M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024: An Interview with choreographer J’Sun Howard on ‘aMoratorium’

Starting its journey as a commission by the Art Institute of Chicago, in response to the work of visual artist Charles Wilbert White, Chicago-based dancemaker, poet, writer, curator, and all-around Renaissance artist J’Sun Howard, aMoratorium was born as a way to coalesce White’s exploration of African American history, culture, and lives. Through the dance-theatre piece, Howard explores Black male identity, visibility, temporality, and its absence, and … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024: An Interview with choreographer J’Sun Howard on ‘aMoratorium’

The Necessary Stage announces two additional Associate Artists for 2024, with A Yagnya and Lim Shien Hian

In April 2023, The Necessary Stage (TNS) launched a new iteration of its Associate Artists Programme (AAP) , featuring two young Associate Artists — theatre – makers Sindhura Kalidas and Deonn Yang — who have been attached to the company since then. The company has now announced two more new Associate Artists joining its team: theatre – makers A Yagnya and Lim Shien Hian. All … Continue reading The Necessary Stage announces two additional Associate Artists for 2024, with A Yagnya and Lim Shien Hian

M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024 explores pressing social issues and the ways we relate and connect to each other

Over the years, the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival (M1SFF), organised by The Necessary Stage (TNS), has undergone a variety of changes to the way it’s been run, from taking on specific themes and topics, to responding to art work. But at its heart, M1SFF has always been about one key goal – to present small scale local and international work that address key social issues, … Continue reading M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024 explores pressing social issues and the ways we relate and connect to each other

★★★★☆ Review: Happy Indian Women by The Necessary Stage

An authentic, diverse exploration of what it means to be an Indian woman today. The Singaporean Indian identity is deeply multi-faceted. Within the community, there are already diverse languages, skin tones, religions, sexualities, family histories and rootedness to one’s culture, where every Indian person has a unique story to tell. As a minority race within the country, Indians have also faced and continue to face … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Review: Happy Indian Women by The Necessary Stage

Brown Joy: An Interview with writer/co-director Sindhura Kalidas and the cast of The Necessary Stage’s ‘Happy Indian Women’

“Happiness is a mood, not a destination,” says Sindhura Kalidas. “That’s a quote from One Tree Hill, and I think about that a lot, and how it’s really just this fleeting emotion that comes and goes, not a constant state of mind.” That’s an important distinction for Sindhura to make, especially considering she’s directing a show called Happy Indian Women this November. Presented by The … Continue reading Brown Joy: An Interview with writer/co-director Sindhura Kalidas and the cast of The Necessary Stage’s ‘Happy Indian Women’

Preview: The Necessary Stage presents showcases for Devising with Actors and Playwrights 2023

To round off the year, The Necessary Stage (TNS) is presenting an exciting lineup of works-in-progress by the latest batch of creatives from its Devising with Actors and Playwrights (DAP) workshops. Led by Resident Playwright and Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma, Devising with Actors and Playwrights 2023 is part of TNS’ devising platform and sees 20 theatre-makers undergo an intensive training programme over a six-month … Continue reading Preview: The Necessary Stage presents showcases for Devising with Actors and Playwrights 2023

Preview: Happy Indian Women by The Necessary Stage

Following a five-star performance in Wild Rice’s Psychobitch, theatremaker and The Necessary Stage (TNS) Associate Artist Sindhura Kalidas is back this November to wrap up her 2023 with a brand new show: Happy Indian Women. Written by Sindhura, and co-directed by Sindhura and TNS Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma, Happy Indian Women is a new verbatim theatre production that questions the assumptions made about the diverse … Continue reading Preview: Happy Indian Women by The Necessary Stage

The Necessary Stage launches Associate Artist Programme, featuring Deonn Yang and Sindhura Kalidas

The Necessary Stage (TNS) is delighted to unveil a brand new iteration of its Associate Artist Programme (AAP) in April 2023, commencing with two young Associate Artists—theatre-makers Sindhura Kalidas and Deonn Yang—being attached to the company for a year. TNS has, over its 36-year history, been at the forefront of developing new generations of young artistic voices. Many of Singapore’s current art and theatre changemakers— … Continue reading The Necessary Stage launches Associate Artist Programme, featuring Deonn Yang and Sindhura Kalidas

★★★☆☆ Review: Old Gaze by The Necessary Stage

Camp take on finding one’s place in a fast-changing world loses the plot. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Haresh Sharma) 5 Script (Haresh Sharma) 5 Performance (Hossan Leong, Kumar, Rody Vera, Siti Khalijah Zainal, Liow Shi Suen, Azura Farid and Medli Dorothea Loo) 6 Lighting Design (Yo Shao Ann) 6 Multimedia Design (Brian Gothong Tan) 5 Set Design (Vincent Lim) 5 Total 32/60 (53%) … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: Old Gaze by The Necessary Stage

Old Gaze: An Interview with writer/director Haresh Sharma, and cast members Kumar and Hossan Leong

In a rainbow landscape that’s constantly changing with the times, the speed at which we move forward and ideals evolve, it’s all too easy to forget the queer pioneers that were there from the very beginning, survivors and champions before some of us were even born. As we look towards a post-377A future and wonder what’s next, perhaps it’s time to turn our attention towards … Continue reading Old Gaze: An Interview with writer/director Haresh Sharma, and cast members Kumar and Hossan Leong