Winner, Best Original Script, Chong Tze Chien
Best Supporting Actor (Nomination), Yazid Jalil
Best Supporting Actress (Nomination), Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit
Best Supporting Actress (Nomination), Serene Chen
The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2011

It’s Chinese New Year and the only soldiers in camp on guard duty are Malay or Indian. That is, until Corporal Russell Lim turns up. Things start turning ugly when the insults start flying and all that’s taboo becomes fair game. By the end of the night, a Chinese and a Malay soldier are found dead.

Enter Investigating Officer Victor de Souza, who needs to uncover the chain of events that have led to the tragedy.

The stakes are high because the incident has led to an eruption of tension between the Malay and Chinese communities in Singapore. Yet with each interview that he conducts, he plunges deeper into a labyrinth of slippery half-truths and sly omissions.

Can Officer de Souza arrive at the truth? Or will he be confronted with something so terrible that there is no other choice but a cover up?

Set in the claustrophobic confines of the army, Chong Tze Chien’s Charged interrogates the thorny issue of race with brutal honesty and a refreshing lack of political correctness.

“Even though Charged deals with the thorny issue of race and religion, Chong has laced it with an unexpected and non-intrusive dose of humour. And because it's worked naturally into the realistic dialogue,, it doesn't rob the play of its seriousness... Teater Ekamatra (and anyone who misses it) should be guilty as Charged if this doesn't return for a third run.” Read Full Review

Dylan Tan, The Business Times

“Charged is an effective piece of political theatre…explosive and volatile yet sensitive and nuanced….The script crackles with electricity because it feels authentic.”

The Flying Inkpot, 2010

“This gutsy play tackles truths with great writing…”

SPH The Straits Times LIFE!, 2010