The Playwrights Database
HARESH SHARMA
(1965 - )Nationality: Singaporean
email: Click here to contact Website: Click here
Literary Agent: n/a
Haresh has been the Resident Playwright of The Necessary Stage since 1990. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2015. To date, he has written more than 100 plays which have been staged in over 20 cities. His play, Off Centre, was selected by the Ministry of Education as a Literature text for 'N' and 'O' Levels. Haresh has 13 publications of his plays, including Trilogy, Shorts 1, Shorts 2 and Don't Forget to Remember Me. His works have been translated into Malay, Mandarin, Greek and Italian. He was awarded Best Original Script for Fundamentally Happy, Good People and Gemuk Girls at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards respectively. Haresh also had the honour of having a selection of his works featured at Esplanade's first playwright-centred season at The Studios in 2017.He has participated in several writers' festivals including the inaugural Singapore Literature Festival in New York (2014), New Delhi World Book Fair (2015), Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (2015) and Hong Kong Literary Festival (2015). Haresh is the first non-American to be awarded the prestigious Goldberg Master Playwright by New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2011. In 2014, he was conferred the Southeast Asian Writers (or S.E.A. Write) Award (Singapore), which recognises and honours literary excellence in the ASEAN region.
Buy Plays with Doollee
Each page of doollee.com has links to play/book outlets, either directly to the Publisher, through Stageplays.com and Amazon to the second hand and 1st editions of AbeBooks. These links will automatically take you to the relevant area obviating the need for further search.AbeBooks.co.uk AbeBooks.com Stageplays.com amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.ca
whether you are a Playwright who wishes to make their entry definitive, an unlisted Playwright or a User with a tale to tell - we want to hear from you.
download WORD submission template
below is a list of Haresh Sharma's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
24 Hours - A Musical ABUSE SUXXX!!! Actor, Forty Ah Boy and the Beanstalk Balek Kampong Best Of Best Of (His Story) Boxing Day: the Tsunami Project Bread & Barter Child's Play Chosen One, The Close - In My Face Cloud Messenger Completely With/Out Character Crossings Crow Show, The Divine Soap Don't Forget to Remember Me Don't Know, Don't Care Eclipse Entire World Is A Foreign Land, The (Maybe Some Tea Will Help) Every Moment Is A Birth Exodus, The Expectations/Pressure Frozen Angels Fundamentally Happy Future Perfect Galileo (I feel the Earth move) Garden, The Gemuk Girls Ghost Writer Gitanjali [I feel the earth move] Glass Roots (Don't Step on them) godeatgod Good People Hamlet Heroes are Everywhere History, Whose Story? Hope I Can Hear the Eclairs Call My Name I Have a Friend IMPINGE: Concerning Difference In the Centre, Right in the Core International Friendship Day koan Lack of Communication Land Lanterns Lanterns Never Go Out Late Nights Let Me Go! Lizard Manifesto Mardi Gras MCP Mixed Blessings Mobile Mobile 2: Flat Cities Model Citizens More Mother's Day NA October Off Centre Oh Man! One Day at a Time One Hundred Years in Waiting Past Caring Pillars Pioneer (Girls) Generation Poor Thing Project, The Re:Union Revelations Rigor Mortis Rosnah Sea Separation 40 Singapore Sofaman Staying Alive! Staying Out Late Still Building Suite Hearts Superfriends at the Hall of Justice Survivor Singapore Sweet Dreams Talk Teenage Textbook, The there is No New Thing Under the Sun This Chord and Others Those Who Can't, Teach Three Years in the Life and Death of Land Top of the World untitled cow number one untitled man number one untitled women number one Waiting Walking Into Doors What About Me? When the Bough Breaks24 Hours - A Musical
Synopsis:
A group of young people are forced to protest when their lives are threatened by impending change.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 4 Other: 4 chorus
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageABUSE SUXXX!!!
Synopsis:
It's a jungle out there. And it's raining shit. So do something, dammit! Say it: I have the power. To fight. To kill. To love. To be who I wanna be. they can try, but they can't take that away from you. they can't touch you. Abuse Suxxx!!! But you're a survivor and you're gonna make it.
Notes:
ABUSE SUXXX!!! Was conceptualised by Alvin Tan And Haresh Sharma.
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
2001
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageActor, Forty
Synopsis:
In real life, there are no rehearsals and no second takes. Actor, Forty features Golden Horse Award-winner Yeo Yann Yann returning to the Chinese theatre stage in a special Huayi commission. This new original monologue sees Yeo collaborating with Cultural Medallion recipients, director Alvin Tan and playwright Haresh Sharma of The Necessary Stage. Candid and conversational, it examines the myriad identities that we take on and cast off in life-just as an actor does when she adopts different roles. Blurring the lines between actor and character, Yeo plays an actress who has just been cast in a contemporary remake of Summer Snow (Woman, Forty), a 1995 Hong Kong film about a 40-something woman dealing with difficult family issues. The actress has a secret that she is struggling to keep under wraps-she is turning 40 and expecting her first child. Faced with the challenge of juggling a globetrotting job and raising a child, she confronts her hopes and fears. Will she still be able to find meaning in her career, and also play to perfection what could be her most challenging role yet-becoming a mother?
Notes:
Actor, Forty is performed in Mandarin, English, Malay, Hokkien and Cantonese.
1st Produced:
Esplanade Theatre Studio
2017
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageAh Boy and the Beanstalk
Synopsis:
Ah Boy is not just another re-telling of the same old tale, which has been simply plonked into a Singapore setting with Singapore references. the play manages to create many new twists and turns and breathe a whole new life of meaning into this magical tale. Through Ah Boy and his good family pet Ah Cow, the value of relationships above material comfort and success is conveyed, as well as the realization that when the world around us is filled with commotion and deception, family and friends are what we need most.
Notes:
Ah Boy And the Beanstalk toured various primary schools in Singapore from July - November 2002.
