Theatre fans are in for a treat! Get a load of this line-up of online and offline plays, musicals and more...
Way to go, Covid-19. You’ve created a void in the theatre scene, forcing many to cancel plays, shows and musicals in 2020. After a devastatingly long period of uncertainty, Singapore has finally resumed indoor live performances. That’s right, you can now catch a stage show with real people!
Safe management measures to note
Keep in mind that a maximum of two zones of 50 people are allowed for each performance. Groups of five (eight from 28 Dec) are to sit 1m apart. You’ll have to scan your SafeEntry check-ins through the TraceTogether app or token. There should also be a distance of 3m between audiences and performances. It goes without saying that you should wear a mask at all times, too. And in case you’re wondering, a maximum of 30 performers and crew are allowed on stage and backstage – including a maximum of 10 unmasked performers.
Let’s get on to the theatre shows, shall we?
#Theatre
14 – 17 Jan
Lighting designer Lim Woan Wen, spatial designer Lim Wei Ling and sound artist Darren Ng come together with a poignant response to the closure of theatres during the unprecedented times in 2020. Created specifically for theatre lovers, the show is a tribute to the theatre with a play on light, sound and space.
#Theatre, various timings; Esplanade Theatre Stage, Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
The More Further Adventures of Dick Lee
19 – 24 Jan 2021
Local maestro Dick Lee is back on stage with a storytelling performance that looks back at his decades-long experience in the industry. Sit back as he revisits his Cantopop stint in Hong Kong, shares untold stories and performs unreleased music from his private songbooks.
The More Further Adventures of Dick Lee, Tuesday – Sunday, 7pm-8.30pm; KC Arts Centre, Singapore Repertory Theatre, 20 Merbau Road, Singapore 239035
The Pitch
Watch online
As the Covid-19 pandemic hits hard, three theatre companies work together to produce a show that highlights the current struggles of the local arts scene. We’re not just stating facts, this is the synopsis of The Pitch. It’s the first collab between local theatre companies Pangdemonium, SRT and Wild Rice. Talk about making the most out of a crappy situation, eh? Watch Ivan Heng, Gaurav Kripalani and Adrian Pang like you’ve never seen before in this satirical comedy.
The Pitch, stream online
A line could be crossed and you would slowly cease to be
20 – 29 Jan
The complex play explores the effects of climate change through the creative mind of director Koh Wan Ching. He joins hands with playwright Andrew Sutherland to revisit this play that was originally performed in 2019 by Intercultural Theatre Institute students. All we can say is expect beautiful visuals that evoke conversation.
A line could be crossed and you would slowly cease to be; theatre studio: 20 – 23 Jan, 8pm; online: 23 – 29 Jan; Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Wan Belantara: Enjet-Enjet Semut
26 Jan – 4 Feb
King of The Jungle: As the Ants Go Marching In (translated in Malay) is inspired by Farid ud-Din Attar’s poem Conference of the Birds and navigates between fables and well-known stories from the Malay Annals. An army of ants embark on a journey to pay tribute to their new king. It’s celebration time in the jungle as the ants believe that they’ve played a part in selecting a king with a more peaceful nature.
Wan Belantara: Enjet-Enjet Semut; theatre studio: 26 – 27 Jan, 8pm; online: 29 Jan – 4 Feb; Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Pandan
29 Jan – 8 Feb
Pandan explores the dilemmas one battles within as they wrestle with spiritual struggles, faith, societal pressures, online avatars and their own identity. Hazwan Norly (playwright) and Rizman Putra (director) from art collective Rupa co.lab come together for this thought-provoking play.
Pandan; theatre studio: 29 – 30 Jan, 8pm; online: 2 – 8 Feb; Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
The Sound Inside
From 13 March 2021
Singapore Repertory Theatre plays host to the Tony Award-nominated play The Sound Inside. Written by Adam Rapp, the plot follows Bella Baird, a professor at an Ivy League university. She values solitude and would rather be alone… until she faces a challenge that gets her acquainted with a mysterious student. Watch Serene Chen and Krish Natarajan take centre stage in this gripping mystery.
The Sound Inside, Monday – Saturday, 6pm and 9pm, KC Arts Centre, Singapore Repertory Theatre, 20 Merbau Road, Singapore 239035
There you have it, the upcoming theatre shows we’re looking forward to in 2021. Stay tuned as we update the list with more! *aaand scene*
