How far can love stretch before it begins to fray? That question lies at the heart of 3 Queens, The Necessary Stage’s newest original production, which arrives this September with an intimate portrait of three women navigating family, friendship and the expectations that shape their lives.

The play follows sisters Bedah and Zeina alongside their lifelong friend and neighbour Aida. Having grown up inseparable, the trio have weathered life’s milestones together—until adulthood pulls them in different directions. Zeina leaves behind a thriving business to pursue activism during a global crisis, Bedah sacrifices her ambitions in the film industry to care for their ageing mother, while Aida struggles to hold the friendships together as personal challenges of her own begin to surface.

Written by Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma, 3 Queens balances humour with heartbreak as it examines sisterhood, faith, empathy and sacrifice through the lens of contemporary Malay-Muslim women.

“I’ve been wanting to write a play like this for some time, with strong, complex characters and issues that are deeply personal and socio-political, and with a lot of heart and humour,” says Sharma.

Those themes are further explored by co-director Adib Kosnan, who believes audiences will recognise parts of themselves in the story. “The play touches on inherited expectations versus modern realities in a way that I feel will make us see versions of ourselves in this community, whether we experienced those dynamics directly or indirectly,” says Adib.

Kosnan adds that the production also shines a light on “the hidden obstacles that are faced by women in the community,” from the people around them who have the power to uplift, or unintentionally hold them back, to the ways relationships evolve alongside the people within them. “It is a very human process framed in this play by the realities of being a Malay-Muslim woman,” he says.

Rather than beginning with a finished script, 3 Queens emerged through months of devising and collaboration. Sharma explains that the creative team spent extensive time building characters through improvisation. “We spent a lot of time creating different characters and scenarios. The actors did a lot of improvisations. Naturally, a lot of issues surfaced about Malay-Muslim women and their lives. Who are the contemporary Malay-Muslim women? What are their joys, their hopes, their struggles?”

That collaborative process resonated deeply with the cast, which brings together three celebrated performers making their first appearance together in a The Necessary Stage production: Munah Bagharib, Siti Hajar Gani and Siti Khalijah Zainal.

For Munah, the process proved creatively rewarding. “The process has been very fascinating and it really pushed me to create characters outside of things I might know.”

Television veteran Siti Hajar Gani, who is collaborating with The Necessary Stage for the first time, describes the experience as equally fulfilling. “Working with Haresh and Adib to devise the work is truly a rewarding experience.”

Sharma, meanwhile, shares that he has long hoped to work with the actress after her performance in Harap, the Malay adaptation of his play Hope. “The opportunity finally presented itself with 3 Queens,” he says.

For Siti Khalijah Zainal, the production is as much about the friendships forged offstage as those portrayed onstage. “It’s the first time the three of us are sharing the stage together in a TNS production, and I’m really looking forward to the crazy amount of fun we’re going to have!”

Beyond its emotional storytelling, 3 Queens also reflects The Necessary Stage’s long-standing commitment to creating original, socially conscious theatre rooted in collaboration. The production promises not only an exploration of loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness, but also a timely conversation about womanhood, community and the invisible emotional labour that often shapes our closest relationships.

3 Queens runs from 3rd to 13th September 2026 at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre, Wild Rice @ Funan. Tickets available from BookMyShow