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In 2013, award-winning actress Siti Khalijah Zainal brought The Necessary Stage's Best Of to life, playing the role of a young Malay Muslim woman going through divorce.

Now, accomplished TV and stage actor Sani Hussin takes the stage as the husband to share his side of the story in Best Of (His Story), written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Alvin Tan.

What happens when the estranged couple reunite at the Syariah court? What does he say to a wife seeking divorce? What can he say?

How would this change his view of what “home” means?

Just as his wife had shared her day with the audience, he offers us a glimpse into a day in his life, his past, his dreams... and his beliefs.

He too is not a stereotype. But after today, he may well be a statistic.

Did you know that you can get fined $200 if you are a mosquito breeder?

Spend an afternoon with the seniors from The Necessary Stage’s Theatre For Seniors! When accused of breeding mosquitoes, what will two neighbours do? Will they cooperate or push the blame to each other?

Who love mosquitoes though? Nobody. So let’s do the Mozzie Wipeout together! 

Rosnah is a young Malay Muslim woman who leaves home for the first time to study in London. As she navigates her new environment with determination, she forges new connections with friends who differ from her in all respects—personality, race and religion.
Would she be able to balance tradition and liberal ideals without losing her identity?

One of The Necessary Stage’s well-loved early plays by Resident Playwright and Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma, Rosnah is a monodrama of a Singapore Malay Muslim woman in London as she journeys through youth and womanhood to discover her own voice. .
First staged in 1995 at Tampines Regional Library, then at The Substation’s Guinness Theatre in 1996, Rosnah starred Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit and was performed in Melbourne in 1997 to critical and popular acclaim. The play was revived in 2006 as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival, directed by Mosbit herself while Young Artist Award recipient Siti Khalijah Zainal took on the titular role.


Performed entirely in Malay for the first time, Siti reprises her role in this 2016 staging, directed by Cultural Medallion recipient Alvin Tan (Founder and Artistic Director of The Necessary Stage).

It’s International Friendship Day at MPSS but friendship seems to be the last thing on the students’ minds.

While the foreign students Adi, Anton and Liqin are questioning what to showcase at their booths and why there isn’t one for the local students, the Drama Club boys are unhappy about them not putting any effort towards the much anticipated SYF.

Meanwhile, Carys is facing pressure at home for losing her spot as the school’s top Maths student.

Will she lose her top spot to an international scholar?
Will the Drama Club boys get the foreigners to join in the chorus?
Will Adi get the booth of his choice?

Join us at International Friendship Day with the MPSS students as we discuss cross-cultural differences in this interactive theatre piece!

Three families have to make a difficult choice: should they allow their children to go through a clinical trial?
Kris struggles to decide if putting her son through tests on a new drug might cause him more distress. Luther opposes compulsory clinical trials on principle, but is also aware these can save lives. Johari wonders if he should sign his children up for these trials to supplement the family’s income.

Should children take part in clinical trials? Should they have a say? Are they old enough to decide?

The Necessary Stage tackles these questions and more in Child’s Play, an exciting and thought-provoking performance that explores the ethical issues surrounding the use of child subjects in clinical trials.