Preview: Civilised by The Necessary Stage

Break out the party poppers, cut the cake, and celebrate Singapore’s Bicentennial with The Necessary Stage (TNS)! But hold on a minute – should we really be celebrating our Bicentennial, an anniversary marked and marred by the complications of colonialism and an almost reverent commemoration of the white men and founding fathers who arrived on our shores to transform us from small fishing villages to booming metropolis, … Continue reading Preview: Civilised by The Necessary Stage

Review: It Takes All Kinds by Theatre for Seniors (The Necessary Stage)

Community theatre-style presentation of honest, heartfelt stories. The Necessary Stage’s (TNS) Theatre for Seniors programme turns 10 this year, and over the last decade, has slowly but surely instilled a small interest group of seniors with the power of theatre and the arts. Over the last weekend, the community theatre group presented devised work It Takes All Kinds this weekend, comprising a medley of scenes inspired by the … Continue reading Review: It Takes All Kinds by Theatre for Seniors (The Necessary Stage)

Preview: It Takes All Kinds by Theatre for Seniors (The Necessary Stage)

10 years ago, leading local theatre company The Necessary Stage (TNS) started their Theatre for Seniors (TFS) programme, a platform for pioneers and older citizens to find a creative and educational space to learn and perform theatre. Now, TFS has come into its own as a professional theatre group, and this year, will present a brand new production jointly devised and performed by seniors. Says Alvin … Continue reading Preview: It Takes All Kinds by Theatre for Seniors (The Necessary Stage)

Review: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

A Singaporean classic through and through, as disturbingly relevant now as it was then. There’s good reason why Off Centre is considered one of the most important works of the Singapore literary canon; the hallmark of a classic play lies primarily in its ability for both story and characters to transcend time, and Off Centre achieves all of these in spades, triumphantly returning to the stage as bold as it … Continue reading Review: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

Preview: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

26 years since its premiere in 1993, The Necessary Stage (TNS) is once more bringing back one of their most well known plays to the stage in 2019 – Off Centre. Written by TNS Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma and directed by TNS artistic director Alvin Tan, Off Centre was a bold new step forward for Singapore theatre as it cast an honest and unflinching spotlight on the stigma of … Continue reading Preview: Off Centre (2019) by The Necessary Stage

Review: Underclass《贱民》by The Necessary Stage and Drama Box

Disclaimer: The following review contains plot information for Underclass The Necessary Stage and Drama Box present a rich script about the poor and destitute, discomforting as it shines a spotlight on the invisible people we turn a blind eye to. How often do you have to think about whether you can afford your next meal, or how much you can save by taking a series … Continue reading Review: Underclass《贱民》by The Necessary Stage and Drama Box

The Necessary Stage and Drama Box’s Underclass: An Interview with the Cast and Co-director Alvin Tan

Following their overwhelmingly successful collaboration with Drama Box with Manifesto back in 2016, the two theatre companies are teaming up once again for their new show Underclass. Tackling, as the title suggests, concepts of class and social conditions in Singapore, this multilingual work will feature a cast of some of Singapore’s best actors, with a script by Haresh Sharma and co-directed by Kok Heng Leun and Alvin Tan. We … Continue reading The Necessary Stage and Drama Box’s Underclass: An Interview with the Cast and Co-director Alvin Tan

Preview: Underclass by The Necessary Stage and Drama Box

After the runaway success of Manifesto in 2016 to a sold out run, The Necessary Stage and Drama Box return for a second collaboration this May! Following on from Manifesto, Underclass sees the two companies producing an all new multi-lingual work that takes a critical look at issues of social inequality and human dignity in Singapore. Written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Alvin Tan together with Kok Heng Leun, Underclass tells the story of … Continue reading Preview: Underclass by The Necessary Stage and Drama Box

untitled cow number one: A Cata Odata X The Necessary Stage X WAFT-LAB Collaboration

The Necessary Stage is starting their 2018 season with plenty of collaborations, having kickstarted Phase 1 of their forthcoming collaboration with Canada and with their new main season work Underclass in May, produced in collaboration with Drama Box. But before all that, this March, they’ll be treading new ground as they embark on an all new project with Cata Odata, a Balinese art space led by creative director … Continue reading untitled cow number one: A Cata Odata X The Necessary Stage X WAFT-LAB Collaboration

M1SFF 2018 Previews Part 3: Questioning Perfection and the Patriarchal Gaze

In the final part of our previews for the 2018 M1 Singapore Fringe Fest, we look at four works that tackle the complexities of the female form and the emphasis on female beauty. These pieces question the validity of succumbing to the patriarchal gaze and reject the emphasis on traditional ‘aesthetic beauty’, as they bring alternative takes on femininity across age and history. Read our … Continue reading M1SFF 2018 Previews Part 3: Questioning Perfection and the Patriarchal Gaze