SINGAPORE — Our country may have enjoyed a relatively peaceful history, but it’s important to remember that we went through some rough patches, too. Days Of Rage is a new documentary series on Channel NewsAsia that zooms in on the drama that took place during the early years of nation-building.

Each of its five episodes examines a different event that occurred between the 1950s and 1970s — The Maria Hertogh Riots, the Hock Lee Bus Riots, the 1964 Race Riots, the Laju Hijack and Konfrontasi.

Tan Lek Hwa, VP, Current Affairs and Executive Producer of Days Of Rage, said the series will feature a wealth of new material including eyewitnesses speaking for the first time, previously unseen archival footage and declassified diplomatic documents.

For instance, the first episode, Days Of Rage: Nadra tells the story of Maria Hertogh, the Dutch girl who was taken away from her adoptive Malay family and became the object of a custodial battle. “We journey into South-east Asia with three of her children to see the places where Maria lived and to meet the people who still remember her as a young girl,” said Tan. “The episode also features Maria Hertogh’s final interview, giving the documentary a unique insight into this enduring human story of identity, love and loss.”

Days Of Rage was a mammoth project for Tan and her team because of its sheer scope. “A huge amount of time was spent researching, gathering archival material and tracking down interviewees,” she said. “We even went door-to-door in our quest to find eyewitnesses from these major events.”

Research aside, filming the scenes was another challenge altogether. “One of the biggest challenges has been bringing to life the key ‘historical turning points’ from the series using dramatic reconstructions,” Tan shared. “Filming involved a large crew and cast, and crowds of extras, alongside stunts and explosions. We’ve blown up a replica of MacDonald House, blasted a period car with explosives, choreographed pitched battles on the streets and even used a stuntman as a human torch.”

At the heart of these events, though, are the stories people have to tell. “We had the privilege of interviewing Reverend Kenny Yeo, one of the survivors of the MacDonald House bombing on March 1965,” she said. That episode, Days Of Rage: Konfrontasi, focuses the attention on Singapore’s involvement during the armed confrontation in the region that began in 1963 and lasted until 1966. “Kenny was blasted across the road, leaving him severely injured and blind in one eye. He recounts Singapore’s worst terrorist attack in fascinating detail: His fight to overcome his terrible injuries and finding forgiveness for the two men who planted the bomb.”

Even if you’re no history buff, the documentary series has a lot to offer. “While Days Of Rage examines landmark events from the country’s past, it also reflects on the values and lessons that will be important to all of us in the future,” Tan said. “Racial harmony, religious tolerance, national security and the threat of terrorism — these are central themes that we explore in Days Of Rage. They are all issues that still have great importance in 21st-century Singapore.”

Catch Days Of Rage starting Jan 19, Sundays at 8pm on Channel NewsAsia.