SINGAPORE — For the folk behind the latest restaging of Everything But The Brain, it is everything but a mere play.

Theatre group Sight Lines Productions, who has partnered with the Singapore National Stroke Association (SNSA) and the Health Promotion Board, is holding a charity gala night on Aug 11, where the entire proceeds will go to raising funds for SNSA.

It’s the perfect match for playwright Jean Tay’s award-winning work, a touching story about a Physics teacher and her stroke-afflicted father. It stars Gerald Chew (who reprises his role as the father), Koh Wan Ching, Edward Choy, Faizal Abdullah, Amanda Tee and Cassandra Spykerman.

“It was just right to do that,” said director Derrick Chew, who added that the group had worked closely with the association while researching for the play. “They provided a lot of research material and gave us an understanding of what stroke is all about. And as we discussed it, we felt that we could do that — raise funds as a kind of stroke awareness campaign.

He added: “I also had a lot of conversations with Dr Diedre (De Silva, president of SNSA). We also had a session with stroke survivors, as well as caregivers.”

There’s a personal angle as well. Choy, who plays the doctor, had a grandfather who suffered a stroke; and the director’s grandmother suffered from a mild stroke last year.

“While the show specifically talks about stroke patients, it’s a universal topic that is relevant and relatable, whatever the conditions our loved ones go through,” said Derrick. “It also addresses a lot of issues, especially with our ageing population, like caregivers who also undergo a lot of pain.”

Everything But The Brain is the second play by Jean Tay that the group has staged after Boom!, and Derrick is doing a “stylised” version of the whimsical piece, which includes a chorus of three bear characters. “The way Jean writes, every two pages of the script is a new scene, and it goes to a lot of places, fantasy and stuff like that,” he said. “How to do all of that and put it on the stage — that is the challenge.”MAYO MARTIN

Everything But The Brain runs from Aug 10 to 21, 8pm, DBS Arts Centre. With 3pm weekend matinees. Tickets from S$35 to S$55 from Sistic. For ticket enquiries about the SNSA gala night, email sporensa [at] singnet.com.sg.