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In September 1992, Alvin Tan, Artistic Director of The Necessary Stage, established the Theatre For Youth Branch.

The aims of the Branch are:


to expose young people to theatre;
to create a space for artistic expression by and for young people;
to cultivate the aesthetic sensibilities of young people; and
to explore themes and issues relevant to young people in Singapore


We believe that theatre must grow out of the community and therefore pay close attention to issues that concern young people and educators. Our programmes develop from research, careful planning and consultation. The concern that students should benefit fully has led us to theoretical and hands-on learning; and cultivate students' life-skills and contribute towards their personal development.

The Branch also believes strongly in, and welcomes, partnerships with other sectors in society to achieve holistic outcomes for our programmes. The school's curriculum and directions in education are also taken into consideration when planning our programmes.

Playwright's Web is an exciting cross-cultural project spanning 6 months (Jan - Jun 2000). The project, organised by The Calgary Arts Centre and jointly administered with The Necessary Stage, will enable young people to promote cultural understanding, aesthetic learning, research and writing skills, creativity, the use of IT, and of course making new friends. Students from two local schools, Tanjong Katong Secondary School and St. Hilda's Secondary School will be linked up with students from Milton High School in Calgary.

They will be communicating mainly via e-mail, and will 'meet' via video-conferencing. The students do research on each other's culture, resulting in scripts being written, and then finally each other's scripts in their respective schools.

While the project with The Calgary Arts Centre will end by June 2000, the process in Singapore will continue as the schools prepare to stage the plays that emerge from Playwrights' Web at M1 Youth Connection 2001. Watch out for them!!!

A Series of Drama Workshops and Talks by Russell Boyce, presented by B.A.T in collaboration with The Necessary Stage and The British Council. The following workshops were conducted:


Workshop for Students - Characterisation: A Series of Drama Workshops and Talks
Workshop for Students - Acting in Student Productions: A Series of Drama Workshops and Talks
From The Outside In: A Series of Drama Workshops and Talks
Basic Improvisation I & II: A Series of Drama Workshops and Talks
Advanced Improvisation I & II: A Series of Drama Workshops and Talks

The Necessary Stage's Theatre For Youth Branch believes that theatre can be a useful tool in the education process.

Theatre makes a difference in the creative, social and cultural development of students under your care. The programmes we present offer an introduction to theatre as well as deeper experiences that engage the students in active learning.

Alvin Tan, Artistic Director of The Necessary Stage, founded of Theatre For Youth Branch in September 1992. The primary aims of this branch are:


To expose more youth in theatre
To create a space for artistic expression by and for young people
To cultivate the aesthetic sensibilities of young people in order to facilitate the development of Singapore as a vibrant arts hub.

Building on its success in education and the arts, especially the Theatre For Youth Branch’s Development Through Drama programme, The Necessary Stage introduces its interdisciplinary Integrated Arts & Personal Development programme in 2001, with a focus on visual art and drama.

Targeted at secondary school students to young adults, the programme hopes to introduce to young people creative skills that will enhance their learning process. The course seeks to discover and adapt to the unique abilities of the student through hands-on teaching, finding the forms of expression that best suits them.

As with the Branch’s Development Through Drama programme, the course aims to develop and enhance students’ life-skills such as confidence, expression, communication, and social interaction and to introduce students to the arts and to open up their creative and imaginative faculties.  This programme is piloted at East View Secondary and Telok Kurau Secondary School.