People often ask me about theatre scene here in Singapore when I tell them about my training in Theatre Studies. And when I tell them about the rich history of Singapore Theatre, there will be exclamations like, “Wah! Really ah?” and “I had no idea!” I can’t blame them though – theatre is not something that everyone is able to appreciate.
However, this exhibition gives the public an opportunity to peek into the “exclusive” world of Singapore Theatre. By being able to wander around carefully re-created spaces such as the production office and the dressing rooms, visitors are able to gain a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of the theatre-making process.
While coming up close and personal with costumes and set pieces from iconic Singaporean plays such as Emily of Emerald Hill, I enjoyed sitting down and watching the collection of interviews that was painstakingly curated from interviews with 50 theatre practitioners. There were interviews with personalities both young and old, such as Dick Lee, Neo Swee Lin and Siti Khalijah Zainal, who unsurprisingly enough all seem to know each other.
These interviews provide an insight into why they decided to pursue theatre, the challenges they faced as practitioners in Singapore, as well as who inspired their careers. I found myself engrossed with their stories because their anecdotes were funny, heart-warming and touching – I was reminded of why I enjoy theatre so much.
Theatre Memories: 50 Years of Singapore Theatre also includes screenings, panels and tours. While it isn’t the biggest exhibition, visit it if you have some spare time over the next two weekends and have always been a little curious about Singapore Theatre. The exhibition is located at The Arts House and it’s a short 5-minute walk from City Hall MRT Station.
Address: The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
Opening Hours: 1 – 12 April 2015; 12 – 8pm on Weekdays and 11am – 8pm on Weekends
Admission: Free
Website: www.theatrememories.wordpress.com
This post was brought to you by The Arts House.
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