1st Produced:
Various Primary School, Singapore
2001
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageBalek Kampong
Synopsis:
A foreign journalist is taken to task after writing some objectionable articles. A university exchange student tries to organise a forum on campus and encounters obstacles. The lives of these unlikely individuals meet and intertwine in The Necessary Stage's latest production. Characters clash, tensions run high, and truth is questioned. Can we turn back time and return to a harmonious past? Who is allowed to speak out for what they believe? Do we welcome the views of foreigners? Or should they 'Balek Kampong'? Written by Haresh Sharma. Directed by Alvin Tan. Featuring a stellar ensemble of Jo Kukathas, Sukania Venugopal and Siti Khalijah Zainal.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2011
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageBest Of
Synopsis:
Award-winning actress Siti Khalijah Zainal takes centre-stage in this one-woman show specially created for her by Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma. Specially created for award-winning actress Siti Khalijah Zainal by Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma, Best Of looks at issues of the day through collective stories and personal reflection as told by the protagonist, a young Malay-Muslim woman in Singapore. First staged at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2013 to popular and critical acclaim, Best Of then toured to Penang for CausewayEXchange. It was restaged at the Festival in 2014 by popular demand before touring to Kuala Lumpur for its fourth staging, to rave reviews.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Esplanade Recital Studio
2013
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
The Necessary Stage, 2014
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageBest Of (His Story)
Synopsis:
In 2013, award-winning actress Siti Khalijah Zainal brought The Necessary Stage's Best Of to life, playing the role of a young Malay Muslim woman going through divorce. Now, accomplished TV and stage actor Sani Hussin takes the stage as the husband to share his side of the story in Best Of (His Story), written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Alvin Tan. What happens when the estranged couple reunite at the Syariah court? What does he say to a wife seeking divorce? What can he say? How would this change his view of what "home" means? Just as his wife had shared her day with the audience, he offers us a glimpse into a day in his life, his past, his dreams... and his beliefs. He too is not a stereotype. But after today, he may well be a statistic.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2016
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageBoxing Day: the Tsunami Project
Synopsis:
the Tsunami tragedy on Boxing Day 2004 was one of the most traumatic crises in recent human history of natural catastrophes. the Necessary Stage, with our history of engaging society and reality, will present a work that looks at human behaviour during the Tsunami tragedy. Texts, multimedia, sonic landscape and performance will be brought together in contemporary theatre practice, not to recapture the tragic moments, but to bring across moments of recollection - how human beings recall, what they remember of Boxing Day 2004. This exploration and presentation is not a singular narrative but will comprise voices of people affected by the Tsunami. Like most life situations, there are many perspectives that encourage us to explore, reflect and make our own verdicts as to what went wrong and how to move on. But different perspectives cannot erase the devastation experienced first hand by those affected by the tsunami. the Verbatim theatre method - using voices of people involved in the tragedy - will bring texts direct from them onto stage to us from actual interviews conducted in Aceh, Phuket, Phang Nga and Penang.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
2005
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageBread & Barter
Synopsis:
A salesman encounters a customer's idiosyncrasies.
Notes:
Bread & Barter was co-presented with the Arts Club At NUS LT13 in July 1989.
1st Produced:
Ntional University Of Singapore Lt 13, Singapore
1989
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageChild's Play
Synopsis:
Three families have to make a difficult choice: should they allow their children to go through a clinical trial? Kris struggles to decide if putting her son through tests on a new drug might cause him more distress. Luther opposes compulsory clinical trials on principle, but is also aware these can save lives. Johari wonders if he should sign his children up for these trials to supplement the family's income. Should children take part in clinical trials? Should they have a say? Are they old enough to decide? The Necessary Stage tackles these questions and more in Child's Play, an exciting and thought-provoking performance that explores the ethical issues surrounding the use of child subjects in clinical trials.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Dalton Hall, Singapore Science Centre
2016
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageChosen One, The
Synopsis:
Siew and Mickey - a young couple getting used to married life and nagging mothers-in-law, handle demands for grandchildren with patience (not much) and wit (a lot). After all, the last thing they need right now is a baby, right?
Notes:
the Chosen One was first presented As part of the Shell Friday Lunchtime Cultural Programme on 11 November 1994 At Shell theatrette. It was later staged At various community centres And libraries in February 1995. the Chosen One was Also translated into Mandarin by Quah Sy Ren in 1995, And presented As A doublebill entitled 1 + 1 = 3 Alongside Mother's Day (also by Haresh Sharma) At the Drama Centre from 18 - 25 May 1995. In 2000, both the Chosen And Mother's Day were restaged in their original English language As the doublebill 1 + 1 = 3 At the Marine Parade theatre Festival.
1st Produced:
Shell Theatrette, Singapore
1994
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageClose - In My Face
Synopsis:
Close - In My Face is a communal collage of what has been shared between a community of people over a six-month period. An array of stories, impressions and thoughts has been arranged to allow the audience to make their own links, imaginings, questions and reflections. Prevalent issues include privacy, intimacy, claustrophobia, loneliness, neighbourly relations, animals, social prejudice and stereotyping of various sorts.
Notes:
Close - In My Face was co-presented with South East Community Development Council, with Dramaturgy by Haresh Sharma. It was conceptualised And directed by Sean Tobin. An extract from Close - In My Face was later restaged As the Crow Show in January 2003.
1st Produced:
Marine Parade Community Building Theatrette, Singapore
2002
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 6 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageCloud Messenger
Synopsis:
Inspired by Megha Duta, a Sanskrit lyric poem by Kalidasa. There is a universal need for people to send messages; the need to know that we are safe, especially when we are apart from those we love. Cloud Messenger distils these experiences and feelings into an intimate and evocative performance. Conceived by Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma from The Necessary Stage, this multilingual and inter-disciplinary production is a collaboration with some of Singapore's leading artists, Bani Haykal, Brian Gothong Tan, Jaclyn Tan, Steve Kwek and design collective Neon Tights.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Drama Centre Black Box
2014
Organisations:
Intercultural Theatre Institute
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 5 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageCompletely With/Out Character
Synopsis:
Paddy Chew talks about living with HIV/AIDS in Singapore - the support, prejudice, pain and the laughter.
Notes:
Completely With/Out Character was A play devised by Alvin Tan, Haresh Sharma And Paddy Chew. This is A landmark production in Singapore, featuring the first man in Singapore who came out in public to talk About his experience As An HIV victim.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageCrossings
Synopsis:
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, Crossings take us on a journey of the transformation of the self - how one deals with the seduction of being imprisoned and how freedom opens us to meaningless pain. Crossings is a multidisciplinary collaboration between artists from Singapore and Croatia investigating the coexistence, understanding and mixing of different cultures.
Notes:
Staged at Rijeka National Theatre in September 2012.
1st Produced:
Esplanade Recital Studio
2012
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageCrow Show, The
Synopsis:
the Crow Show is extracted from a previous work, Close - In My Face. What goes through a crow's mind before it is shot?! What goes through a crow shooter's mind during the kill?! This Drama traces a friendship that grows between a crow and a crow shooter. It directly and indirectly explores themes such as friendship, compassion, acceptance and respect of others, racism, and appreciation of nature.
Notes:
the Crow Show was taken from An extract of Close - In My Face by Haresh Sharma.
1st Produced:
Bukit Panjang Plaza And Causeway Point Shopping Centre, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageDivine Soap
Synopsis:
A brand new show by Cake theatrical Productions that takes a comically crazy look at the once-comatose artform known as Bangsawan. This original play will tell stories from the past with a generous dash of humour from the present. 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 is gone. Divine Soap presents the story of a Bangsawan, as it was told in the past. It also sheds light on the trials and tribulations faced by these troupes as they struggle to hang on to their traditions while keeping with the times. With a buffet of elaborate costumes, painted 2-dimensional backdrops, stock comic characters, dance, music and fight sequences, there's plenty to savour and delight in. Get clean. Get cleansed. Soap has never been so divine.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
National Museum Gallery Theatre, Singapore
2007
Organisations:
CAKE theatrical Productions
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageDon't Forget to Remember Me
Synopsis:
When Madam Wong begins her retirement, all she can think of is enjoying her golden years with rest and serenity, surrounded by family and friends. However, rest turns into restlessness as she starts to lose her short-term memory. Her dream of a peaceful life soon becomes a nightmare of remembering and forgetting. Presented by The Necessary Stage and commissioned by the Alzheimer's Diseases Association, Don't Forget to Remember Me deals with the trials and tribulations of people suffering from Dementia and their struggles to come to terms with their illness. In Singapore, about 5 percent of people above 65 suffer from Dementia. It is an illness which causes brain cells to die at a faster rate than normal. This leads to failing memory, deterioration of intellectual function and personality changes. Dementia is not normal ageing. A touching and thought-provoking play, presented in Mandarin and English, with surtitles.
