Teater Ekamatra

baca skrip: #_____ is a monthly series of online Malay play readings happening from May to August 2020. Putting the spotlight on the written text, the platform revisits seminal works by Singapore Malay playwrights. This series hopes to create the space to consider the resonance of the text today, appreciating the textures in the use of the Malay language while peeping into the history of contemporary Malay playwriting.From re-discovering the familiar and being surprised by the new, we invite you to re-acqua

baca skrip: #Causeway (2020)

Cast

The Necessary Stage

The Necessary Stage’s critically acclaimed play,&nbsp;Off Centre, returns 26 years after its premiere in 1993. Written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Alvin Tan,&nbsp;Off Centre&nbsp;is a landmark play in the history of Singapore theatre, best remembered for presenting an honest and unflinching look at mental illness and the stigma surrounding it.

Off Centre&nbsp;follows the unlikely friendship between Saloma and Vinod, and traces their journeys as they deal with their personal conflicts as well as soci

Off Centre (2019)

Najib Soiman

Young love birds Claudio and Hero are about to be married. On the&nbsp;eve of their wedding, Claudio comes to the conclusion that Hero was&nbsp;unfaithful to her. The next day, Hero is humiliated at the altar and dies&nbsp;from grief.

Meanwhile, his cousin Beatrice is at loggerheads with Benedick. Both&nbsp;are perfectly suited for each other but are in denial. The others plot&nbsp;to get them together, and the couple is tricked into confessing their&nbsp;feelings for each other.

Adapted from Shakespe

Ma'ma Yong - About Nothing Much To Do (2015)

Director

Playwright

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

"...the more I discover, the more I am convinced that we were related, that I had to be a descendant of the Eunuch Admiral."A powerful work about castration and politics,&nbsp;Descendants of the Eunuch Admiralrecounts the legacy of the man responsible for China’s most extensive maritime expeditions in the 15th century, the legendary eunuch, Admiral Zheng He. Using the metaphor of castration, parallels are drawn between the power struggles of court eunuchs and the displacement of modern beings who make sacri

Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral (2015)

Performer

I had always wanted to write a play about Singapore's most famous fugitive/detainee - Mas Selamat Kastari.

But there was a problem. Because he was detained under the Internal Security Act, rather than convicted in a normal court, one never heard directly from him. What we had instead were statements from the Ministry of Home Affairs, based on their 'intelligence-gathering'. This is of course a deviation from the usual judicial process where evidence is produced in court and a defendant is allowed to repr

Kakak Kau Punya Laki (2013)

On the cusp of Japan's surrender during World War II, a Japanese general suffers a stroke and is tended to by a Malay gardener. As they spar, having heated debates about the war, the present is revealed: a Japanese man in a relationship with an Indian woman in Kuala Lumpur; his ex-wife coming to grips with an astrologer's predictions; their son, studying in the United States and confronted by his classmates about Japan's past.&nbsp;


Mobile 2: Flat Cities (2013)

Script Translator

Wild Rice

“Regardless of race, language, religion or… place of birth?”

Is the Singapore identity under threat? Currently, one out of every four Singapore residents was born outside of the country. According to the controversial Population White Paper, by 2030 the number of residents on the island is projected to hit 6.9 million, with 55% born in Singapore. The influx of immigrants and foreign workers has resulted in a rising tide of anti-foreigner sentiments. They have been blamed for overcrowding on public transp

Cook a Pot of Curry (2013)

After performing to full houses in 2009, 2010 and 2011, The Necessary Stage's Theatre for Seniors is back with&nbsp;Encore IV: Love Life!

Featuring a series of locally written and devised short plays,&nbsp;Encore IV: Love Life&nbsp;explores the joys and pains of love in its various manifestations.&nbsp;


Encore IV: Love Life (2013)

The Theatre Practice

The story begins on a day just like any other, in a house just like any other.

In the house, there is a door that is never locked, and contains a group of women who come from different moments in history, each with her own secret. Time comes to a standstill as soon as these women enter the house. They become oblivious to the relentless passing of time outside.&nbsp;

One day, there is a knock on the door and a runaway bride bursts in, invading the peace and tranquility of the house, kicking off a serie

The Bride Always Knocks Twice (2013)

Translator

One hostage. One perpetrator. Two victims.

