Three local youths, quite literally, are putting their faith in the drama company they set up.  

The Parables Company is to fill what is perceived to be a lack of Christian drama productions in the Singaporean theatre scene. 

Even though the group is similar to most other small groups in organisation and structure, it has a distinctly different raison d’être from its contemporaries.

In an email interview, Ronald Wong, first-year NUS law student and co-founder of The Parables Company, said, “There are many theatre companies in Singapore, (but) it is also interesting that there are probably few (or none at all) theatre companies that premise their creative and organisational vision on something that is socially responsible, or on moral values.” 

The Parables Company was set up with the aim of engaging audiences with values based on the Christian ethics of its founders.  

“We align ourselves to the (Christian) moral values that we believe in, and all our performances and decisions will be premised on that,” Wong said. 

The Parables Company’s other founders are Ethel Yap, a second-year NUS theatre studies major, and Matthew Crawshaw, who plans to pursue a degree in Scotland later this year. 

Since its inception in the second half of last year, the company has grown to a size of around 10 persons. 

The name of the group was no surprise, given its vision. 

Wong said, “The name 'Parables' was chosen because in the Bible, there were many times that Jesus spoke and taught the people in simple stories. These stories illuminated morals and theological teachings that many could understand, without having to confront the jargon and complex doctrines head-on.

“Similarly, we want to dramatise modern day parables or stories so that the community can be engaged and understand the moral messages that we wish to tell them.”  

The Parables Company’s pioneer production will be an original adaptation of The Screwtape Letters, a satirical work by Christian apologist C.S. Lewis about the combined efforts of a senior demon and a greenhorn tempter to secure the eternal damnation of an earthly man. 

Commenting on the choice to stage The Screwtape Letters, Michelle Yeo, a second-year NUS law student who joined the company soon after its formation, said, “It’s a great story. It’s very different from your normal Christian literature. You see something you won’t expect.  

“While providing a moral voice, it’s never good to be sweet and sappy and force moralism down people’s throat,” she added, in reference to the relatively dark nature of Lewis’s satire. 

At least one student Christian group in NUS is behind the efforts of The Parables Company. The Varsity Christian Fellowship has agreed to be a partner in the production of The Screwtape Letters. 
“We saw that it was a relevant medium. People can identify with it,” VCF spokesperson and third-year social work major Grace Koh said, reflecting on the use of theatre for Christian groups to engage society. 

“The Christian message is a relational message. This is a relational medium.” 

Besides, the pioneering efforts of The Parables Company is an encouragement not only to other theatre aficionados looking to carve out a niche in the local scene, but to all budding entrepreneurs in general. 

“A lot of youth theatre companies just try to follow what’s already there,” said Yeo. 

“Stepping out is not as hard as it seems.” 

The Screwtape Letters will be performed at Raffles Hotel’s Jubilee Hall on Feb. 27 and 28.