Notes:
Don't Forget to Remember Me was later translated into Mandarin and performed in 2012 as a commission of the Health Promotion Board. In 2016, the play was presented as part of a double-bill entitled Family Secrets for Esplanade's A Date with Friends festival. The script of Don't Forget to Remember Me is also published by The Necessary Stage in a collection with the same title.
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
2009
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
2013
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageDon't Know, Don't Care
Synopsis:
Don't Know, Don't Care presented by The Necessary Stage and commissioned by HCA Hospice Care looks at a family trying to deal with terminal illness within the household. Wrapped up in their own lives, the family members 'don't want to know'. They prefer to leave the caregiving to strangers. Soon, they realise they have to know; they learn how to care. They discover the importance of being there for each other. At a time of illness, they can finally share a bond and experience joy.
Notes:
Don't Know, Don't Care was also adapted for the screen by HCA Hospice Care. In 2016, the play was presented as part of a double-bill entitled Family Secrets for Esplanade's A Date with Friends festival. The script of Don't Know, Don't Care was published by The Necessary Stage in a collection entitled Don't Forget to Remember Me.
1st Produced:
Various secondary schools
2012
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
2013
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageEclipse
Synopsis:
A young Singaporean man is making a journey to his father's birthplace in Hyderabad, Pakistan. With him are his father's ashes. As he makes the arduous trip, he retraces the original journey made by millions of people - including his parents and grandparents - in 1947, during the partition of India and Pakistan. A short play that looks at three generations of men struggling with their dreams and their journeys, Eclipse is an intimate look at personal stories affected by historical events.
Notes:
Eclipse was presented as part of 7:84 Theatre Company's Re:Union to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Act of Union between Scotland and England. Four playwrights including Haresh Sharma were commissioned to create short plays dealing with the themes of Separation and Reconciliation. Eclipse was subsequently developed as a full-length production that premiered at the 2008 M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. An excerpt of Eclipse was published in the collection Moving Worlds: A Journal of Transcultural Writings, Vol. 10. A Chinese translation of the full play was also published in a collection entitled ???? ??????.
1st Produced:
Esplanade Theatre Studio
2012
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
The Necessary Stage, 2014
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageEntire World Is A Foreign Land, The (Maybe Some Tea Will Help)
Synopsis:
History, literature and culture are used as starting points to create a play about dislocation and alienation.
Notes:
Haresh Sharma was the writing facilitator for the Entire World is A Foreign Land (maybe some tea will help), which is A devised work by the Actors.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageEvery Moment Is A Birth
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
Every Moment is A Birth was co-written with Alfian Sa'at And Mohd Fita Helmi, the latter who Also performed in this one-man play. the work was presented As part of I'd Like to Thank My Mother, My Father, Myself, Alongside Silent Man by Verena Tay, Whoever Finds It, I Love You by Zelda Tatiana Ng And John And the Quay by Sim Pern Yiau.
1st Produced:
Cairnhill Studios, Singapore
1998
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageExodus, The
Synopsis:
A group of people are cast out of their homelands, forced to travel across oceans, through refugee camps and over mountains. Some struggle to find their way home, while others desperately look for new lives. A mother who has lost her child, a soldier forced to kill his buddy, a bride and groom trying to get married, a general who wants to rule the world, and a god who wants to end it all.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Gay World Stadium, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 8 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageExpectations/Pressure
Synopsis:
Kheng wants to take part in a school talent-time but her Father would rather she help out more at the family shop. Her good friend Michael wants her to spend more time with him. Kheng has schoolwork, tuition and ECAs to manage as well. What can Kheng do?
Notes:
Expectations/Pressure was presented As part of theatre-in-Education in secondary schools Around Singapore. It is part of A series entitled the SINGAPOREAN Teenager, which Also included Staying Out Late And Lack of Communication written by Haresh Sharma. Expectations/Pressure continued to be staged in schools in 1993, As part of A series entitled Growing Pains, Along with Lack of Communication. Expectations/Pressure was later Adapted As What About Me? by Haresh Sharma in 2003.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageFrozen Angels
Synopsis:
As the world advances its research on life sciences, stem cells 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 Fesrival in March 2008, Frozen Angels is a thought-provoking performance exploring current issues of science using digital media and theatrical performance.
Notes:
Co-presented with the National Museum of Singapore as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2009 with a brand new cast.
1st Produced:
National University Of Singapore
2008
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageFundamentally Happy
Synopsis:
Eric, a 30-year old social worker, returns to his childhood neighbourhood and looks for the home of his old neighbour, Habiba. He finds that the couple are still living there, older and with children. As Eric and his old neighbour Habiba reminisce 'the old days', a shocking secret is revealed - one that would forever change their lives. Fundamentally Happy takes an unflinching look at the personal and emotional issues surrounding paedophilia, without judgement or blame.
Notes:
Fundamentally Happy was first presented in Singapore in September/October 2006, And was subsequently restaged As part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2007: Art And Disability from 9-10 February 2007 At the Gallery theatre, National Museum of Singapore. the production had Also traveled to the Actors Studio in Kuala Lumpur in January 2007.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box, Singapore
2006
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageFuture Perfect
Synopsis:
3 stories are intertwined in this brand new play about human enhancement. The first is about a couple, Melissa and Joe, who takes the Youth Fountain serum. Can the couple live to the age of 200 years? The second story features a shop at the market which sells stem cells and the unlikely friendship that develops between seller Sam and Gina. In the third story, a young husband and his mother visit Designer Babies, a new centre which creates perfect babies through genetic modification. Presented by The Necessary Stage in collaboration with NUS Centre of Biomedical Ethics, this light-hearted, dramatic and sometimes poignant play highlights issues of biomedical ethics, leaving students wanting more.
Notes:
Future Perfect was also presented at Dalton Hall, Singapore Science Centre after its first tour to schools in 2012. It was later restaged for a school tour in 2013. ;The script of Future Perfect was published by The Necessary Stage in a collection entitled Don't Forget to Remember Me.
1st Produced:
Various secondary schools
2012
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
2013
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGalileo (I feel the Earth move)
Synopsis:
A fusion of comedy, physical theatre and mime, this play interweaves the true life of visionary astronomer Galileo Galilei and the lives of modern characters who face dilEmmas of their own. It is a take of deception, power and persecution inspired by Bertolt Brecht's the Lifes and Times of Galileo Galilei.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGarden, The
Synopsis:
This is a fable about the Garden. Shay, who lives in the garden, becomes a victim when the garden is destroyed. Banished to the tree with the seven branches, she has to endure the darkness and coldness of the destroyed garden.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1991
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 8 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGemuk Girls
Synopsis:
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 had been arrested and detained in the 1960s. Suddenly the floodgates of the family's emotional 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? Gemuk Girls is a bold and often darkly humorous look at family politics and the politics of the day.
Notes:
Winner of Production of the Year, Best Actor and Best Original Script at the 2009 Life! Theatre Awards. Presented at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre in 2008. Restaged at The Necessary Stage Black Box in 2011.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2008
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
The Necessary Stage
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGhost Writer
Synopsis:
Are you living a life to fulfill someone else's purpose? Helmed by Cultural Medallion recipients Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma of The Necessary Stage, Ghost Writer offers a glimpse into the lives of characters intertwined by blood and ties that bind-and suffocate. A young dancer who has undergone traditional training feels dislocated within her artistic practice in her home country. A new expatriate wife detached from her immediate reality draws inspiration from the writings of strangers past and present, and tries to reinvent herself. A teacher seeks to save a school that she had inherited, but finds her quest leaves her more lonely than ever. A meditative interdisciplinary production that charts the collisions of people seeking to alter their destinies, Ghost Writer grapples with the question of how independent our lives can be. Are we existing based on other people's terms, or can we transcend tradition and memory to rewrite our own stories?