Benjamin Lik drives a BMW 7 series coupe, lives in a 3-floored bungalow in Upper Thomson, has a private shower in his office.

Muhammad Ashraf drives a yellow Hyundai Sonata, lives in a maisonette that is about to be repossessed, has two estranged daughters and an absent son.

Two men who live in completely different worlds, cross paths only when Ashraf storms Benjamin's office on afternoon. Barricading the door, he demands a job in Benjamin's company. With 

Not Counted (2012)

Crossings&nbsp;is a multidisciplinary collaboration between artists from Singapore and Croatia investigating the coexistence, understanding and mixing of different cultures. Join them in this performative piece as they question the issues of home, homeland and belonging while exploring multiculturalism, and the similarities and differences between the 2 countries.

The vibrant port cities of Singapore and Croatia's Rijeka will be sources of inspiration and dialogue for the artists, creating a new work whi

Crossings (2012)

How do we connect with one another whilst acknowledging and appreciating our differences?

A woman who is a victim of a social scandal proves her fidelity by passing a test. Yet her society does not believe her. She is exiled by her husband who is dedicated to serving his people and so has to listen to their discernment to remain in power. Will she sacrifice for the larger good and suffer the unjust allegation to be with her husband or will she walk?

Based on Asian myths,&nbsp;Crossings&nbsp;takes us o

WHY DO YOU VOTE?
WHAT ISSUES INFLUENCED YOUR VOTE?
WHAT DOES CITIZENSHIP MEAN TO YOU?

In the electrifying months leading up to the watershed 2011 General Elections, and in the tumultuous months after, playwright Alfian Sa’at interviewed Singaporeans to discover their responses to these searching questions. Boldly putting aside concerns about secrecy, the interviewees opened their hearts to share what they honestly felt and what they truly believe.

Covering a wide social and political spectrum, the c

Cooling-Off Day (2012)

Singapore. Singapura. Temasek. Where does a name begin? When does a country begin? The Necessary Stage examines present-day Singapore by bringing historical characters to life. Factual and fictional characters merge with real and imagined events to create a theatre that makes the impossible possible.&nbsp;

Looking at themes of Migration, Harmony and Identity,&nbsp;SINGAPORE&nbsp;probes deeply into a country's history and along the way, the psyche of the people occupying it. Featuring a very politically-c

SINGAPORE (2012)

Kartini and Juliana are not your typical mother-daughter pair - one loud and overbearing, the other straitlaced and on the threshold of entering politics. Together, they are Gemuk Girls and proud of it. When they receive shocking news that Kartini's father had been detained in the 1960s, the floodgates of the family's past are thrown open. Can a family survive as they struggle to reconcile the past with the present? Will Kartini and Juliana continue to be Gemuk Girls?&nbsp;


Gemuk Girls (2011)

Why do you vote? What issues influence you at the ballot box? What does citizenship mean to you?

In the electrifying months leading up to the watershed 2011 General Elections, and in the tumultuous months after, playwright Alfian Sa’at interviewed Singaporeans to discover their responses to these searching questions. Boldly putting aside concerns about secrecy, the interviewees opened their hearts to share what they honestly felt and what they truly believe.

Covering a wide social and political spectr

Cooling-Off Day (2011)

Examine contemporary Singapore with The Necessary Stage as the company revisits historical characters, merges fact and faction, and have them interact in real and imagined events. Looking at the themes of migration, harmony and identity,&nbsp;SINGAPORE&nbsp;probes deeply into a country's past and the psyche of the people. Featuring a 'politically correct' multi-racial cast, the play is seriously funny and deceitfully truthful.


SINGAPORE (2011)

Cake Theatrical Productions

The art of living in the in-between&nbsp;is a collaborative art project featuring installation, film, performance, workshops and gigs that uncover the inspirations and fantasies that have catalyzed 5 years of works by Cake.

