Hello Goodbye – Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Modern Rom Com

PUBLISHED September 1st, 2015 04:00 pm | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 03:08 pm

After annual grand production Shakespeare in The Park (it was The Tempest this year), The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) is presenting feel good romantic comedy, Hello Goodbye. There’s just something comforting about a play that focuses on love and the details of a relationship between two ordinary people.

Starring two of Singapore hottest young actors, Shane Mardjuki (Unlucky Plaza and Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night) and Denise Tan (Dim Sum Dollies), Hello Goodbye had a sell-out run at the Hampstead Theatre in London earlier this year. SRT Artistic Director Gaurav Kripalani caught the play and thought it was a good script that would resonate well in Singapore.

The Story

Shane Mardjuki and Denise Tan

Juliet (Denise Tan) arrives at her apartment, which she thinks she’s renting alone, only to find Alex (Shane Mardjuki) claiming the flat is his. It doesn’t help that he’s pretty cute and keeps her on her toes despite being unwilling to move out. A heated argument ensues leading to a hilarious turn of events. Alex and Juliet soon find themselves falling madly in love, and eventually in a rut – the initial passion was soon replaced with disappointment and anger.

What will happen to their relationship? Will Alex and Juliet resolve their issues? Or will they give up and say their goodbyes?

We Chat with Denise Tan about Hello Goodbye:

Please tell us about the character you play in Hello Goodbye.

I play Juliet, an impetuous, smart, sassy, extroverted, whirlwind of a woman who seems to create trouble everywhere she goes. She meets her match in Alex, the guy who claims the flat she’s just rented is actually his. Sparks and other objects fly…

How do you identify with Juliet?

After reading the script for the first time, I was Skyping with our director and I said I identify more with Alex’s character – his nerdiness, his obsession with order, with collecting things and being a repository of useless but fascinating trivia… but we both agreed that it would make exploring Juliet and playing her a lot more interesting and challenging. That said, we have have a few similarities, especially the part about Juliet’s slightly disastrous hair!

What do you think of the play?

Full cast of Hello Goodbye

I think the play is both great fun, to be in and to watch. Rehearsing with Shane and our wonderful director Lisa Spirling has been so inspiring, creative, and we’ve really been able to plug into the heart of the play. Playwright Peter Souter has written something very clever, funny, layered and so relatable because it’s full of humanity and hilarity.

Being a romantic comedy, it puts a certain formula in your head. What I like is Hello Goodbye goes beyond your typical rom-com, and gives you a glimpse of what happens AFTER the happily ever after. Is it really happily ever after? There are some very raw emotions and issues we deal with amidst all the physical and verbal comedy, so the play offers you more than the usual boy-meets-girl-they-fall-in-love formula.

Why should people come and see this production?

I think for the very same reason above. It’s more than a rom-com – it has depth, it has heart, it has humour, it has surprises, a little mystery, and it can also make you shed a few tears. And whether you are in a relationship or not, you’re going to identify with the characters, the situations, the arguments, because at one time or another, you’ve also experienced the same. This couple has a compelling story to tell and believe me; you’ll want to see it unfold before your very eyes at the theatre!

Hello Goodbye is running 2-16 September 2015 at the DBS Arts Centre – Home of the SRT. For more ticketing information, please click here.