In a dramatic turn of events, Singapore Theatre Company (STC), has announced a second rebranding in 2024, a week after dropping their former name of Singapore Repertory Theatre.

The name change was already a milestone one for the company, having had its original name since their beginnings in Singapore 30 years ago. Now, after community feedback, they’ve announced a second change to come in the second half of the year.

 A key part of the local theatre community and landscape, the name change came about after careful consideration to drop the ‘Repertory’ from their previous name, as it no longer served to reflect the work they put out.

After all, the word ‘repertory’ references companies that have a revolving suite of productions they continually perform, while STC, much like every other company, only does restagings when it makes sense, and otherwise continually stages and produces new work to continually excite audience members and bring in new converts to theatre.

However, the name change also brought about concerned responses from the local theatre community, many of whom expressed their thoughts about how difficult it would be to shoulder the country’s name in the company’s title. It’s a massive undertaking after all, putting it on par with other national institutions that have a responsibility to represent Singapore, not unlike say the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Following careful consideration and many meetings later, STC’s management and their board of directors have now decided to heed such feedback, and rebrand once again, of which the new name remains unannounced. In the meantime, the company has been going through the necessary processes with various stakeholders in negotiating the new name, seeking out advice and considering other opinions, before they finally settle.

For now, the company will still be producing their announced line-up of shows from March to May under the STC name, as they have already been released under that name. This is not done out of convenience, but out of responsibility to their own stakeholders for these shows and the company under potential contractual agreements to support them under this name.

It does seem that a rose by any other name would indeed, not smell as sweet. The decision cannot possibly have been an easy one, especially considering how much thought and planning, would have gone into the rollout of the rebrand, only to be unexpectedly met with such resistance once announced. With the need to act fast, the team at STC are working tirelessly to work on the subsequent name change, a necessary form of recovery that shows commitment to mending things.

To make such a change then, seems to suggest a willingness to remain on good terms and work with the community, which the company continues to see as important partners and even friends. Such a compromise shows that the original name change was not done in malice, and now, with feedback from the community, is working towards restoring the state of one united theatre community.

STC has after all, always been an integral part of the community, producing over 200 productions in its 30 year history, providing jobs for the theatre sector, entertainment for audiences with original Singaporean work, productions of favourites from Broadway and the West End, and even the rare chance to see renowned titans of theatre on tour.

Even beyond that, STC has provided opportunities for theatre hopefuls from all walks of life to get involved and discover the magic of the stage, from youth wing The Young Company, producing some prominent alumni still active in local theatre such as Julie Wee and Jo Tan, to Access Path Productions’ collaborative effort the Inclusive Young Company, for youths who identify as d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.

Announcing all this on the day before Chinese New Year’s eve, where so many families would be coming together for the all-important reunion dinner, it seems to mark considerable reflection on STC’s part, and to make peace with the community before the new year. For all the criticism, one must always remember that they still deserve a seat at the table, one that they have occupied for all the time they’ve been in Singapore, where love them or hate them, any move they make has an impact fully felt by the entire community.

30 years for any company is a milestone, and we believe that the decade to come will be their best yet, more ambitious than ever before with a dedication to still producing works that contribute to the Singapore canon, international co-productions, and in general, theatre for audiences from all walks of life.

I for one believe that they should be supported throughout this difficult period. I distinctly remember that one of my earliest exposures to theatre was a school trip to see Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress in 2007. Theatre was nowhere on my radar at the age of 14, but experiencing that, I saw classmates buying the soundtrack, feeling my heart stir as I watched Kit Chan belt her soul out to Dick Lee’s songs, and that alone was enough to make me a convert, in which I would not only watch STC’s shows in the years that followed, but expanded that love to the other theatre companies in Singapore as well, and theatre as a whole.

One can only wait and see, but as the curtain rises on their next act, given their track record, it seems safe to bet that STC will continue to impress us even more in the years to come, and fly the Singapore flag proud. Not just as an individual company, but as a part of the greater ecosystem, working closer than ever with the community, for a necessary, stronger united front. It is only when the community sticks together, supports each other rather than tearing each other down, and to engage in conversation and dialogue rather than immediately take to social media to air one’s grievances, that there can be change for the better.

Featured image courtesy of Singapore Theatre Company

More information about STC’s name change available here They will share details of the new name before their next show in August. More information about their upcoming productions available here