For decades, Singapore's oldest flea market in Sungei Road was home to a community that made a living out of peddling their wares under the sweltering mid-day sun. In the one square metre of space allocated to each vendor, what was junk to some was treasure to others.
In July 2017, the Sungei Road Market was shut down by the authorities. In one fell swoop, 80 years of heritage and haggling were erased.
In the weeks before and after the market's closure, playwright 三木 Sanmu interviewed dozens of Sungei Road vendors, as they confronted and eventually came to terms with the loss of their neighbourhood and livelihoods. Among the colourful characters he encounters are 'The Businessman', 'The Poet', 'The Top Student' and 'Liang Po Po'.
In this provocative verbatim play about poverty, pragmatism and the price of progress, One Metre Square asks us to consider what we've lost one year after the Sungei Road Market has ceased to exist.
Co-Creators: Sanmu, Zelda Tatiana Ng
Director: Zelda Tatiana Ng
Dramaturg: Alfian Sa'at
Set Designer: Grace Lin
Lighting Designer: Lim Woan Wen
Multimedia Content Designer: Shian Wen
Sound Designer: Bani Haykal
Hair Designer & Stylist: Ashley Lim
Makeup Designer: The Make Up Room
Cast: Ong Kian Sin, Tan Beng Tian, Michael Tan, Tay Kong Hui, Yong Ser Pin
Producer: Tony Trickett
Associate Producer: Koh Bee Bee
Production Manager: Pebble Tan
Production Coordinator: Phua Yun Yun
Production Assistant: Augustina Ongah
Technical Manager: Hatta Sulaiman
Stage Manager: Vivi Agustina
Assistant Stage Managers: Ruth Au, Chong Wee Nee
Stage Assistants: Sabirah Mohd Ishak, Nigel Tan Jiongchen
Research Assistant: Kwan Chun Long
Lighting Programmer: Low Wee Cheng
Lighting Operator: Daryl Norman Soh
Sound Engineer: Cheng Yi
Multimedia Operator: Cheria Sim
Surtitle Operator: Chong Gua Khee
Props Mistress: Joyce Gan
Props Assistant: Matilda Chua
Wardrobe Manager: Glenna Ng
Dresser: Debbie Cheng En-Lin
Production Interns: Isabella Gupta, Hydir Mahyudin, Esleen Ng
(Source: Wild Rice Programme)