Checkpoint Theatre is set to hold its inaugural comic book launch event, Picture This at the Goodman Arts Centre’s Black Box on 23 Mar.
This marks a milestone in Checkpoint Theatre’s exploration of the art of storytelling through a variety of mediums.
This makes them the first Singapore theatre company to venture into comic book publishing, as the company continues to evolve with its audiences and find different ways of producing original, heartfelt stories.
Headlining the event is the highly-anticipated release of Putu Piring and Through the Longkang, a three-part series written by Myle Yan Tay and illustrated by Shuxian Lee.
In Putu Piring, Tay weaves a tale of childhood wonder and solace with charming illustrations of recognisable Singapore landmarks by Lee. The heart-warming 20-page story tells of the power of memories, and the understanding we can draw from them.
“We had to order an additional print run because copies sold out so quickly,” says Joint Artistic Director Huzir Sulaiman following the four-day limited pre-launch of Putu Piring at the end of 2020 which was met with great enthusiasm.
“The demand was unexpected, but so incredibly affirming; it told us that people had confidence in the quality of our storytelling, in a medium we were not known for, but one that we are extremely passionate about.”
In Through the Longkang #1, Tay takes a supernatural turn to which Lee sets the tone with a chilly, horror-esque twist on her signature organic art style. This tale of adventure, amidst scenes at once familiar and yet unsettling, will have you at the edge of your seat till the very end of its 20 pages.
At the launch, series editors Huzir Sulaiman and Myle Yan Tay will also announce an exciting slate of four new titles including Rebranding for Sea Monsters by Luke Somasundram and Ethan Sim.
This hilariously clever work pairs Somasundram’s impeccable comedic flair with Sim’s quirky illustrations to bring vivid life to the outlandish — but temptingly believable – situations depicted within.
Not only that, but participants of Picture This will also have the opportunity to hear from a panel of writers and illustrators about their collaborative processes in incorporating different visual styles and motifs.
The discussion will also showcase early character sketches and draft scripts from the development of each work, as they dive deeper into the elements of world-building and visual storytelling.
Those interested can register at picthis.eventbrite.com.
