Mediacorp’s Eelyn Kok plays the lead in Restore, a Christian play about a woman who overcame adversities through God.
Contributed By Delvina Su
Actress Eelyn Kok. CN PHOTO: GAY SEN MIN.
Based on a real life story, Restore tells the tale of a woman, Judith Halim, whose life has been filled with countless trials and tribulations, but relying on the gospel, she found her source of strength to keep on keeping on.
When she was 18 months old, her father, a compulsive gambler and an abusive man, left home for another woman and also to avoid loan sharks. Upon graduation from university, she married a leukemia patient, and despite his illness, became the mother of his child. Unfortunately, their child was born with many incurable diseases. Things got even worse when her husband, who eventually recovered from his illness, asked for a divorce. She was left to fend for herself and her month-old baby.
It seemed the worst was finally over when she met a Christian man who led her to the Lord and they eventually became husband and wife. Together with her supportive husband and the Word of the Lord, she managed to walk out of what seemed like her life’s deepest valley.
But like a raging storm whose thirst cannot be quenched, life threw her yet another test. Her new husband was diagnosed with terminal illness. What makes her situation different this time was that she had with her the promises of God.
Directed by Lee Mei Lian, Restore is a play presented by Bartley Christian Centre that demonstrates how a woman’s life was transformed because the gospel gave her strength to go through impossible challenges. The lead role is played by Mediacorp actress Eelyn Kok, who shares with City News about her involvement in this production.
City News: How did you come to be involved in this production?
Eelyn Kok: It was a miracle! I have always wanted to do something for God but it was not easy to serve and be committed to a ministry because of my intense filming schedule. So, I prayed and asked God and it happened! David Tang, the producer for Restore, contacted me through a mutual friend and I was totally thrilled. But there was a problem: we first had to have my manager’s consent. I prayed to God, that if it was His will, it would be okay with my manager. God answered: she was okay!
You are currently in the midst of rehearsals, how’s it going?
Because of my filming schedule, I just joined the production about two rehearsals ago so now it’s picking up the momentum again.
Is this your first time doing a theater performance and a Christian one at that?
Yes and I am very excited about it!
What were your first thoughts when you read the script?
(Laughs) It was paiseh (embarrassing) actually. I didn’t know anyone when I attended the first meeting. I was given the script, I read it and started tearing. Something touched me. There were certain similarities between the character and I; I feel that without God in my life, I don’t know how I would have gone through life, especially being in the media industry.
What were some of the challenges you faced?
TV acting and theater acting are very different. Body language and voice projection, everything has to be magnified. During filming, we do shots; but in theater production, we have to do 10 long scenes without any NG (no good) scenes!
Can you share with us about your own walk with God and how being a Christian has influenced your career?
God is the one who gave me my career. I prayed to Him to help me to enter the industry because I really love acting, but I also know it would not be easy to get in. I just wanted to act and will gladly accept what God gives. Actually, what I have thus far, especially all the major roles in recent times have been given by Him. I believe that as long as we pray hard enough, God will definitely answer. I just want to be known in this industry as a Christian, a vessel for God.
What else are you busy with till the end of this year?
I just wrapped up filming for my new show, A Song To Remember. So now that this production has given me a break, it will be recuperation and rest!
Restore plays at Bartley Christian Centre from Dec. 9-11. Tickets are available through www.bartley.org.sg.