Notes:
Other parts include a sound artist and Hindustani vocalist.
1st Produced:
Esplanade Theatre Studio
2016
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: 2
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGitanjali [I feel the earth move]
Synopsis:
And when old words die out on the tongue, new melodies break forth from the heart; and where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders. - Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali. Will you fight for the freedom you yearn despite the inevitable loss ahead? A mother pins her hopes upon her son, unknowingly hindering his own dreams. A teacher struggles to accept her protege whose ambitions steers her away from tradition. A writer drawn to his muse faces the reality of their unresolved chapter. These relationships collide in The Necessary Stage's Gitanjali [I feel the earth move], a brand new interdisciplinary and intercultural production inspired by the poetry of Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore.
Notes:
Other parts include a sound artist and a female Indian Carnatic vocalist.
1st Produced:
Theatre and Place where 1st Produced only:
2014
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: 2
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGlass Roots (Don't Step on them)
Synopsis:
It is a strange world . . . where the higher the blocks climb, the deeper the rats dig. . . where paper is worth more than gold. . . where there is real lemon in detergent but not in lemon juice.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
National University Of Singapore Lt13, Singapore
1992
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 8 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Pagegodeatgod
Synopsis:
Starring an international cast that includes esteemed Singapore actors Aidli 'Alin' Mosbit and Peter Sau, Rody Vera from the Philippines and Eriko Nemeto from Japan. A layered and moving exploration of power and survival in the post-traumatic world, this multinational, multimedia romp is interwoven with the stories and emotional landscapes of its characters. Writing in response to 9-11, playwright Haresh Sharma excavates the tragedies that surfaced - dishonesties, power struggles, corruption and egos - which have made the world an elimination platform dominated by the powerful. Where do we look to for the new moral order? godeatgod is an intimate, personal and at times funny exposition about trying to live a better life; a take on censorship in the context of art; and an examination of love and grief.
Notes:
godeatgod was first staged in 2002, And subsequently restaged in Singapore Again in 2004. godeatgod has been performed in Glasgow, At the Sibiu International theatre Festival (May 2005), Hong Kong City Festival - "Spotlight Singapore" (January 2006), And the Sziget Festival, Hungary in August 2006. It will be performed in Manila At the Cultural Centre of the Philippines in June 2007.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box, Singapore
2002
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: multiple roles
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGood People
Synopsis:
The Necessary Stage presents a brand new play that deals with the issue of living, dying and the pain in between. Set in a hospice, Good People is about the ups and downs of the relationships between 3 people. Miguel is the new Medical Director trying to run a tight ship. Yati is a jaded nurse making the best of a 'dead-end' job. And Radha is the terminally-ill patient who is addicted to marijuana to relieve her pain. As the three get to know each other, complications arise. If Radha gets caught, will she be given the death penalty when she has only a few months to live? Moving, humorous and evocative, Good People looks at urgent contemporary issues through the test of personal relationships. The Necessary Stage's stalwarts, Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma, team up with three exceptional actors - Siti Khalijah (Singapore), Rody Vera (Philippines) and Sukania Venugopal (Malaysia) - to bring to the Singapore audience another provocative and socially-engaging production.
Notes:
Winner of Best Original Script at the 2008 Life! Theatre Awards
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2006
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
The Necessary Stage, 2010
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageHamlet
Synopsis:
Shakespeare's classic Dramatic text is re-written to give meaningful access and relevance to our youths, whilst still engaging with the key characters and the core issues of family conflict, betrayal, madness and suicide.
Notes:
This Adaptation of Hamlet toured schools in Singapore from January - November 2003.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Junior College And Ites, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageHeroes are Everywhere
Synopsis:
Homework, ECA, exams, tests and tuition. Is there more to life? Through song, dance, play and jokes, three friends learn about friendship, communication and care for others. they discover that they can be heroes in other people's lives.
Notes:
Heroes Are Everywhere was performed in various primary schools in 1999.
1st Produced:
Various Primary Schools, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageHistory, Whose Story?
Synopsis:
History, Whose Story? touches on Singapore's history in order to stimulate a discussion on the importance and relevance of history in the daily lives of students. It focuses on the relationship between Sir Stamford Raffles and Munshi Abdullah, as well as popular characters from Singapore's past, and is told through the eyes of a present-day student who discovers the many different voices of history.
Notes:
History, Whose Story? was staged in various primary schools Around Singapore from July - September 2000.
1st Produced:
Various Primary Schools, Singapore
2000
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageHope
Synopsis:
For people lodged so deep in the core of their struggles, buried so deep in mud, at the edge of despair, so desperate that they will do anything, even hope, what choice is left?
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1994
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageI Can Hear the Eclairs Call My Name
Synopsis:
I Can Hear the Eclairs Call My Name is a short play about healthy eating.
Notes:
I Can Hear the Eclairs Call My Name was presented As part of Plays For Lunch Alongside Kevin's Birthday Party, written by Chng Suan Tze.
1st Produced:
Lecture Theatre, Neptune Orient Lines, Singapore
1992
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageI Have a Friend
Synopsis:
I Have a Friend revolves around two friends driven to attempt suicide. It introduces avenues that are open to troubled individuals.
Notes:
I Have A Friend was presented As part of theatre-in-Education Around various secondary schools in Singapore.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Singapore
1996
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageIMPINGE: Concerning Difference
Synopsis:
We are impinged upon and we impinge on others. Often, most of us have many selves: the marginalised self and the privileged self. IMPINGE: Concerning Difference looks at how these selves' interact with one another and with society at large.
Notes:
IMPINGE: Concerning Difference was devised by Alvin Tan And Haresh Sharma, And presented in 1999 As part of BrainStorm (what's that in your head?) At the Singapore Art Museum.
1st Produced:
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageIn the Centre, Right in the Core
Synopsis:
A non-naturalistic play with reference to Hindu mythology, this play tells the story of a serpent who wants to leave the ocean, the ocean who cannot bear to part with the serpent, and the conversation between a blind man and a dead man.
Notes:
In the Centre, Right in the Core was commissioned by Brumhalata theatre Company. It was published As part of This Chord And Others by Minerva Press in 1999.
1st Produced:
Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Uk
1995
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageInternational Friendship Day
Synopsis:
It's International Friendship Day at MPSS but friendship seems to be the last thing on the students' minds. While the foreign students Adi, Anton and Liqin are questioning what to showcase at their booths and why there isn't one for the local students, the Drama Club boys are unhappy about them not putting any effort towards the much anticipated SYF. Meanwhile, Carys is facing pressure at home for losing her spot as the school's top Maths student. Will she lose her top spot to an international scholar? Will the Drama Club boys get the foreigners to join in the chorus? Will Adi get the booth of his choice? Join us at International Friendship Day with the MPSS students as we discuss cross-cultural differences in this interactive theatre piece!
