With the news that Marina Square will be closing in March 2027, it’s hard not to feel sentimental about the places we’ve spent weekends at, met friends in, and made memories over the years. But thankfully, redevelopment news isn’t always straight-up bad news.
Over in Tanglin, there’s actually something exciting to look forward to. A new performing arts theatre will be opening within the upcoming mixed-use development – located where the Tanglin Shopping Centre once sat – bringing a new space for live performances to the Orchard Road area.
Image credit: Pacific Eagle Real Estate
Set to be ready by 2030, the upcoming 4-storey theatre will be a 1,000-seat proscenium theatre, which basically means there’ll be a large frame known as a proscenium arch surrounding the front of the stage.
If you’re not familiar with theatre terminology, think of the classic stage setup you’d see at a traditional theatre, where the performers are on one side, and the audience sits directly in front of them.
Image credit: Pacific Eagle Real Estate
The venue will span around 98,000sqft, giving it plenty of space to host larger-scale productions and performances.
But it won’t just be about bringing big-name international shows to Singapore. The theatre will also feature local programming, giving our arts groups and artists more opportunities to showcase their work to audiences.
Image credit: Pacific Eagle Real Estate
This new theatre in Tanglin will be funded and built by Pacific Eagle Real Estate, while the National Arts Council (NAC) will be looking for a suitable operator to run the venue.
The good news is that NAC has also secured the use of the theatre for 20 years, with the base rent waived. This will help keep the theatre’s operating costs lower, and rather than simply being a cost-saving measure, the hope is that these savings can go towards working with arts groups and building audiences, as mentioned by Mr David Neo, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Education.
The lower overheads could give the eventual operator more breathing room to support local productions and creatives, while making the theatre a more sustainable home for the arts in the long run. And that sounds like music to our ears, especially for those of us who want to see Singapore’s homegrown arts scene continue to grow.
Image credit: Pacific Eagle Real Estate
It looks like the upcoming performing arts theatre won’t be the only reason to make a trip down to Tanglin. The 30-storey mixed-use building will also come with an amphitheatre, retail spaces, and offices, making it more than just a place to catch a show.
Fun fact: The development will be designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, whose portfolio includes the Japan National Stadium. So, we’re also expecting the building itself to be quite the architectural statement.
There’ll also be a 30,000sqft contemporary art museum, which will be operated by the Tanoto Art Foundation.
With all these new spaces coming together, Tanglin could soon have a distinctly different vibe from the usual Orchard Road shopping experience. From live performances and art exhibitions to retail and lifestyle spaces, the area could become a new cultural hub for arts, culture, and entertainment.
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Cover image adapted from: Pacific Eagle Real Estate
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