Following a milestone eight productions produced in 2023 to celebrate their 30th anniversary, including some of the year’s most critically-acclaimed works, the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) is ready to announce upcoming highlights for their 2024 season, starting with three one-person plays across the first half of the year.

Comprising George Brant’s Grounded, Amer Hlelel’s TAHA and Indian Ink Company’s co-production Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream, each of these three plays is set to explore a different aspect of human existence and resilience in the face of adversity, offering unique and powerful insight into the lives of three remarkable individuals, whose stories transcend their personal circumstances and resonate with universal themes.

In March, look out for Grounded by George Brant, which tells the story of a female fighter pilot who is grounded by an unexpected pregnancy and reassigned to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas. Soon, the boundaries blur between the desert she calls home and the distant battleground she patrols. The play examines the psychological and ethical implications of remote warfare, as well as the challenges of balancing a military career and a family life. Grounded is a gripping and provocative solo drama that won the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013.

Last in Singapore in 2018 during the Singapore International Festival of Arts, TAHA is a tribute to the Arabic poet Taha Muhammad Ali. Adapted from Adina Hoffman’s acclaimed biography, Amer Hlehel crafts a powerful solo performance, intertwining Taha’s exquisite poetry with his compelling life odyssey, as the play traces his journey from a humble shopkeeper to a celebrated poet, who wrote about his loss, love, hope and peace with a poignant and humorous voice. Performed by acclaimed actor Amer Hlehel and directed by Amir Nizar Zuabi (Little Amal), be drawn into Taha Muhammad Ali’s resilient narrative, as he creates a tapestry of hope woven through 50 years of loss – a lost home, love, friends, and his shop in Galilee.  

Come May, look out for Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream by Indian Ink Theatre Company. Inspired by Ernest Becker’s Pulitzer prize-winning book “Denial of Death” and the vibrant city of Mumbai, the play follows the afterlife of Kutisar, a man who tries to avoid death by reliving his past, where a rebellious young woman holds the key to his salvation. As he grapples with past transgressions, he navigates into the real-life mystery that’s gravely affecting Parsi death rituals – India’s vanishing vultures. Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream is a dazzling and delightful solo show that features exquisite puppetry, inspired sound design, and a dash of Bollywood disco, in this playful and profound new play about the impermanence of life, love, and ice cream.

What’s more, in February, families can look forward to a brand new musical production, with Errol’s Garden. Join the plant-loving Errol as he turns his roof top into a beautiful community garden, learns about growing, the importance of nature, and how we can all play a part in truly making our home a garden city, in this interactive musical filled with catchy songs, humour and imagination.

Grounded plays from 7th Mar 2024, TAHA from 2nd Apr 2024, and Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream from 16th May 2024, all at the KC Arts Centre. Book tickets for all three shows to enjoy a 25% discount via this link.

Errol’s Garden plays from 28th February 2024 at the KC Arts Centre. Tickets available here