Notes:
International Friendship Day was later restaged as part of Peer Pleasure, a youth-oriented festival in August 2016 at Esplanade Rehearsal Studio.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2015
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Pagekoan
Synopsis:
Drawing inspiration from Hesse's Siddhartha, Gibran's the Prophet and other stories of journey and search, Haresh Sharma employs techniques of storytelling, magic realism and narrative framing to create a theatrical and lyrical exploration of perspective and truth. the production also features interview footages with a 78-year-old Singaporean widow who talks about her husband, her son and herself growing up in Singapore.
Notes:
koan was presented in the 2003 Asia theatre Festival in BUSAn, Korea.
1st Produced:
Kyung-Sung University Little Theatre, Korea
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLack of Communication
Synopsis:
Kheng finds that her Father is too busy to share her problems or even her joys. Her good friend Michael will not take her problems seriously and just wants to have fun. Can Kheng get them to listen to her?
Notes:
Lack of Communication was presented As part of theatre-in-Education in secondary schools Around Singapore. It is part of A series entitled the SINGAPOREAN Teenager, which Also included Staying Out Late And Expectations/Pressure written by Haresh Sharma. Lack of Communication continued to be staged in schools in 1993, As part of A series entitled Growing Pains, Along with Expectations/Pressure.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLand
Synopsis:
A plot of land transforms from a cemetery to a condominium site. In the process, three stories are presented where ancestors are worshipped, ghosts are unearthed and a handphone becomes a murder weapon.
Notes:
Land was presented As part of the doublebill Moving Home Stories Along with Sea, Also written by Haresh Sharma.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLanterns
Synopsis:
Lanterns is a brand new, fresh, exciting play inspired by Haresh Sharma's Lanterns Never Go Out. It revolves around an 18-year-old girl at the brink of entering adulthood. Journey with her as she screams and shouts, pushes and shoves to find her way and get her way!
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
University Cultural Centre, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLanterns Never Go Out
Synopsis:
Lanterns Never Go Out revolves around Kah Wei, a 15-year-old girl who finds that being a teenager with new roles and new expectations is not easy. When her ideals and reality do not match, she wishes to return to her childhood of goldfish lanterns and comics. As the play progresses, we find ourselves questioning the dos and don'ts, the whys and hows. Or we may find ourselves questioning Kah Wei.
Notes:
Lanterns Never Go Out was first staged in 1989 As part of the Shell Friday Lunchtime Cultural Performance. It was later restaged As A co-presentation with the Arts Club At National University of Singapore LT 13 in the same year, As well As in 1990 At the Drama Centre As part of the Singapore Festival of Arts. the production was later presented in Abridged versions As part of Lanterns Never Go Out: Lanterns PROJECT And Lanterns TOUR. the former was presented in March 1994 At the Substation Guinness theatre, And the latter As A school touring play in the same year. It was Adapted And restaged As part of Peer Pleasure in 2000 by East View Secondary School. In 2003, Lanterns, A new play by Haresh Sharma, was staged And is inspired by Lanterns Never Go Out. Lanterns Never Go Out was published Alongside Still Building by EPB Publishers in 1994.
1st Produced:
Pub Auditorium, Singapore
1989
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLate Nights
Synopsis:
Late Nights deal with the themes of change in the parent-child relationship and communication within the family.
Notes:
Late Nights was presented in schools in 1998 And 1999. In 2001, Late Nights was presented Alongside Waiting (also by Haresh Sharma) As A doublebill entitled Family Affairs for FamFest 2001.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Singapore
1998
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLet Me Go!
Synopsis:
Let Me Go! is about Kheng, who is invited by her best friend to go to the concert of a lifetime! One major problem - she would get home way past her curfew and her mother will not budge. She is torn between following her mother's strict orders, her friend's tempting suggestion, her love for music and her imPulse to just get out, enjoy herself and exert her rights.
Notes:
Let Me Go! toured schools As part of the Necessary Stage's theatre-in-Education programme from January - November 2003. It will be restaged in September 2007 in collaboration with National Arts Council (Singapore) And Esplanade - theatres on the Bay, As part of the theatre Experience programme for students.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Junior College And Ites, And The Necessary Stage Black Box, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageLizard
Synopsis:
Mother, son and maid. A family turns topsy-turvy as they threaten to blow each other up.
Notes:
Lizard was first presented As part of Shell Friday Lunchtime Cultural Programme At Shell theatrette. It was later restaged from 19 - 20 July 1996 At Tampines Regional Library theatrette. It will be restaged As part of Virgin Labfest 2 in Manila in 2007.
1st Produced:
Shell Theatrette, Singapore
1996
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageManifesto
Synopsis:
1963-A young painter is forced to abandon his family and his art when he is embroiled in the tumultuous politics of the era. 1987-Three writers are detained by the Internal Security Bureau, each making different choices that will leave indelible marks on their lives. 2016-Artists occupy a derelict building in a bid to present their works free from state intervention, but find themselves entangled in market and personal politics instead. 2024-Successors of a theatre company discover that it has a hidden history, and grapple with the reasons behind the rewriting of the past. Through the lens of events stretching across 70 years, Manifesto, a brand new multilingual collaboration by Drama Box and The Necessary Stage, investigates the role of artists in history and politics: Can Artists be alternative voices for the marginalized or will they be silenced, subdued and ultimately, erased?
Notes:
The other parts include a musician and a multimedia operator who are both on stage.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2016
Organisations:
Drama Box & The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 2 Other: 2
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMardi Gras
Synopsis:
A group of people come together to organize Singapore's first Pride Parade - Singapore's first Mardi Gras. As they plan, the tension mounts; the cracks in their relationship surface. Eventually, the very event that is supposed to show their unity threatens to tear them apart.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMCP
Synopsis:
MCP is about an outspoken and independent wife who has to deal with her MCP (male chauvinist pig) husband and his friends.
Notes:
MPC was presented As A doublebill with Mixed Blessings. Both works Are forum theatre pieces devised by the cast, with the final script edited by Haresh Sharma.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMixed Blessings
Synopsis:
Mixed Blessings is about a Chinese girl and her Indian boyfriend fighting against social and family disapproval to their relationship.
Notes:
Mixed Blessings was presented As A doublebill with MCP. Both works Are forum theatre pieces devised by the cast, with the final script edited by Haresh Sharma. Mixed Blessings was staged Again At the Necessary Stage Black Box As part of Marine Parade theatre Festival in 2000.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMobile
Synopsis:
As the world becomes more mobile, has it also become more foreign? Mobile throws light on the new power dynamics of contemporary Asia, a world of Japanese businessmen, NGO workers, bureaucrats, Thai sex workers and Filipina maids - all caught in situations of being displaced because of labour needs. Based on research conducted in Bangkok, Chiangmai, Tokyo and Singapore, the narratives in Mobile highlight the desperate circumstances in which people find themselves while involved in overseas work. A unique collaboration involving artists from Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Japan, Mobile deals with women and men who are affected by labour migration.
Notes:
Mobile was presented As A commission by the Singapore Arts Festival 2006 in June At the Drama Centre theatre in Singapore. It has since traveled to the Actors Studio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, As well As to theatre TRAM, Setagaya Public theatres, Tokyo, Japan. Haresh was Head Writer for the project, with the other writers being Rody Vera (the Philippines), Narumol ThammApruksa (Thailand) And Tatsuo Kaneshita (Japan), the latter who was Also co-director of the production with Alvin Tan from Singapore. Please note that this is A multi-lingual production with English And Japanese surtitles.
