From 16 to 26 October, Gateway Theatre’s Black Box will host the Singapore premiere of Brainstorm, a bold new production by Gateway Arts, presented by Singapore Pools (Private) Limited. Blending theatre and neuroscience to reveal the inner workings of the adolescent brain. Inspired by the findings of neuroscientist Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore “The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain”, and adapted by Cheyenne Alexandria Philips, the play draws on the real‑life experiences of Singaporean teenagers aged 13 to 17.

To youth, parents, educators and any adult who can look back and relate, its purpose is to portray the chaos, humour, and heartaches of growing up in Singapore today, in its high‑pressure and 2 hyperconnected population. The result is a raw and relatable portrait of the turbulent teenage years—where identity, emotion, and social pressures collide.

“This is a celebration of teenagers’ identities and the world they’re coming into,” reminds Director Samantha Scott‑Blackhall. “By casting young actors, we create an authenticity and emotional truth that resonates with both teens and adults.” She adds that this not only makes them very relatable on stage, but it also allows them to connect more deeply to the experiences of the young people they’re portraying. Beyond that, it also stems from Gateway Arts’ long-time commitment to nurture young artistic talents.

This year’s production of Brainstorm is made possible with the support of its presenting sponsor, Singapore Pools. Their commitment to uplifting the community aligns closely with the play’s focus on giving youths a voice and a safe space to be understood. “At Singapore Pools, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that nurture mental wellness within our community. This year, we are proud to once again support a production that offers young people a safe space to reflect on the challenges they face, while reinforcing the important message that they are not alone. Through our continued partnership with Gateway Arts, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue and inspire greater empathy, resilience, and compassion across society,” shares Mr Chin Sau Ho, Senior Director, Community Partnerships & Communications.

Also supported by corporate sponsor, IPP Financial Advisers (IPPFA), Brainstorm uses sciencebased storytelling to explain how the developing brain can be unpredictable, contributing to a turbulent life stage. The play shows teenagers that they are not alone, while helping adults to be better prepared at managing them.

The Straits Times declared: “Our youth are in distress.” Around one in three young people in Singapore has experienced severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress, a nationwide survey by the Institute of Mental Health reported in September 2024. Those who have been cyberbullied, worry about their appearance, or spend excessive time on social media are particularly vulnerable. Complementing these findings, a large‑scale study led by Professor Kenneth Poon from the National Institute of Education is tracking 7,000 secondary school students to better understand adolescent development. Early findings show that academic pressure, family dynamics, artificial intelligence, social media use, and screen‑time addiction significantly affect teenagers’ mental health, self‑identity, and overall well‑being.

Neuroscientist Professor Sarah‑Jayne Blakemore describes the adolescent brain as “still under construction,” particularly in regions responsible for decision‑making and social understanding. This developmental stage explains why teenagers experience intense emotions, heightened social sensitivity, and sometimes unpredictable behaviour, which are all themes vividly explored in Brainstorm, adapted from the real-life experiences of teenagers here.

Among the cast of Brainstorm, one of them is still a student. Director Samantha shares, “Kishore is our youngest actor, who is still at LASALLE College of the Arts. I am working closely with Matt Grey, Programme Leader for the Diploma in Performance at LASALLE, to have him rehearse and train with us for exposure beyond the school.” Shen Hao, who plays Jeffery (also known as Junjie), shares his perspective on the production and Gateway Arts’ commitment to nurturing new talent. “One thing that I find admirable in Gateway Arts as a theatre company is that it always tries to present young talents. Aside from presenting stories about the youth, the vision stays consistent when the company is also trying to recruit young talent in the industry. And I think that’s something that is very admirable and respectable.”

TOUCH Community Services (TOUCH) is a dedicated non-profit organisation empowering individuals of all ages and needs to build strong families, caring generations, and communities across Singapore. 4 As the official community partner for Brainstorm, TOUCH leads the post-show facilitation and discussion sessions, providing safe and supportive spaces for teens, parents, and educators to engage openly about mental health challenges. Through its programmes, TOUCH also supports youth by fostering emotional awareness, teaching coping strategies, and strengthening family communication. “Youth today are navigating an increasingly complex mental health landscape, shaped by academic pressures, social expectations, and the ever-evolving digital environment. At TOUCH Mental Wellness, we believe that theatre is a powerful way to surface these struggles and spark the conversations that are often difficult to start. Brainstorm offers a meaningful platform to engage youths, parents, and educators in a shared experience that can lead to greater empathy and understanding. We are honoured to partner with Gateway Arts to facilitate the post-show dialogue, creating a safe space for open conversation, reflection, and ultimately encouraging early support and a stronger culture of mental wellbeing,” shared Mr Joel Wong, Assistant Manager of TOUCH Mental Wellness, TOUCH Community Services.

