How do we measure the years in our lives? Following a sold-out run of 13 shows in 2022, Nine Years Theatre’s (NYT) hit original show See You, Anniversary returns to the stage in 2025, once again inviting audiences to immerse themselves in this heartwarming and thought-provoking production.Ranking among the best new shows of 2022, See You, Anniversary follows the love story of a couple who are dedicated to celebrating their anniversary every year. Performed by NYT co-founders and real-life married couple Mia Chee and Nelson Chia (also writer/director of the show), See You, Anniversary reminds us that, at various life stages with shifting priorities, we can reconnect with and reaffirm our core purpose through the act of remembering. As Mia reflects, “It’s a show about anniversaries but also about celebrating the little moments in life and showcasing milestones.”

The play primarily highlights how the smallest gestures can matter most in life’s long journey, and under Nelson’s direction, See You, Anniversary emphasizes the importance of cherishing the present. The intention to bring it back has been in the works since 2022, and as Nelson explains, “The response was good, so we thought we should bring it back at some point. 2023 and 2024 were too soon with our own schedules, but 2025 gives us the opportunity to rework it and bring it back.”

“Our shows always have such a short run, which is always a pity. A lot of people wanted to get tickets but it was completely sold out by the time they learnt about it,” says Mia. “It’s a show about anniversaries but also about celebrating the little moments in life and showcasing milestones, and about encouraging people to cherish the things around them and the time they have. The content for this show is so relatable, and hopefully, with this content, we’ll bring more audiences—new ones—into the theatre.”

The decision to premiere the show during Valentine’s Day aligns with its themes but also presents an opportunity to offer audiences more than just a performance. NYT has partnered with The Masses, a local restaurant known for its fusion of French and Asian cuisine, to create an exclusive “Premium (Double) – Dine and Theatre Date” package. The experience includes a specially curated menu inspired by See You, Anniversary, along with premium seating at the theatre, a set of “Beginnings” and “Eternity” tea by Pek Sin Choon, and a bottle of wine from CornerStone Wines. “A lot of the time people come into the theatre, watch a show, and then leave. How then can we make attending a theatre show a more memorable experience for the general public?” ponders Mia. “So, what if they come, have a meal together, and then watch the show? That would help make theatre more immersive and meaningful.”

With its themes of love and memory, the play serves as a reminder to treasure our relationships—whether familial, romantic, or friendships. “It’s an experience for the audience to first enjoy the story and then realize, ‘Oh, we go day in, day out, and don’t realize time is ticking.’ Even having a meal together or celebrating an anniversary is a reminder that something is special in relationships,” adds Nelson. “Even though it’s touted as a show about couples and relationships, it’s also about time—your relationship with anyone you love—and how you count the time with people in your life: your friends, your lover, your parents. Sometimes we think we are immortal, but eventually, the weeks will end. It’s a stark reminder to count your days.”

On how much they’ve changed in the last three years, the couple respond that they have indeed grown with the characters. “There are things we retain and change between shows. The last round was very emotional, but this time, we have room for more reflective moments, with more facets and a deeper dive into why we’re telling the story of our relationship. It’s about backward counting and recounting their lives, with a clearer intention behind why they’re telling their stories—why they want to relive those moments and what was felt during those moments,” says Mia.

“The first time was the first time meeting the characters and getting into the show. But now that we know these two better, we’re closer to them,” adds Mia. “In our own lives, over these three years, our kids haven’t just grown up—they’ve also gone to university, where they lived on campus, and went overseas for exchanges. It’s the first time they’ve had such an extended time away from us, and the way they communicate is different from before. That’s why anniversaries are important – every year of change marks progress, and it shows how much we change and adapt. For us, the way we relate to our kids also affects our interpretation of how these characters move through life, adapt, and how long they can hold on.”

The show will also be staged in a new space, at Wild Rice’s theatre at Funan, instead of the Drama Centre Black Box. “The Wild Rice space is interesting and makes you feel closer to the action, really letting you focus on how it’s two characters telling their story to you,” says Nelson. “The show has definitely grown with more nuance. I’ve grown more experienced too; in 2022, it was the first time I directed and acted at the same time. It was a bit challenging, but it’s easier now. Maybe I look back and think, “Oh, that scene wasn’t as well directed,” but now I know what to do with it. I think it’s smoother now—I’ve had more fun with it.”

As for their own anniversaries, despite being against the commercialised slant Valentine’s Day has taken on, the couple still take it upon themselves to continue celebrating and commemorating the important moments in their lives. “Society is conditioned to do something for Valentine’s Day, but we choose not to celebrate on the day itself in order not to put too much stress on ourselves, and not to put too much expectations on each other,” says Mia. “But Nelson also puts it upon himself to do something together—not necessarily something expensive, but something simple we can do together just being in each other’s presence, and we try not to talk too much about work, spending time away from the children.”

Speaking of NYT’s greater goal to building a rich repertoire of Mandarin theatre. “When you think about it, the most quintessential Singaporean Chinese playwright was Kuo Pao Kun, where everyone staged The Coffin Is Too Big For The Hole. But after a while, local groups turned to Stan Lai instead, and there was not enough local work in Mandarin to stage,” says Nelson. ” Hopefully, over the years, we continue writing more two handers and smaller work like this, building up a bigger canon and reservoir of Mandarin work from Singapore for the new century, so there’s more to stage.”

As for the importance of the company’s anniversaries, Nelson explains that they place great importance on it to celebrate their stakeholders. “For theatre company milestones, it’s usually a celebration with the audience, stakeholders, repeat donors and sponsors who have been supporting us year after year. It’s a way to celebrate with them and tell them, ‘We’ve come so far,'” says Nelson. “For a theatre company, unlike a personal celebration, it’s more about the company’s stance on celebrating anniversaries. Our last big anniversary was at nine years, so maybe we’ll do a big celebration for our 19th anniversary in the future.”

“I hope that when audiences come into the theatre, they also recognize us as a distinctly Singaporean theatre company. We can and do represent Singaporean theatre and hope to become synonymous with the arts in Singapore. We want to get as much exposure as possible so that people in the region and beyond know of our existence,” concludes Mia. “Singaporeans tend to only recognize people when they’re recognized overseas, so we hope that we are recognized both here and abroad, and that people will come into the theatre as well. I guess if you enjoy us, the best way of helping us out is to spread the word and tell more people about us. Even just bringing one friend to the theatre and showing them what we do helps so much.”

See You, Anniversary runs from 14th to 23rd February 2025 at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre at Funan. Tickets available from BookMyShow