1st Produced:
Drama Centre Theatre, Singapore
2006
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 5 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMobile 2: Flat Cities
Synopsis:
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. A multilingual production featuring artists from Singapore, Malaysia and Japan, Mobile 2: Flat Cities casts the spotlight on stories of personal, social and universal struggles across Asian cities. The play is The Necessary Stage's long-awaited follow up to the critically-acclaimed Mobile, which premiered at the 2006 Singapore Arts Festival and toured to Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo.
Notes:
Toured to Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre in 2013.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2013
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageModel Citizens
Synopsis:
A man stabs an MP at a Meet the People Session. But this is not their story. It is the story of the man's girlfriend, an Indonesian maid who wants to get married and become a Singapore citizen. It is the story of the MP's wife, who tries to cope with her husband's injury and the media spotlight. It is the story of the maid's employer, who is also struggling with her own tragedy. These 3 women may mean nothing to each other, but they need one another to survive. The maid, the employer and the MP's wife. Are they all model citizens? Director Alvin Tan and Playwright Haresh Sharma, who have been working together for more than two decades, return with another original, thought-provoking work. Model Citizens features theatre stalwarts Goh Guat Kian, Siti Khalijah and Karen Tan.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2010
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
Epigram Books, 2012
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMore
Synopsis:
More is a comedy about people and their obsession with status symbols.
Notes:
More was presented As part of A doublebill entitled Pte Ltd in 1991.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1991
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMother's Day
Synopsis:
Mickey and Siew try all ways and means to please both mothers-in-law on their first Mother's Day together, but things still go out of control - a quarrel starts and celebration turns into disaster.
Notes:
Mother's Day was translated into Mandarin by Quah Sy Ren in 1995, And presented As A doublebill entitled 1 + 1 = 3 Alongside the Chosen One (also by Haresh Sharma) At the Drama Centre from 18 - 25 May 1995. Mother's Day was restaged in its original English version from 8 - 21 September 1995 At various community centres And regional libraries. In 2000, both the Chosen And Mother's Day were restaged in their original English language As the doublebill 1 + 1 = 3 At the Marine Parade theatre Festival.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1995
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageNA
Synopsis:
A movement/dance piece, N.A. challenges our assumptions of the traditional' classification of Race, hoping to ignite some thought and discourse on the related themes of prejudice and the common inheritance of the human race.
Notes:
N.A. was co-written by Haresh Sharma And Gillian Stephens, And was presented in 1999 As part of BrainStorm (what's that in your head?) At the Singapore Art Museum.
1st Produced:
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOctober
Synopsis:
October takes a look at the lives of six elderly people, all living in a small neighbourhood that is undergoing upgrading. Into this scenario comes Caleb, a young and ambitious property agent looking for prospective sellers. As their paths cross, they each find new sources of strength for renewal, regeneration and rejuvenation.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1996
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOff Centre
Synopsis:
Off Centre traces the friendship of two ex-mental patients, Saloma and Vinod, and the problems and hurdles they have to overcome, including social stigmas, prejudices and personal conflicts. the play uses effective techniques of flashbacks; moving the character in and out of their schizophrenic and normal selves to elicit their rational and emotional experiences.
Notes:
Off Centre was first staged by the Necessary Stage in 1993, under the direction of Alvin Tan. the play was performed to public And critical Acclaim, And was restaged from 3 - 7 August 1994 At the Drama Centre. In the same year, An Abridged version of the play was staged At the Substation Guinness theatre in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Week, organised by Singapore Association for Mental Health And National Council of Social Services. Over the past 13 years, Off Centre has been made into An experimental feature film, published As part of A one-play series, Adapted into A television movie, given A full reading in the UK, taught At A University in Kuala Lumpur And translated And staged As Otak Tak Centre in Kuala Lumpur. In 2000, Ethos Books published the play As part of its one-play series. As one of the Necessary Stage's landmark plays, Off Centre is part of the Singaporean canon of literary works, And now An O And N level Literature text selected by the Ministry of Education. the play has been recently re-published by the Necessary Stage in 2006, including A Student's Edition with notes prepared by Dr Christine Hatton of the National Institute of Education, And A special introduction by Dr Kirpal Singh. Off Centre is being restaged by the Necessary Stage As part of Esplanade's the Studios season, from 9 - 20 May 2007.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 6 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOh Man!
Synopsis:
Macho, macho man! I gotta be. . . a macho man? OH MAN! What are men like in Singapore? Powerful? Confused? Boring? Sexy? the Necessary Stage grabs the issues by the balls, and probes deep into Singapore's MANHOOD. Are men in Singapore getting the short end of the stick? Are they losing their marbles? Are they still on top?
Notes:
Oh Man! was co-presented with South East Community Development Council.
1st Produced:
Marine Parade Community Building Theatrette, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 8 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOne Day at a Time
Synopsis:
One Day at a Time is about Systemic Lupus Erythematous and the ordinary and extraordinary lives of the people who struggle, work, play and simply live with it from day to day.
Notes:
One Day At A Time was co-presented with the Lupus Association.
1st Produced:
Various Regional Libraries, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOne Hundred Years in Waiting
Synopsis:
It is seven days after Dr Sun Yat Sen's death. His second wife Chen Cui Fen sits, waiting for his return'. She clings on to a watch which he left to her in his will. She soon realises that time is not what it seems to be, that an image can be an imitation. What happens when a woman loves too much? What happens when a man is too great? What happens beyond revolution?
Notes:
One Hundred Years in Waiting was co-written by Haresh Sharma And the late Kuo Pao Kun, And was presented As A collaboration between the Necessary Stage And the theatre Practice. the production was A commission by the Singapore Arts Festival 2001.
1st Produced:
Victoria Theatre, Singapore
2001
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 3 Other: 11 ensemble
Further Reference:
-
Top of PagePast Caring
Synopsis:
Inspired by the title of a poem by Australian writer Henry Lawson, Past Caring is an inter-disciplinary theatrical collaboration involving artists from Singapore and Australia. Urgent issues of adoption, displacement, family, land and journey will be weaved together into a complex and contemporary presentation of text, music, multimedia and movement. In a year-long process, the project involved artists making field trips, conducting interviews and creating and presenting nascent works in Singapore and Melbourne.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage
2009
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PagePillars
Synopsis:
An exploration of Malays and Chinese in Singapore past and present, this play uses music, movement, humour and strong visuals to weave yesterday's folklore and fables with today's images and metaphors. Sang Nila Utama has a vision for tomorrow. People run amok. SitiMat tells the story of the nangka. Three sisters try to resist rape. Father knows best. Virgins bathe at the well.