Inside every adolescent brain, a storm rages. 86 billion neurons connect and collide to produce the most frustrating, chaotic and exhilarating change that will happen to a human body! Brainstorm is a unique theatrical investigation into how teenagers’ brains work, and why they behave the way they do. An extensive workshop with local teenagers helped shape Brainstorm, creating a script rooted in real experiences in Singapore, says Cheyenne, “Samantha and I discussed a number of exercises we would like to conduct during the workshop that would allow the youth to open up to us in different ways, be it verbally or written or through drawing.” Consistent themes emerged around academic pressures, with Cheyenne sharing that “Stresses around academic achievement—exams, stress, doing well in school—came up a lot, regardless of who we spoke to.”

The workshops also revealed a common feeling of disconnect. Cheyenne also revealed that, “A lot of them expressed feeling misunderstood by parents or teachers. There was a recurring plea of, ‘This is what I’m interested in, can you be interested in it too?’” This gap in understanding underscores the play’s mission to foster empathy and open dialogue between teens and adults. For Kishore, who plays Aarav, exploring what’s going through a teenager’s headspace resonates personally. He shared, “My personal teenage life was kind of like a roller coaster so I feel that this is a very important exploration. It’s a show that adults should be watching as well.” He believes this production will offer a valuable window for adults to understand what many teenagers are truly experiencing, putting adults in the headspace of teenagers.

Shen Hao, who plays Jeffery aka Junjie, also finds deep personal resonance in his role. “Jeffery is from China and has Permanent Residence status here. I’m also an international student and came to Singapore to study four years ago. The kind of issues Jeffery deals with are very similar to my own,” he shares. “There’s a constant tension between wanting to fit in, and being reminded that you’re different, that you’re not entirely a part of the culture or nation. One of Jeffery’s biggest struggles is his identity crisis, not knowing whether to identify as Singaporean Chinese, or (Mainland) Chinese. I ask myself those same questions.”

“Being a teenager is hard,” says Matt, who plays Weiming. “There’s no part more difficult in life than being a teenager. You’re not quite a kid anymore, but you’re not an adult yet. Day by day, the expectations that are placed on you are constantly shifting under your feet. To top it off, your brain and your body are going insane because of puberty. It’s just a cocktail of intensity that happens between the ages of 12 to 20.”

Besides offering a window into teenage life, this play aims to “create a sense of empathy and wants young people to feel seen,” Matt adds. As its reason for being, Brainstorm aims to encourage its teenage viewers to realise that it is alright to feel what they’re feeling. To bring these experiences to life on stage, the production will incorporate animated multimedia and live-streamed actor performances designed by Multimedia Designer, Genevieve Peck. Brainstorm also injects a touch of humour, with the characters even stepping into the roles of their nagging parents in a funny, self-reflective scene.

In a world where teenagers face constant demands from school, social media, and family expectations, Brainstorm offers an unfiltered look into the emotional storms beneath their surface. It is a reminder that every teenager is navigating complex feelings and identity challenges. As Cheryl, who plays June, reflects: “For the kids, it’s about knowing they are not isolated. They may or may not talk about what they’re going through (in their own lives), but seeing similar scenarios on stage helps them know that others relate to these (situations) too.”

Sara, who plays Hannah, adds, “I relate to keeping up appearances, especially in teaching or as a teenager, when your brain is a mess, but you have to look composed. It’s a torturous experience.” Each performance is followed by a guided discussion led by TOUCH Community Services, for audiences to share reflections and access vital resources.

Brainstorm invites audiences to step into teenagers’ shoes, experiencing the whirlwind of adolescence with honesty and humour. Brainstorm transform theatre into a tool for empathy, closing the gap between young people and adults in their lives. Kysha Ashreen, who portrays Qistina, shares how her character’s experience—balancing the pressure to be the “good child” with wanting to carve out her own identity—struck a chord with her own teenage years. “Qistina’s inner conflict—the push and pull between wanting to make your parents proud and feeling misunderstood—is something many of us go through,” she explains.

During rehearsals, an exercise where she spoke directly to her parents as Qistina unexpectedly touched her deeply, blurring the line between character and self. “It felt like I was speaking to my actual parents, not just as Qistina. That’s the magic of Brainstorm— these stories reflect real-life struggles that resonate with so many, especially at that age.” And her advice to Qistina would be, “Just because they don’t always see you doesn’t mean you’re not worth seeing. Your emotions are valid, your presence matters, and you don’t need to be louder or more dramatic to deserve attention, you’re already enough as you are.”

To further break the barrier between performers and audience, Brainstorm will include an interactive element that invites attendees to step into the characters’ world and engage with them in real time. As such, Brainstorm challenges assumptions about adolescence. It reflects the realities of today’s youth, while inspiring action, sparking personal reflections, prompting meaningful dialogue, and encouraging communities to stand with young people. As Samantha describes it, Brainstorm is “a celebration of (teenagers’) identity and the world that teenagers are coming into.”

Brainstorm plays from 17th to 25th October 2025 at Gateway Theatre Black Box. Tickets and more information available here