The Necessary Stage expands Associate Artists Programme with Two Trailblazing Designers for 2025

The Necessary Stage (TNS) continues to champion innovation and inclusivity in socially engaged theatre by welcoming two groundbreaking additions to its 2025 Associate Artists Programme (AAP). For the first time, the programme will feature designers, with sound designer and composer Safuan Johari and lighting designer Faith Liu Yong Huay joining the current dynamic cohort. This move marks an exciting evolution in the AAP, spotlighting the … Continue reading The Necessary Stage expands Associate Artists Programme with Two Trailblazing Designers for 2025

★★★★★ Review: White, All White by The Necessary Stage

Deonn Yang rises to the occasion and comes into her own in this heartfelt play about forgiveness and family. As much as we hold the concept of family in high regard in Singapore, family has also always been a complex affair. Amidst the comfort family brings, there is almost always the pressure of ensuring that we do the best we can for them, lest we … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: White, All White by The Necessary Stage

★★★★★ Review: Hard Mode by Checkpoint Theatre

Gen Z play that speaks to the growing pains that anyone from any era goes through. From juggling studies with a social life, to the turbulent changes of adolescence and figuring out exactly what it all means, it is a truth universally acknowledged that the teen years are some of the toughest of anyone’s life. And even for Generation Z (dubbed ‘Zoomers’), who grew up … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: Hard Mode by Checkpoint Theatre

Kalaa Utsavam 2024: An Interview with HuM Theatre’s Subin Subaiah and Daisy Irani on ‘Train to Pakistan’

India’s Partition is often considered one of the most significant historical events of South Asia. Cleaving a nation into two upon India’s independence, millions of families faced displacement and separation from each other, with countless deaths from the violence that ensued over the bitter rivalry, with tensions that continue even into the present day. How then does one even begin to grapple with the massive … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2024: An Interview with HuM Theatre’s Subin Subaiah and Daisy Irani on ‘Train to Pakistan’

★★★★★ Review: The Feelings Farm by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

A moving, necessary primer on emotional intelligence for both children and adults. The beauty of the arts often lies in how they are able to produce powerful emotional responses, representing and platforming a degree of authenticity onstage that allows for audiences to undergo catharsis. And in a country like Singapore, where emotional and mental health are just beginning to enter mainstream conversation, it seems more … Continue reading ★★★★★ Review: The Feelings Farm by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

★★★☆☆ Review: KAGAMI by Tin Drum and Ryuichi Sakamoto

A spiritual connection to the lingering ghost in the music and the machine. There has always been something immensely timeless about the compositions of the late Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, with avant garde works that capture listeners from their opening notes filled with emotion, to more sparse, esoteric pieces that evoke entire landscapes in the journey they take us through, connecting the individual to the … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: KAGAMI by Tin Drum and Ryuichi Sakamoto

Preview: 2025 M1 Singapore Fringe Festival to tackle themes of displacement across seven local and international works

The annual Singapore Fringe Festival, organised by The Necessary Stage (TNS) has become an institution for independent theatremakers both locally and internationally to present their work, providing a platform for them to stage provocative, cutting-edge performances that deal with pertinent discussions in society and about those on the margins. Now in its 21st edition, watch as Fringe 2025 tackles the theme of displacement, from people … Continue reading Preview: 2025 M1 Singapore Fringe Festival to tackle themes of displacement across seven local and international works

Preview: Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts 2024 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

As Deepavali approaches, so does the Esplanade’s annual Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, as it returns to celebrate the rich tapestry of Indian arts and culture. From timeless traditions to contemporary offerings, the 2024 edition of the festival brings a carefully-curated selection of artists presenting new and exciting work, both local and international, aiming to touch the heart and ignite the imagination. Headlining … Continue reading Preview: Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts 2024 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Preview: Steven Berkoff’s ‘Metamorphosis’ by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Intercultural Theatre Institute presents Steven Berkoff’s adaptation of Metamorphosis, directed by Aarne Neeme and performed by the ITI graduating class of 2024. This gripping retelling of Franz Kafka’s iconic novella melds abstract physical theatre and psychological drama with elements of dark comedy. The story follows Gregor Samsa, a young man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As he … Continue reading Preview: Steven Berkoff’s ‘Metamorphosis’ by Intercultural Theatre Institute

Preview: Pangdemonium’s 2025 Season

After three five star shows in 2024, we expect great things from Pangdemonium’s recently announced 2025 Season, a thoughtfully curated lineup that explores the essence of our existence, the power of choice, and the pursuit of happiness. Each production delves into deep and meaningful themes, questioning how we navigate the lives we’ve been given. They invite audiences to consider whether we are at the mercy … Continue reading Preview: Pangdemonium’s 2025 Season