Notes:
Pillars was co-presented with Teater Kami As part of 1997 Festival of Asian Performing Arts.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 6 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PagePioneer (Girls) Generation
Synopsis:
A group of sassy seniors are living in luxury at Singapore's most upscale retirement home. Strong, confident and fiercely independent, they have an opinion about everything, and are not afraid to voice their thoughts. When trouble starts brewing at the home, their friendship is tested. Can they work together? Will they remain together? Should they form a K-Pop group? Pioneer (Girls) Generation is a no-holds-barred comedy with sharp and critical observations about ageing and everything else in Singapore. If you thought you knew all about growing old in Singapore, think again.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore
2015
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PagePoor Thing
Synopsis:
Another day in Singapore. Another minor road accident. Another incident of road rage? Typical Singaporeans. Poor Thing, The Necessary Stage's latest production by Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma, grapples with the issue of road rage. A unique production involving social media interaction, Poor Thing will invite audiences to watch a video clip of an accident before they enter the theatre to catch the 'live' action on stage. During the performance, more clips will be posted online which audiences can view and comment on. Poor Thing challenges you to explore what drives road rage in Singapore.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box
2014
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageProject, The
Synopsis:
Ryan, Farah and Wee Kiat are best friends in school. When the principal assigns them a special project to explore and research Singapore's maritime industry, they take it in their stride. However, they later discover they have to make a presentation to the whole school. Can they rise up to the challenge? Will their friendship be tested by The Project? Join these friends as they go on a fun and crazy adventure - unearthing secrets of Singapore's maritime past; going behind the scenes to explore world trade, meeting seafarers and storytellers... Presented by The Necessary Stage and commissioned by Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), The Project is an entertaining and educational play that will bring audiences on an unforgettable journey.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Various secondary schools
2013
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRe:Union
Synopsis:
When should you stay in a partnership and when should you walk away? When is compromise just another word for humiliation? Or are some partnerships worth the struggle? After all, whether it's family, friend or lover, it all needs work. . .
Notes:
Written by Selma Dimitrijevic, Nicola McCartney, Linda McLean And Haresh Sharma. To celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Act of Union between Scotland And England And the upcoming Scottish Elections, 7:84 has commissioned four writers - Nicola McCartney, Haresh Sharma, Selma Dimitrijevic & Linda McLean - to examine the theme of Separation And Reconciliation. they will use four momentous historical events As A backdrop: Ireland/England 1921; India/Pakistan 1947; Croatia/Serbia 1991; Scotland/England 2007.
1st Produced:
Organisations:
7:84 Theatre Company
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRevelations
Synopsis:
Revelations is a tapestry of stories, images, movement and soundscape. A man arrives home after 9 years. A married woman falls in love with a young girl. A brother asks, "Where is my husband? Someone gets married. Someone becomes a man. Someone says, "Satyam. Shivam. Sundaram. With a script partly inspired by Hindu and Buddhist legends, this multilingual, multisensory production builds an overarching theme of hope and salvation in seeming chaos.
Notes:
Revelations was commissioned for Singapore Arts Festival 2003 And was co-written by Haresh Sharma And Chong Tze Chien.
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRigor Mortis
Synopsis:
Rigor Mortis deals with the lives of three people sharing an apartment. Alex invites his girlfriend Ashanti to move in with him and his best friend Francis, hoping that everyone will get along, that everything will be fine.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1989
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRosnah
Synopsis:
Rosnah is the story of one young woman's journey when she leaves home for the first time to study in London. the play crosses boundaries between cultures, traditions and trends.
Notes:
Rosnah was first presented in 1995 At the Tampines Regional Library Gallery. It was later restaged in 1996 at The Substation Guinness Theatre, and in 2006 as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2006: Art And Healing. Rosnah also traveled to Australia in July 1997 for performances at the Old Market theatre, Melbourne. In 2016, as a commission of Esplanade's Pesta Raya festival, Rosnah was translated and performed in Malay featuring Siti Khalijah Zainal. The script of Rosnah was also published as part of This Chord And Others by Minerva Press in 1999, as well as in the collection Shorts 1 published by The Necessary Stage in 2010.
1st Produced:
Tampines Regional Library Gallery, Singapore
1995
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
2010
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSea
Synopsis:
Sea is about two sisters on a boat trip. Trying to come to terms with an illness, they journey into different stories - of adventures, of humour, of horror.
Notes:
Sea was presented As part of the doublebill Moving Home Stories Along with Land, Also written by Haresh Sharma.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSeparation 40
Synopsis:
In the year of the 40th anniversary of Singapore's separation from Malaysia, Singapore's the Necessary Stage and Malaysia's Dramalab will come together to examine the relationship between the two countries over the past four decades. Playwrights Haresh Sharma and Jit Murad and Directors Alvin Tan and Zahim Albakri, incorporating historical fact and personal anecdote, will explore characters living under respective changing political, economic, social and cultural systems. the collaboration will produce a piece of theatre that explores intercultural dialogue between two countries that were once one entity. Examining themes of globalisation, migration and national and cultural identities in both historical and contemporary contexts, Separation Forty asks: What does it mean to be territorial?
Notes:
Separation 40 was A collaboration between Singapore theatre company the Necessary Stage And Dramalab from Kuala Lumpur. Haresh worked with Malaysian playwright Jit Murad for the production.
1st Produced:
Esplanade Theatre Studio, Singapore
2005
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage (Singapore) & Dramalab (Kuala Lumpur)
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSingapore
Synopsis:
Singapore looks at how a country comes into being. "Singapura", "Temasek". . . how important is a name? TNS examines present-day Singapore by bringing to life a host of historical characters in real and imagined situations, juxtaposed with contemporary characters. Such a combination creates a fertile environment for the imagination- theatre that makes possible the impossible. The narrative probes deeply into the history of a country, and along the way, it lays bare the psyche of the people who call it home. This show is an exciting mix of contradictions: seriously funny, bluntly cutting, and deceitfully truthful. Watch it, and see if you can find a bit of yourself in SINGAPORE.
Notes:
A commission of the Singapore Arts Festival 2011. Restaged as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2012: Art & Faith.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage
2011
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSofaman
Synopsis:
A Singaporean woman and a Russian man fall in love. Where do they settle down? Two lonely women form a deep bond. What happens when tragedy strikes? A dying man and his confidant exchange stories of love and sacrifice. What is it like to be caught in a rut when the world around you is moving at such high speed? Poignant, humorous and provocative, Sofaman celebrates the humanity of difference. A ground-breaking intercultural and multilingual collaboration incorporating soundscape and multimedia.
Notes:
Presented at Khabarovsk National Theatre in 2010.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage
2009
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageStaying Alive!
Synopsis:
A family that plays together, stays together. But what if this family has no time to play? What if this family is plagued by problems - a Father who has recently been retrenched and has difficulty finding a new job; a daughter stressed out by school and relationships; a son who has no time to enjoy his youth; and a mother trying desperately to hold the family together. A family that plays together, stays together. This family is not only trying to stay together; this family is fighting to stay alive.
Notes:
Staying Alive! Was presented by Samaritans of Singapore for Suicide Prevention Week 2003. It was written And directed by Haresh Sharma.
1st Produced:
Marine Parade Community Building Theatrette, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageStaying Out Late
Synopsis:
Kheng wants to go for a concert with her classmate Michael but fears that her mother will not allow her to stay out late. Under pressure, Kheng relents and Michael buys the tickets. When Kheng asks her mother, she is proven right as the latter disapproves of Michael and the expensive ticket price. Can Kheng negotiate with her mother?
Notes:
Staying Out Late was presented As part of theatre-in-Education in secondary schools Around Singapore. It is part of A series entitled the SINGAPOREAN Teenager, which Also included Expectations/Pressure And Lack of Communication written by Haresh Sharma. Staying Out Late was later Adapted As Let Me Go! by Haresh Sharma in 2003.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageStill Building
Synopsis:
Still Building is about people trapped by family, by friends, by buildings and by themselves, and their attempts to break free.
