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Publications

Off Centre

Off Centre was first staged by The Necessary Stage in 1993, under the direction of Alvin Tan. Despite some controversy on funding and censorship, the play was eventually performed to public and critical acclaim.

Over the past 13 years, Off Centre has been made into an experimental feature film, published as part of a one-play series, adapted into a television movie, given a full reading in the UK, taught at a University in Kuala Lumpur and translated and staged as Otak Tak Centre in Kuala Lumpur. As one of The Necessary Stage’s landmark works, Off Centre is part of the Singaporean canon of literary works, and now and “O” and “N” level Literature text. Off Centre is also the first ever Singapore text to be offered at “O” levels.

The creation of Off Centre owes much to a methodology and process that allowed a group of dedicated and passionate artists to research into matters beyond their life experiences, to build a body of emotional and psychological knowledge to draw from, and sufficient time to nurture the maturity of character, relationships and themes.

Student Edition also available.
2006
 

Essays/Writings

Ex-political Detainee Forum at Singapore in 2006

Published in Oral History Association of Australia Journal No. 29 2007.

The following is an extract from the essay/writing.The full version can be viewed online here.


On a Saturday afternoon, 26 February 2006, over 200, mostly young people, crowded into the Recital Studio of Singapore’s Esplanade Arts Centre to listen to expolitical detainees from the 1960s and 1970s give their side of Singapore’s history. This was the first time that ex-political detainees in Singapore have held a public forum to give critical accounts of their experiences of being detained without trial for long periods by the Singapore government. Previous meetings of ex-political detainees had been organized by the Singapore government and had a different purpose.


Project Serial Number: AA200601

Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to reproduce the full essay/writing online. Please contact the resource owner directly for permissions if reproduction rights do not belong to The Necessary Stage Ltd. Otherwise, kindly contact us for access to the full resource. Do note that archival access and reproduction charges may apply.
2006
 

Productions

Jackpot!

In light of the up-coming integrated resorts, Jackpot! uses gambling as a theme to explore the choices and struggles that face 16-year old Linda. Linda's family is falling apart because of her mother's extreme gambling as a theme to explore the choices and struggles that no one seems to hear or see Linda anymore. To make matters worse, her boyfriend has just left to study in Perth and communication between them is slowing down. With everything around her, spinning out of control, she decides she will place her savings on a football betting game. If she wins, she will have enough to buy a ticket to Perth and find out whether her boyfriend still wants to be with her, and if she loses, then that's it! Life can't get any worse anyway. What choice does she make? Where does she eventually place her bets?
2005
 -
Singapore
 

Productions

1965

1965 was a significant year in the history of Singapore. It was a year where Singapore experienced a spell of uncertainty and difficult decision making. It was the beginning of our birth as an independent nation. Set against this tumultuous backdrop is a story of friendship and loyalty. How much is one wiling to sacrifice for one's community?
2005
 -
Singapore
 

Staging

1965

1965 was a significant year in the history of Singapore. It was a year where Singapore experienced a spell of uncertainty and difficult decision making. It was the beginning of our birth as an independent nation. Set against this tumultuous backdrop is a story of friendship and loyalty. How much is one wiling to sacrifice for one's community?
2005
 -
Singapore

Staging

Jackpot!

In light of the up-coming integrated resorts, Jackpot! uses gambling as a theme to explore the choices and struggles that face 16-year old Linda. Linda's family is falling apart because of her mother's extreme gambling as a theme to explore the choices and struggles that no one seems to hear or see Linda anymore. To make matters worse, her boyfriend has just left to study in Perth and communication between them is slowing down. With everything around her, spinning out of control, she decides she will place her savings on a football betting game. If she wins, she will have enough to buy a ticket to Perth and find out whether her boyfriend still wants to be with her, and if she loses, then that's it! Life can't get any worse anyway. What choice does she make? Where does she eventually place her bets?
2005
 -
Singapore
 

Workshops

Theatre For Youth and Community 2006

In September 1992, Alvin Tan, Artistic Director of The Necessary Stage, established the Theatre For Youth Branch. The Branch was re-named Theatre for Youth and Community in 2002, our 10th anniversary year.

The aims of our Youth Drama Programmes are to:


expose young people to theatre
create a space for artistic expression by and for young people
cultivate the aesthetic sensibilities of young people
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 develop programmes that are relevant to the needs, and are issues faced by students, involve theoretical and hands-on learning; and cultivate students' life-skills and contribute towards their personal development.

We also believe strongly in, and welcome, 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.

We believe strongly that Theatre is not meant to be simply a high-brow affair for the wealthy and intellectual. It is a language that each of us have the right to learn and speak, in order to find release, and to make meaning of our world.
2005

Productions

Starlight II: Fashion Fabulous

Starlight II: Fashion Fabulous is a behind-the-scenes look at a huge fashion event in Singapore. All the usual characters are there - the bitchy socialites, the wannabe, the stressed event planner, the tai tais, the fashion designer and model, as well as local celebrities who play themselves - Kumar and Nadya Hutagalung. It's a fiction meets reality world of fashion. We have scenes taken straight out of a fashion event nightmare - socialites who wear the same outfit, high class people who are not on the list, wannabes who will do anything to get in...There will also be fashion show, ballroom dancing and the coveted Belle of the Ball award. All in all, this play takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the gnawing and clawing world of fashionistas, where five minutes ago is over.
2005
 -
Singapore

Staging

Starlight II: Fashion Fabulous

Starlight II: Fashion Fabulous is a behind-the-scenes look at a huge fashion event in Singapore. All the usual characters are there - the bitchy socialites, the wannabe, the stressed event planner, the tai tais, the fashion designer and model, as well as local celebrities who play themselves - Kumar and Nadya Hutagalung. It's a fiction meets reality world of fashion. We have scenes taken straight out of a fashion event nightmare - socialites who wear the same outfit, high class people who are not on the list, wannabes who will do anything to get in...There will also be fashion show, ballroom dancing and the coveted Belle of the Ball award. All in all, this play takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the gnawing and clawing world of fashionistas, where five minutes ago is over.
2005
 -
Singapore
 

Productions

Separation 40

It has been forty years since the separation of Singapore from Malaysia. In addition to the annual fireworks, watch sparks fly as Malaysia's Dramalab and Singapore's The Necessary Stage come together to parade characters in Malaysia and Singapore over the past four decades. Join in the fun as we present an intimate and humorous spotlight on people and situations in the context of Singapore and Malaysia.
2005
 -
Singapore
 

Staging

Separation 40

It has been forty years since the separation of Singapore from Malaysia. In addition to the annual fireworks, watch sparks fly as Malaysia's Dramalab and Singapore's The Necessary Stage come together to parade characters in Malaysia and Singapore over the past four decades. Join in the fun as we present an intimate and humorous spotlight on people and situations in the context of Singapore and Malaysia.
2005
 -
Singapore

Workshops

Let Me Go!

A forum theatre workshop conducted by members of The Necessary Stage for the members of The Working Title, Mumbai and the members of Rafki, Bangalore.
2005
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