Over 5 days, a shophouse is transformed into a hotbed of images, words, sound, strange movement, magnetic encounters and unexpected happenings sometimes way into the night! Wander through the rooms, each flowing and ebbing with exquisite strangeness or come especially for the performa

The Art of Living in the In-Between (2010)

Those Who Can’t, Teach is a classic of The Necessary&nbsp;Stage, first staged in 1990 as part of the Opening of&nbsp;The Substation.&nbsp;20 years later, the original creative team of director Alvin&nbsp;Tan and playwright Haresh Sharma, will revisit, revive and&nbsp;revamp the play into a contemporary classic.&nbsp;Set in the backdrop of a secondary school, the play&nbsp;looks at the madcap lives of teachers and students,&nbsp;with often hilarious results.&nbsp;As the teachers struggle daily to ‘nurture an

Those Who Can't, Teach (2010)

Devisor

The Goat Head was an artist. His most famous work, a magnificent blueprint of a utopian city.

One day as the Goat Head and his expectant wife appear to address the public, a gunshot is fired and the dictator is assassinated. Dissidents stage a coup and gain control of the country. A massive hunt is launched for all goats.&nbsp;

All goats are wanted.
All goats are hunted.
After a time of purging, the dust finally settles.&nbsp;

Several years later two prisoners, Munsee and Boo wait behind bars.&nb

The Comedy of the Tragic Goats (2009)

In Search of Wonderland brings home closer to our hearts as it plays on the absurdity of familial ties and our attitudes towards those whom we love. Through its subtlety, it offers a reflection into familial relationships and through its escape into wonderland, this absurd play will, hopefully, pull us closer to the reality of our homes and bring families closer together.


In Search of Wonderland (2009)

As the world advances its research on life sciences, stem cell and artificial intelligence, what impact is there on human life and relationships? What does the future hold? Can life be built from scratch?

Directed by Alvin Tan, written by Haresh Sharma and first staged during the National University of Singapore Arts Festival in March 2008, Frozen Angels is a thought-provoking performance exploring current issues of science using digital media and theatrical performance.


Frozen Angels (2009)

The Necessary Stage celebrates the award-winning collaboration of Director Alvin Tan and Playwright Haresh Sharma with a provocative new work.

Kartini and Juliana are not your typical mother-daughter pair - one loud and overbearing, the other straitlaced and on the threshold of entering politics. Together, they are Gemuk Girls and proud of it.

One day, they receive shocking news about Kartini's father who has been arrested and detained in the 1960s. Suddenly the floodgates of the family's emotional pa

Gemuk Girls (2008)

panggung ARTS

Drama Box

Four friends sip coffee and exchange tales. One of them brushes her arched, feathered wings, while another steadily contemplates the instrument in his hands. The other two debate incessantly about human rights and wrongs and the appraisal system they try so hard to uphold.

Suddenly, the winged musician rises and declares he is taking the initiative to blow his horn, which will usher in the Day of Judgment. While the pair of moral auditors bicker, their client sinks deeper into a coma.&nbsp;

They share

angel-ism (2008)

Set Designer

Swordfish attack Singapura, terrorising its citizens. A boy saves the kingdom by lining the beach with banana stems. But the Sultan, at his ministers’ advice, has the boy executed.

A generation later, the Sultan’s successor, his son, breaks the covenant between subject and ruler when he has his concubine publicly executed on trumped-up charges, bringing untold shame to her family. Sure enough, an armada of ships from the Majapahit Empire soon appears on the horizon, and threatens Singapura’s supremacy.


The Swordfish, then The Concubine (2008)

Movement Coach

Temple sees the invention of a mythological universe&nbsp;where all the quarters of the world are at odds. A sports&nbsp;hall, once the diplomatic meeting arena of the now&nbsp;opposing sides, stands desolate.

Seven people, assailed, stand at the entrance of the great&nbsp;hall. Quickly, they enter and bolt the doors. Some nights&nbsp;they hear pounding on the doors but they keep very&nbsp;still and do nothing. Within the inner sanctum, they create their own rules, find their own order. Above all,&nbsp;t

Temple (2008)

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Ma'ma Yong - About Nothing Much To Do (2008)

A group of street performers set out in S S to form a nasyid group to spread the word of Islam. However, not knowing how to recite the Qur'an nor converse in Arabic, plus the fact that they have grown tired of the same old movement, they decided to create their own routine. With a fresh new approach, they busk to reach out through their music and by preaching from books of which they are not sure its meaning.&nbsp;S S,&nbsp;in its performance, questions the credibility of such groups setting forth to spread

S S (2007)

Trick or Threat!&nbsp;is a forum theatre play showcasing a scene that happened in an eastbound MRT train. The train stopped suddenly and 5 passengers of different races were trapped within the same train cabin. One of them received an SMS about a possible bomb threat; everyone panicked and suspicions were roused amongst all in the cabin.


