Theatre fans are in for a treat! Get a load of this line-up of online and offline plays, musicals, theatre shows in Singapore and more...
Just like the F&B and music industries, Covid-19 has changed Singapore’s theatre scene forever. But lucky for us, the restrictions are easing up, paving way for more local theatre acts and musicals. This year, we’ve got modern adaptations of celebrated classics, premises that hit close to home and talented ensembles waiting to wow us with their acting and singing chops.
Theatre shows in Singapore to watch
1. Schooled
17 – 20 March 2022
After a sold-out premiere last year, Schooled is back to entertain us. Ever had your thoughts dismissed by an adult ‘cos they claim they know better than you? Well, this eye-opening play is all about that. Schooled sheds light on the many lessons that grown-ups can learn from the young. BTW, the play’s conceptualised by young adults from Wild Rice’s inaugural Singapore Youth Theatre ensemble, so you know the premise is legit.
Schooled, Level 4, Funan, 107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179105
2. The Glass Menagerie
11 – 27 March 2022
Pangdemonium presents a new take on the 1944 memory play by Tennessee Williams. The semi-autobiography revolves around Tom Wingfield, who’s weighed down by familial and financial responsibility. He hopes to break free from the real world but is compelled to stay for his mentally fragile sister. Hope comes in the form of his sister’s suitor Jim who may be the answer to Tom’s problems… or not. The play is directed by Tracie Pang and stars Catherine Grace Gardner, Jamil, Schulze, Inch Chua and Salif Hardie.
The Glass Menagerie, #01-02, Victoria Theatre, 11 Empress Place, Singapore 179558
3. Keluarga Besar En. Karim (The Karims)
Until 1 April 2022
Theatre junkies would have probably seen this play online back in 2021. Thanks to the updated restrictions, you can now watch it live. Meet The Karims, your average family. Tensions arise and old wounds are revisited when Aqil, the new son-in-law, moves in. How does the former man of the house Encik Karim react to this? How do the Karims adjust to the new family dynamics? Playwright Adib Kosnan reenacts this relatable premise with wit and affection.
Keluarga Besar En. Karim (The Karims), performed in Malay and English (with English surtitles), Block B, #02-03, Goodman Arts Centre, 90 Goodman Road, Singapore 439053
4. Tartuffe: The Imposter
From 7 April 2022
Wild Rice presents a modern adaptation of French playwright Molière’s satirical classic. The play revolves around Tartuffe (played by Benjamin Chow), a con artist pretending to be a man of faith. He preys on Orgon (played Ivan Heng, founding artistic director of Wild Rice), a wealthy but gullible man who falls for Tartuffe’s schemes. It’s interesting to note that even though the play was first produced in 1664, it’s still relatable to modern-day Singaporeans.
“Tartuffe’s themes of hypocrisy and moral outrage still resonate today. What happens when you let the religious hypocrites in, to the point that they determine the practices of your household – and, by extension, your neighbourhood, your town, and your entire political system?”, playwright Joel Tan says.
Tartuffe: The Imposter, tickets currently on sale, Level 4, Funan, 107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179105
5. Gallery of Secrets: The Lost Lily
4 – 18 April 2o22
The Theatre Practice, together with National Gallery Singapore, presents a cool treasure hunt combining theatre, film and gaming. Titled Gallery of Secrets: The Lost Lily, this hunt allows you to interview characters, gather clues and break codes. Select the physical and digital hybrid experience or go fully digital to enjoy it anywhere. Psst: be one of the fastest to complete the hunt for a chance to win $1,800.
Gallery of Secrets: The Lost Lily, book your tickets online
6. Quasimodo, A Musical Story
15 – 24 April 2022
Premiering exactly three years after the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, the smash hit Quasimodo, A Musical Story, transports us to beautiful Paris. The musical adaption of the 1831 Victor Hugo novel follows the life of the hunchbacked bell-ringer of the Cathedral, Quasimodo. Well, you know the rest. Watch the mesmerising play come to life by director Nathalie Ribette, and actors George Chan, Hossan Leong, Joash Zheng, Vanessa Kee and more.
Quasimodo, A Musical Story, tickets will be available soon, Alliance Française Theatre, 1 Sarkies Road, Singapore 258130
7. Muswell Hill
24 June – 10 July 2022
An upper-middle class couple hosts a dinner party with their group of friends. The conversations are shallow and meaningless but as the evening unfolds, so do the secrets. The couple’s passive-aggressive marriage, a blind date between a neurotic and an eccentric, and so on. In another corner of the world, a natural disaster strikes, destroying a whole community. You’ll soon realise that the play is satire, exposing the absolute ignorance and first world problems that some of us complain about.
Muswell Hill, stay tuned for the sale of online tickets
Safe management measures to note
Keep in mind that a maximum of 1,000 people are allowed with VDS checks. Groups of five are to sit 1m apart and there should be no intermingling with other groups. You’ll have to scan your SafeEntry check-ins through the TraceTogether app or token. There should also be a distance of 2m between audiences and performances, with no physical interactions between audiences and performers. It goes without saying that you should wear a mask at all times, too.
There you have it, the upcoming theatre shows in Singapore we’re looking forward to in 2022. Stay tuned as we update the list with more! *aaand scene*
