helps clear my head. Plus, like everyone else, I hunt down new places to eat with friends and family. I also recently discovered the very faddish but addictive adult anti-stress colouring books – I’ve coloured entire weekends away!
Catch Denise Tan in Hello Goodbye, Singapore Repertory Theatre’s newest romantic comedy, from 2 to 26 September 2015. Tickets can be bought from Sistic and are priced from $15 to $60.
This article is sponsored by Singapore Repertory Theatre.