Trick or Threat! (2007)

A MRT train heading towards the north stopped suddenly. 5 passengers were stranded inside: a Chinese lady and her Malay colleague, a Chinese boy with his Indian girlfriend and a Malay man dressed in Islamic clothing, sitting in one corner. At the same time, the Chinese boy received an SMS stating "rumored that a bomb was found in a MRT heading towards the north". Everybody started to panic and suspicions aroused.&nbsp;


First staged in 1993 to critical acclaim, Off Centre is recognised as a landmark play in the history of Singapore theatre, best remembered for bringing mental illness and its patients' plight to the attention of the media and general public in Singapore. The play traces the friendship of Saloma and Vinod and the hurdles they have to overcome, including social stigmas, prejudices and personal conflicts. Off Centre has also been selected by the Ministry of Education as the first Singapore play to the offered 

Off Centre (2007)

A group of students have been given the task of creating projects that 'think outside the box'. They wrack their brains to find what they can do that will really MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Instead of going on field trips learning to make ketupat or performing a multi-racial dance, they decide to create projects that will make young Singaporeans VALUE LIFE and not take their comforts for granted. They decide to create&nbsp;Survivor Singapore. But... have they gone too far to prove a point?

A must-see for every te

Survivor Singapore (2007)

A young handsome king meets a beautiful mysterious young woman. They instantly fall in love. However, she agrees to marry him only if he asks no questions - about her history. After much merry-making, they have a child. When he is pressed by 'society', he has no choice but to question her. Snap. Double snap. And she's gone.&nbsp;

Divine Soap&nbsp;presents the story of a&nbsp;Bangsawan,&nbsp;as it was told in the past. It also sheds light on the trials and tribulations faced by these troupes as they strug

Divine Soap (2006)

The story of sita as told by she&nbsp;unravels the lives of three different women who found themselves in three different tight circumstances; To let live or not to let live? To stay or not to stay? To be silent or to not be silent? The images of stereotypical Malay women are destroyed as we delve into their lives and be immersed in the forces that influence their life-changing decisions.&nbsp;

Three different women with nothing in common find themselves existing in the same space to make their decisions

Cerita si sita oleh dia... (2006)

Aku anjing. Mak aku anjing. Bapak aku anjing.&nbsp;
Adik-beradik aku anjing. Rakan-rakan aku anjing.
Kadang-kadang jadi halal. Kadang-kadang jadi haram.&nbsp;
Kadang-kadang jadi kawan. Kadang-kadang jadi lawan.&nbsp;
Kadang-kadang jadi tuhan. Kadang-kadang jadi syaitan.&nbsp;
Kadang-kadang jadi hero. Kadang-kadang jadi musuh.&nbsp;
Oh ya, sebelum aku lupa.Tuan aku pun anjing.
Kalbun

I am dog. My mother is a dog. My father is a dog.&nbsp;
My brothers and sisters are dogs. My friends are dogs.&nbsp

Kalbun (2006)

Set in a prison cell of closed-circuit cameras,&nbsp;Impenjarament offers an insight into&nbsp;prison culture,&nbsp;examining&nbsp;the masculinity, machismo&nbsp;and eroticism of the Malay psyche.&nbsp;Confined in prison, eight men with a dark past contemplate a potentially darker future.&nbsp;As they try to&nbsp;salvage what little dignity they have left, the notion of personal freedom is&nbsp;turned on its head.


Impenjarament (2005)

Seven poems, one voice. Seven nights, one hope.


Salammalas (2004)

In this interpretation of the text, the figure of Admiral Zheng He, both icon and iconoclast, undergoes further interrogation. Importing their own cultural background as Singaporean Malays into the work, the artists involved will seek the spaces in the text which will allow them to question their own hybrid and syncretic identities. Various composite layers will be added to Kuo's already rich and multifarious text, which will include parallel texts from Malay historical documents, as well as extensions of v

Keturunan Laksamana Tak Ada Anu (2003)

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Najib Soiman

WORKS DOCUMENTED IN THE ARCHIVE

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