On 16 November 2025, I was invited to watch a completely different production, based of lived experiences of persons with disabilities. It was a double-bill performance held at the Black Box of ART:DIS Singapore, starring visually-impaired actors Amanda Yip and Odilia Ser in Of Butterflies and Dreams, and neurodiverse actors Luo Mang and Megan Tang in In Her Shoes.

In Of Butterflies and Dreams, two sighted girls suddenly lose 80% of their vision due to illness or accident. But despite this immense physical and mental upheaval, they persevere to hone what remaining vision they have, becoming adept at their jobs and self-reliant in their daily lives. With their new-found confidence, they develop dreams – one to become an artist, the other a radio broadcaster. Under the stage lights, Amanda and Odilia skillfully move tables and chairs, using pantomime to illustrate their day jobs as cafe waitresses. In between brewing coffee, tidying tables and serving customers, they recount personal experiences and audiences see the reality of life as a disabled person – the indifferent gaze of the world, or a hand extended with pity.

This is not what they need. What they need is respect and acceptance and in the absence of this, their dreams, like butterflies, struggle to take flight with their fragile wings.

The audience appears as blurry shadows to the actors, yet they perceive feedback through other senses—a soft laugh, a faint sigh, even the slightest physical movement. Their skillful body language and sincere performances made it hard for me to believe they were visually impaired. Their unwavering focus, profound emotional investment, and clear, vivid delivery highlighted the qualities of professional actors.

On the next stage of In Her Shoes, Luo Mang and Megan use extensive dance sequences of varying difficulty to express their gratitude towards their mothers and their aspirations for the future. The highlight of the production is the monologues by the two actresses’ mothers, recounting the various difficulties and struggles they faced over 20 years of raising and educating their children. The arduous journeys of Luo Mang and Megan show the world how they overcame the pain to stand on the world stage as talented performers. Luo Mangs holds Grade 8 in both Royal Ballet and Piano, has received national recognition, and is a resident performer at the Istana (Presidential Palace) and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Megan made her international debut with a vibrant dance at the World Down Syndrome Congress 2024 in Brisbane. In 2025, she participated in the Special Olympics Winter Games in Italy, winning a silver medal in dance and reciting the oath on behalf of over a thousand athletes worldwide.

Luo Mang’s and Megan’s touching stories reveal that behind their successes is selfless maternal love and abundant community support. After the curtain fell, the entire audience stood up and gave a warm round of applause to the strength and resilience of these artists with disabilities!

Read the original review in mandarin here