Love & Life With Local Playwright Couple Huzir Sulaiman & Claire Wong | On The Red Dot

Key Concepts

• Checkpoint Theatre: A theatre company founded by Jose and Claire.
• "Escape to Batam": A play by Claire, inspired by her father's wartime experiences and her own pandemic experiences.
• "The Fourth Trimester": A play currently in rehearsal for Checkpoint Theatre.
• "Occupation": A play written by Jose and performed by Claire, which was a significant early collaboration.
• "Atomic Jaya": A play that Jose performed solo and later revived with Claire and another actor.
• Co-production: A collaborative approach to theatre production.
• Creative Process: The methods and dynamics involved in developing and staging plays.
• Work-Life Balance: The strategies employed by Jose and Claire to manage their personal and professional lives.
• Constructive Criticism: The practice of offering feedback in a helpful and supportive manner.
• Perception of Time, Memory, Community, Fragmentation, Isolation, Resilience, Human Connection: Themes explored in Claire's play "Escape to Batam."

"Escape to Batam" and Thematic Exploration

"Escape to Batam" is a play by Claire that draws parallels between her father's experience fleeing Singapore to Batam during the Japanese occupation and her own experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The play delves into themes of perception of time, memory, community, fragmentation, isolation, resilience, and human connection. Claire's father's story is about escaping the Japanese during the occupation, while her pandemic experiences are also framed as a form of escape and adaptation. The play explores how individuals cope with challenging circumstances and the enduring nature of human bonds.

Collaborative Creative Process: Jose and Claire

Jose and Claire's creative partnership is characterized by a deep understanding and complementary skill sets. Claire often conceptualizes and generates ideas, sometimes struggling to fully articulate them. Jose, in turn, helps to encapsulate and explain her vision to other collaborators, acting as a bridge between her artistic intent and the practical execution of the production. He also plays a crucial role in ensuring the story remains on track and that Claire is comfortable with the direction. Their collaboration is described as having a "quick shorthand" and a willingness to challenge each other, stemming from their long-standing personal and professional relationship.

Scriptwriting and Development

The scriptwriting process for their plays, such as "Escape to Batam," is highly collaborative. Jose was invited by Claire to co-write the play because of its personal nature. The process involved a back-and-forth exchange: Jose structured the initial drafts, and Claire would then contribute stories and make edits. They would agree on additions and deletions, with Jose emphasizing the importance of Claire's constructive criticism and feedback, knowing she desires the best for him.

Rehearsal Process for "The Fourth Trimester"

The transcript provides a glimpse into the rehearsal process for "The Fourth Trimester," scheduled to open on November 20th. Claire is leading the rehearsal, focusing on running through scenes 1 to 8. The current stage is described as a "stop-start" process, with attention given to cleaning up transitions, sharpening acting moments, and refining characters. This is a diagnostic phase, with further refinement expected over the next four to four-and-a-half weeks until opening. The actors are encouraged to be open to finding "new colors, new textures, different beats" and to "surprise yourselves."

The Founding and Evolution of Checkpoint Theatre

Checkpoint Theatre was founded in October 2002, shortly after Jose and Claire began dating in February 2001. Their working and personal relationships developed simultaneously. Initially, they did not intend for Checkpoint to be a full-time production entity. Both were engaged in other professions: Jose was a lawyer who became a partner, and Claire was a freelance creative consultant and also taught playwriting. For the first few years, they subsidized Checkpoint with their earnings from other jobs, prioritizing starting small and ensuring they could pay collaborators before taking on projects.

By around 2011, the volume of desired productions necessitated both Jose and Claire becoming full-time with Checkpoint. Their first major production after founding the company was "Atomic Jaya" in 2003. This play was significant as it was the first time they acted together, with two actors playing 16 characters, a revival of Jose's earlier solo performance. The success of "Atomic Jaya" had a direct impact on their personal lives, as Jose's substantial playwright's royalty from the show funded the engagement ring he used to propose to Claire.

Checkpoint Theatre has a significant history of producing Singaporean plays, having worked on an estimated 100 to 150 scripts over the years. For the 2025 season, they have already staged "Statement Piece" and "Escape to Batam," with "The Fourth Trimester" coming up. Typically, they plan for three to four productions per year.

Jose and Claire's Personal Relationship and Collaboration

Jose and Claire's relationship began in February 2001, after meeting at "The Substation" during a triple bill of plays. Jose, initially unfamiliar with Claire, was impressed by her performance and asked her out. Their first date was memorable for its conversation, even if the food was not. While Claire was initially hesitant about another relationship, she found Jose interesting and their connection grew gradually and comfortably.

Their creative collaboration deepened with the play "Occupation," written by Jose and performed by Claire, which was about Jose's grandmother. This was a significant milestone as Claire played Jose's grandmother in front of his actual grandmother, leading to her immediate acceptance by the extended family. "Occupation" was their first work together where Jose was the writer and Claire was performing, and they also co-directed, allowing them to understand each other's processes. This shared experience solidified their similar ideas about collaboration and the kind of theatre they wanted to create.

They got married in 2003, two years into their relationship. Jose proposed at Claire's family home while she was preparing food for her mother. He describes the proposal as a simple but heartfelt moment. Claire humorously notes a 9-year age difference, with her being older and proud of it, and jokes about Jose having to look after her. They often find that people assume Jose is older or they are the same age.

Shared Interests and Dynamics

Outside of work, Jose and Claire are both "foodies" who enjoy hosting friends for meals and conversations. They also enjoy cooking together, though time constraints limit how often they can do so. Claire is considered the better cook, known for her inventive dishes and willingness to experiment with new ingredients, which often results in delicious, albeit sometimes unrepeatable, creations. Jose, while acknowledging Claire's culinary prowess, also makes excellent steaks and pastas.

Despite spending nearly 24 hours a day together for over two decades, they claim to have never gotten tired of each other. They attribute this to respecting each other's need for private time and allowing themselves to be in the same space while being alone.

Conflict Resolution and Work-Life Balance

Their disagreements are characterized by robust and passionate arguments about decisions, but never personal attacks. They believe this ability to disagree constructively and healthily is crucial to their enduring relationship, both personally and professionally. They do not keep score in their disagreements, emphasizing that it's not about winning but about finding the best outcome.

Maintaining work-life balance is a shared effort. Jose has been instrumental in reminding Claire to draw boundaries and has helped her pace herself, ensuring both of them have moments to recharge. They have mutually agreed-upon downtime, and Claire has learned to scale back, recognizing the importance of Jose's needs in their shared life. They acknowledge that building a life with someone else requires prioritizing each other's well-being.

Conclusion

The transcript offers an intimate look into the personal and professional lives of Jose and Claire, highlighting their deep and enduring partnership. Their journey from meeting at "The Substation" to founding Checkpoint Theatre and creating impactful plays is a testament to their shared vision, complementary skills, and mutual respect. Their collaborative approach to theatre, characterized by open communication, constructive criticism, and a shared passion for storytelling, has been the bedrock of their success. Beyond their professional achievements, their ability to navigate disagreements, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and nurture their personal connection underscores the strength and longevity of their relationship.