The Shows Will Go On
2021 is supposed to have been the year that kicks off the "new normal", but we find ourselves still grappling with COVID-19 changing much of what we know. Much of the theatre industry has since embraced the digital space after experimenting with it last year. In charting the activity of Singapore Theatre in 2021, we have seen:
- 45 digital theatrical performances (these includes performances that were performed live online or pre-recorded for streaming/video on demand)
- 89 live theatrical performances
- 15 hybrid theatrical performances (simultaneously performed live and online)
- 7 cancelled live theatrical performances
- 7 postponed live theatrical performances (that were staged later on the year)
This year, the spine of the timeline reflects theatrical performances that were presented in a multitude of ways: live in theatre, pre-recorded, in the digital space, and at times in a hybrid of modes. You'll be able to track the different phases of COVID-19-related restrictions and their impact on our theatre scene.
We mark the disruptive periods brought on by the emergence of the Delta variant - Phase 2, Phase 2 (HA), Phase 3 (HA), Phase 2 (HA ver2) - in grey, where pre-event testings (PET) were introduced, and live, unmasked performances were either severely restricted or not allowed. Performances that were originally scheduled then were either cancelled or postponed, and restaged at a later part of this year.
With COVID-19 becoming endemic, Singapore entered the 'Stabilisation Phase' in the last quarter of the year. Observe how Singapore's Theatre picks back up as we try to live and work through it - facing the threats of being shut down or disrupted should cast or production members face health risk warnings, quarantine orders or worse, contract the virus.
It has been a suspenseful 21 months since the fateful Circuit Breaker happened in April 2020, and we’re truly hoping for a smooth recovery. With this timeline, Singapore Theatre in 2021 charts the cautious optimism of the theatre industry and the resilience of our theatre practitioners. As they say, the shows will go on!
Click on the PDF below to view the timeline.
Singapore Theatre in 2021
For the fifth year running, Centre 42 is documenting Singapore Theatre's year in a timeline. As with the previous iterations, we rely on the public to help us build a comprehensive picture of the year.
If you want to suggest shows to add to the timeline, you can leave your suggestion in Message Board, or email us at info@centre42.sg.
[Update as of 4 March 2022] Five more productions – suggested by the public – have been added to a timeline. Number tally adjusted for these additional productions.
Additional Information
Singapore Theatre in Statistics
In conjunction with Singapore Theatre in 2021, ArtsEquator.com produced a set of infographics displaying the statistics from the same data set. View "Year In Review 2021: Singapore Theatre in Statistics" here.
Special Thanks
Singapore Theatre in 2021 is released in conjunction with Year in Review 2021: Jeng Jeng Jeng, jointly presented by Centre 42, ArtsEquator and Channel NewsTheatre, in collaboration with Artwave Studio.
RESEARCH
Ke Weiliang
Nadia Carr
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Charlotte Tan
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
Charlotte Tan
Denise Dolendo
Lee Shu Yu
Ma Yanling
Nabilah Said
Some research support from the AY2021/22 class of SMU's ACM201 Introduction to Performing Arts Management module.