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Through tender storytelling, Oo-woo unravels the intricate web of caring for an elderly family member. As the story unfolds, deep secrets and hidden desires come to light, casting doubt on the strength of familial bonds. When their cherished family bird mysteriously disappears, a journey of unsettling discoveries begins, challenging the characters' understanding of duty and love.Written by Raimi Safari, directed by Mohd Fared Jainal, and starring Dalifah Shahril, Farah Lola, Isabella Chiam and Yazid Jalil, Oo-woo delves into the haunting realm of dementia, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. A single bird brings into question the sacrifices and choices we make when faced with the unknown.Oo-woo was developed at The Necessary Stage’s Playwrights’ Cove 2022 under the mentorship of Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma.

For Faith (Hossan Leong) and Hope (Kumar), the New Year is just another day. But when an old friend shows up suddenly, their lives are turned upside down. They find themselves embroiled with spies, childhood trauma and GENDER PRONOUNS.

It's been almost 20 years since the gang met up. Will they be able to let go of the ghosts from their past? Will they be able to identify as ELDERLY? What world is this where the GAYBOURS are banging, the Health HOMOTION Board speaks the truth and MINISTRY OF NUCLEAR FAMILIES even exists?

Brash, audacious and just rollicking good fun, Old Gaze is the third and final instalment following The Necessary Stage’s seminal LGBTQ plays Mardi Gras (2003) and Top or Bottom (2004).

Written and directed by Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma, Old Gaze stars the absolutely fabulous Kumar, Hossan Leong, Rody Vera and Siti Khalijah Zainal, alongside veteran actor Liow Shi Suen and newcomers Azura Farid and Medli Dorothea Loo.

“We start when?” 
“We start now.” 

Opposition tells the story of Production Manager Ramlah Zee and Director Jackie Oh who begin a new chapter of their lives by establishing their own theatre company, Zero Theatre. They also begin a relationship. 

However, as the years pass and familiarity sets in, how do the couple negotiate their professional and personal lives? From exuberance and love to departure and heartbreak; from hope for change to disillusionment and stasis, Opposition maps the lives and loves of two souls trapped in each other’s memories. 

In our nation’s relentless stride towards material success, is there even space left for them to live freely by their own identities and dreams? When does compromise turn into irrevocable sacrifice of one’s personal truth?  

How do they—and we—determine when it is time to leave, in order to begin again?  

Following the critically acclaimed productions of Manifesto (2016) and Underclass (2018), Opposition caps the trilogy of collaborations between Drama Box and The Necessary Stage.  

17 March – 3 April 2022 
Wednesday – Saturday: 8PM 
Saturday – Sunday: 3PM 
At The Necessary Stage Black Box 

This interactive theatrical experience will feature excerpts of Off Centre that traces the friendships that the protagonist, Vinod, forges—one with Charlie, his ex-classmate from Junior College, and another with Saloma, who—like Vinod—struggles with a mental health condition.

Can Vinod draw support from his friends, in the face of social prejudices against those suffering from mental illnesses? Will their friendships be able to withstand the personal conflicts that each of them experience?

Off Centre is a landmark play in the history of Singapore theatre, best remembered for presenting an honest and unflinching look at mental illness and the stigma surrounding it. Selected in 2007 by the Ministry of Education (MOE) as the first Singaporean play to be offered as a GCE O- and N-Level literature text, Off Centre is once again back on the syllabus since 2018.

Off Centre will be presented live via Zoom. To support teachers through this new format of presentation, there will be a teachers’ briefing session prior to the performance. Attendance is compulsory.

Learning Objectives


Explore issues related to mental health conditions, its challenges and stigmas
Gain a better understanding of the experiences and feelings of people who live with mental health conditions
Be empowered to effect changes in their own lives and friendships

“Off Centre marks a new maturity in Singapore Theatre, addressing an audience prepared to be challenged.”
—Hannah Pandian, The Straits Times Life

“... a major triumph.”
—Mayo Martin, TODAY Online

The Necessary Stage’s critically acclaimed play, Off Centre, returns 26 years after its premiere in 1993. Written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Alvin Tan, Off Centre is a landmark play in the history of Singapore theatre, best remembered for presenting an honest and unflinching look at mental illness and the stigma surrounding it.

Off Centre follows the unlikely friendship between Saloma and Vinod, and traces their journeys as they deal with their personal conflicts as well as social prejudices against mental health conditions.

Selected in 2007 by the Ministry of Education as the first Singaporean play to be offered as a GCE 'O' and ‘N’ Level literature text, Off Centre is once again back on the syllabus since 2018.

This brand new staging features Abdulattif Abdullah and Sakinah Dollah, who will reprise their original roles as Vinod and Saloma respectively, as well as Aidli Mosbit as Mak.

“It’s impossible to not be astounded by the timelessness and thrust of Haresh Sharma’s Off Centre.”
—Naeem Kapadia, Crystalwords

Next-door neighbours do not get along with each other. One day, an argument over the cleanliness of the common corridor sparks off a war of words.

First performed by the Theatre for Seniors actors as part of The Necessary Stage (TNS)'s main season October at TNS Black Box, between 31st October 2012 and 11th November 2012.