Goh Poh Seng

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Goh Poh Seng

Role / Field:

Pioneering Singaporean dramatist, novelist, and cultural architect.

Born:

1936

Died:

2010-01-10

Century / Era:

1936s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Goh Poh Seng (Chinese: 吴宝星; Chinese: 吳寶星; pinyin: Wú Bǎo Xīng; July 1936 – 10 January 2010) was a Singaporean dramatist, novelist, doctor and poet, was born in Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya in 1936. He was educated at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, received his medical degree from University College Dublin, and practised medicine in Singapore for twenty-five years. Goh's writing blossomed in Ireland, where he met writers Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan, published his poetry in the university magazine, and took a year off school to write. Returning to Singapore, he was a founder of the literary magazine Tumasek (which lasted for three issues) and co-founded Singapore's first multi-disciplinary arts centre, Centre 65, with Lim Kok Ann in 1965 to promote the arts. Centre 65 inspired the name of Centre 42, an institution for playwriting which opened in 2014.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1972, Goh published his first novel, If We Dream Too Long. The novel won the Fiction Award of the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) in 1976 and has been translated into Russian, Japanese and Tagalog. While the novel was criticised by The Straits Times upon publication, it enjoyed a first print run of 3,000 copies and was considered the first English-language Singaporean novel. It was subsequently has been used as a Literature text in various universities. His other books include the novels The Immolation (1977) and A Dance of Moths (1995), which received the NBDCS Fiction award in 1996, and poetry collections Eyewitness (1976), Lines from Batu Ferringhi (1978) and Bird With One Wing (1982).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Goh's play When the Smiles are Done (1972) was the first to use Singlish on stage, while his debut play The Moon is Less Bright (1964) was revived by Theatreworks (dir. Ong Keng Sen) in 1990 and The Second Breakfast Company (dir. In 1982, Goh received the Cultural Medallion for his contributions to Literature. In 2007, Goh was the keynote speaker of the Singapore Writers Festival. A 15-minute documentary about Goh, directed by Almerinda Travasoss, was released in the same year.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1936: Birth of Goh Poh Seng — Pioneering Singaporean dramatist, novelist, and cultural architect.
2. 1965: 1965 Milestone — Returning to Singapore, he was a founder of the literary magazine Tumasek (which lasted for three issues) and co-founded Singapore's first multi-disciplinary arts centre, Centre 65, with Lim Kok Ann in 1965 to promote the arts.
3. 1972: 1972 Milestone — In 1972, Goh published his first novel, If We Dream Too Long.
4. 1976: 1976 Milestone — The novel won the Fiction Award of the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) in 1976 and has been translated into Russian, Japanese and Tagalog.
5. 1977: 1977 Milestone — His other books include the novels The Immolation (1977) and A Dance of Moths (1995), which received the NBDCS Fiction award in 1996, and poetry collections Eyewitness (1976), Lines from Batu Ferringhi (1978) and Bird With One Wing (1982).
6. 1982: 1982 Milestone — In 1982, Goh received the Cultural Medallion for his contributions to Literature.
7. 1990: 1990 Milestone — Ong Keng Sen) in 1990 and The Second Breakfast Company (dir.
8. 2007: 2007 Milestone — In 2007, Goh was the keynote speaker of the Singapore Writers Festival.
9. 2010 (2010-01-10): Passing & Historical Legacy — Goh Poh Seng passed away on 2010-01-10, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
10. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Centre 65 inspired the name of Centre 42, an institution for playwriting which opened in 2014.

Notable Quotes by Goh Poh Seng

“He is someone who not only believed in literature, but also believed in lifting the cultural aspirations of Singaporeans.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Goh Poh Seng

True or False: “Goh Poh Seng's first novel, If We Dream Too Long, was immediately acclaimed by all major critics upon its release.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Straits Times criticized the novel upon publication, although it still achieved a significant initial print run.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. E. Housman — Contemporary (Died in 1936) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
• A. S. Byatt — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Acclaimed English novelist, poet, and critic known for complex literary works.
• Abbie Hoffman — Contemporary (Born in 1936) (1936): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.
• Alex Chilton — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): American musician, best known for his vocal work with The Box Tops and Big Star.
• Alexander McQueen — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Iconic British fashion designer known for theatrical, boundary-pushing collections.
• Ali Hassan al-Majid — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Notorious Iraqi military figure, cousin of Saddam Hussein, known for brutal repression.
• Al-Mustansir Billah — Shared historical date (01-10 · Died) (1094): Eighth Fatimid Caliph, whose long reign marked the twilight of the dynasty.
• Alexander R. Todd — Shared historical date (01-10 · Died) (1997): Pioneering biochemist known for work on nucleotides, earning the 1957 Nobel Prize.
• Abdul Qadeer Khan — Historical peer (Born in 1936) (1936): Pakistani nuclear physicist, known as the 'father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program'
• Al Oerter — Historical peer (Born in 1936) (1936): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• 1936 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1936
• 2010 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2010
• January 10 (01-10) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 10

Frequently Asked Questions about Goh Poh Seng