Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Sofie Buligis on being and representing ‘Celup’

“You very celup sia.” The moment her partner said it, Sofie Buligis laughed, but she also felt something click into place. “I was like, yeah, I am,” she remembers. “My friends and family have called me that, and actually it’s quite a snappy name for a show.” That idea became Celup (literally, ‘to dip’, and loosely translates to a desire to be more ‘mixed’) her … Continue reading Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Sofie Buligis on being and representing ‘Celup’

Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Wang Ping-Hsiang on representing violence in performance and karaoke in ‘Retina Manoeuvre’

When audiences first encountered Retina Manoeuvre in its early work-in-progress, few could have guessed that the performance would later tour Europe, gathering deeply personal responses from audiences who recognised themselves, despite having no connection to Taiwan at all. The project began far from the solo, autobiographical form it eventually took. Taiwanese artist and creator Ping-Hsiang Wang recalls that the original proposal involved three performers and … Continue reading Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Wang Ping-Hsiang on representing violence in performance and karaoke in ‘Retina Manoeuvre’

Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Woody Avenue on normalising queerness and representing love in ‘A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical’

When theatre-makers Rosie McGowan and Kluane Saunders first started writing a musical about a woman trying to create the happiest lesbian love story ever put on stage, they didn’t realise they were also building a company. “The idea for the production came first and the company came after,” Rosie laughs. “A lot of people asked who was the company behind it, and we thought, oh, … Continue reading Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Woody Avenue on normalising queerness and representing love in ‘A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical’

Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Haresh Sharma, Grace Kalaiselvi, and Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon on representing disability onstage in ‘Invisible’

Set against the seemingly ordinary backdrop of a hotel workplace, Invisible begins with a simple premise: Malini, a young disabled woman, starts her new job as a cleaner determined to do well. When a guest’s prized possession goes missing, the incident sets off a chain of events that reveals the hidden struggles, quiet tensions, and unseen disabilities carried by those involved. Written by award-winning playwright … Continue reading Singapore Fringe Festival 2026: An Interview with Haresh Sharma, Grace Kalaiselvi, and Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon on representing disability onstage in ‘Invisible’

Preview: Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 tackles representation across four productions

The Singapore Fringe Festival returns in January 2026, now as a crowdfunded independent festival. Now in its 22nd edition, Fringe 2026 will feature an inspiring and thought-provoking line-up of events by Singapore and international artists that address the theme of Represent, both as an issue explored in the works, as well as a play on the representation of the Fringe. Since its inaugural edition in … Continue reading Preview: Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 tackles representation across four productions

★★☆☆☆ Theatre Review: SG Insecure by The Necessary Stage

TNS’ attempt to subvert the SG60 celebrations is a patchy collection of stories about government surveillance and control that instead reveals its own insecurities. If there’s one thing Singaporeans crave, it’s control, whether over order, and how we’re seen by others. SG Insecure, The Necessary Stage’s (TNS) latest work, sets out to question that national impulse. Framed as a subversive take on the SG60 celebrations, … Continue reading ★★☆☆☆ Theatre Review: SG Insecure by The Necessary Stage

The Necessary Stage presents ‘From Forum Theatre to Devising Theatre Workshop Showcase 2025’

Can happiness be measured as a KPI? Will a father’s grief be assuaged by an impassive cyborg? Is there love after loss? Join us in exploring these real and fictional stories investigating the quality of life in a series of fresh and provocative works-in-progress by the participants of The Necessary Stage’s (TNS) From Forum Theatre to Devising Theatre Workshop Showcase 2025. The showcase runs from … Continue reading The Necessary Stage presents ‘From Forum Theatre to Devising Theatre Workshop Showcase 2025’

An Interview with the writers of The Necessary Stage’s ‘SG Insecure’: An SG60 play examining Singapore’s past, present and future

This October, The Necessary Stage (TNS) premieres SG Insecure, promising a bold new work about nationhood, belonging, and the contradictions that come with being Singaporean at a pivotal juncture in our history. As Singapore marks 60 years of independence amidst an era of global uncertainty, most other companies and organisations would find it a time of celebration. Instead, SG Insecure chooses to interrogate the stories … Continue reading An Interview with the writers of The Necessary Stage’s ‘SG Insecure’: An SG60 play examining Singapore’s past, present and future

Preview: SG Insecure by The Necessary Stage

This October, The Necessary Stage (TNS) premieres a brand new work on nationhood and belonging at a pivotal juncture in Singapore’s history. SG Insecure, a provocative investigation of Singapore past and present, is particularly apt as Singapore celebrates its 60th year of independence, amidst tumultuous times of social and global uncertainty. Delving into stories of migrant workers through history who have and continue to contribute … Continue reading Preview: SG Insecure by The Necessary Stage

Haresh Sharma Awarded Honorary Doctor of Arts by Bath Spa University

Haresh Sharma, the Resident Playwright of The Necessary Stage (TNS), has received the Honorary Doctor of Arts awarded by Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom. Responding to his being conferred the accolade, Sharma says, “I’m deeply grateful to be awarded the Honorary Doctor of Arts as a recognition of my 37 years of work and dedication to growing and developing Singapore theatre.” He also … Continue reading Haresh Sharma Awarded Honorary Doctor of Arts by Bath Spa University