Notes:
Still Building was first staged As part of theatre Carnival on the Hill in April 1992, And was directed then by Josephine Peter And Alvin Tan. It was later restaged in 1993 At the Substation Guinness theatre, directed by Alvin Tan. It will be restaged As part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2008: Art And History. Still Building has Also traveled to Egypt for the Cairo International Experimental theatre Festival from 1-10 September 1992, Mayfest Glasgow from 29 April - 4 May 1994 (touring various Venues in Scotland), And Albany theatre in London from 6 - 8- May 1994.
1st Produced:
Theatreworks Black Box, Singapore
1992
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSuite Hearts
Synopsis:
Based on Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, this fast-paced comedy looks into the lives of three couples and their escapades in a hotel.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Atrium Ballroom, Westin Hotel, Singapore
1996
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSuperfriends at the Hall of Justice
Synopsis:
Superfriends at the Hall of Justice explores how a basic human function, such as communication, is problematised. Solipsism and narcissism replaces the humility to learn and the process of self-discovery. As the desire for stability and self-definition becomes the premise for existence, truth is no longer an important journey. Powerful people retain their status by defining others according to their own perspectives. Others cannot co-exist, let alone be recognised on their own independent terms.
Notes:
Superfriends At the Hall of Justice was presented As part of Singapore Festival of Arts 1998.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1998
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSurvivor Singapore
Synopsis:
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 Survivor Singapore. But. . . have they gone too far to prove a point? A must-see for every teenager, Survivor Singapore written by Haresh Sharma and directed by Natalie Hennedige, touches on issues such as identity and community, and the youthful passion to fight for what you believe in. Entertaining and thought-provoking.
Notes:
Survivor Singapore premiered At the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2007: Art And Disability in January 2007.
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
2007
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage and CAKE theatrical Productions
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSweet Dreams
Synopsis:
Lisa is a young girl who loves going to school and spending time with her friends. However, she has a secret which she keeps from her friends and her teacher. Lisa is being abused at home. A friendly wizard learns of Lisa's problems at home and tries to help her. The wizard empowers Lisa and tells her to speak up, to 'let someone know'. Lisa feels better and eventually talks to her teacher. By coming forward, Lisa managed to help herself and her family. She can finally be happy again, to sleep peacefully and have sweet dreams. Presented by The Necessary Stage and commissioned by the The National Family Violence Networking System (NFVNS), Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), this educational touring skit for primary schools nationwide aims to educate children on the issues of abuse and how they can protect themselves.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Various secondary schools
2011
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageTalk
Synopsis:
Talk is a play about a talk show that deals with all sorts of problems we face today; for example, misconceptions about love, women, family and the good life. the 2000 staging took a different slant where the narrative was less clear and less coherent.
Notes:
Talk was presented As part of A doublebill Alongside Logos written by Andrew Koh. It was later presented As part of the Shell Friday Lunchtime Cultural Programme At Shell theatrette on 1 July 1994. Talk was reworked And restaged As part of 3some, A triplebill, from 4 - 21 May 2000 At the Necessary Stage Black Box. the play was presented At the Macau Fringe Festival As A doublebill with Talk from 27 - 29 October 2000.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1994
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageTeenage Textbook, The
Synopsis:
Adapted from Adrian Tan's novel the Teenage Textbook, this play brings the audience on a journey through some of life's greatest moments during puberty and adolescence.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
1997
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Pagethere is No New Thing Under the Sun
Synopsis:
the grandmother of a soap opera star is dead. Police suspect foul play. the media start hounding her. When will it end?
Notes:
there is No New Thing Under the Sun was co-presented with the Strathclyde Arts Centre for Mayfest in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1995. It was published As part of This Chord And Others by Minerva Press in 1999.
1st Produced:
Strathclyde Arts Centre, Scotland, Uk
1995
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageThis Chord and Others
Synopsis:
Dev, Gerald and Thomas are three good friends working together and enjoying the time they spend with each other. However, not everything is as neat as it appears. All three have problems with their race, religion or background. they discover things about their friendship they never knew existed until a promotion and a talentime come between them.
Notes:
This Chord And Others was first staged in 1991 At the Drama Centre.
1st Produced:
The Drama Centre, Singapore
1991
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageThose Who Can't, Teach
Synopsis:
Set in a secondary school, Those Who Can't, Teach focuses on Mrs Phua Su-Lin, a teacher and single mother trying her best to manage both roles. Faced with constant and rapid changes in her life, she finds increasing difficulty coping with her two major roles. Further complications arise when there is news that her school is moving to another district. Changes take place everywhere but what happens to those who are unable to adapt?
Notes:
Those Who Can't, Teach was subsequently commissioned by the Singapore Arts Festival in 2010. It was reworked and restaged at Drama Centre Theatre in June that year. In 2017, as part of The Necessary Stage's 30th anniversary, the play was restaged at Drama Centre Theatre as well. The script of Those Who Can't, Teach was published by Epigram Books in May 2010.
1st Produced:
The Substation Guinness Theatre, Singapore
1990
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
Epigram Books (1 May 2010)
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageThree Years in the Life and Death of Land
Synopsis:
Three Years in the Life and Death of Land is about the Lims, the Mulchands, a ghost, a cat and three mosquitoes - one big family, trying hard to be happy.
Notes:
Three Year in the Life And Death of Land was first staged in An Abridged version on 12 November 1993, As part of Shell Friday Lunchtime Cultural Programme At Shell theatrette. In June 1994, it was staged As part of the Singapore Festival of Arts At the Drama Centre.
1st Produced:
Xxx, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 9 Female: 10 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageTop of the World
Synopsis:
Devi, a salesgirl, lies about her work to impress her more successful friends. Trouble begins when the lies grow bigger, friendships are taken for granted and relationships become fragile. This production blends comedy and tragedy, songs and movement, anger and reconciliation.
Notes:
Top of the World was published As part of This Chord And Others by Minerva Press in 1999.
1st Produced:
Victoria Theatre, Singapore
1995
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 8 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Pageuntitled cow number one
Synopsis:
A performative meditation on bovine consciousness.
Notes:
untitled cow number one was presented As part of [names changed to protect the innocent] At the Necessary Stage Black Box in 2001. It was later presented Alongside untitled women number one As A doublebill called the Untitled Series At the 2002 Asia theatre Festival in BUSAn, Korea. the Untitled Series was later presented At the National theatre Festival in New Delhi, India in 2003, As well As the ESB Dublin Fringe Festival in Ireland in 2003.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box, Singapore
2001
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Pageuntitled man number one
Synopsis:
untitled man number one is a mono-performance unfolding at the intersection of technology, gender and sexuality.
Notes:
untitled man number one was conceived And directed by Jeff Chen, And written by Haresh Sharma. It was presented in 1999 As part of BrainStorm (what's that in your head?) At the Singapore Art Museum.
1st Produced:
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
1999
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Pageuntitled women number one
Synopsis:
Two women, who are absolutely still throughout the play, talk about their relationships, their past and future. the text makes references to gender, tells stories about women and talks about sexuality, but the play ultimately transcends its very title in its portrayal of pain, death and interdependence.
Notes:
untitled women number one was presented As part of the triplebill 3some from 4 - 21 May 2000 At the Necessary Stage Black Box, Alongside Talk (also by Haresh Sharma) And Princess Diana is Dead (written by Chong Tze Chien). the play was presented At the Macau Fringe Festival As A doublebill with Talk from 27 - 29 October 2000. It was later presented Alongside untitled cow number one As A doublebill called the Untitled Series At the 2002 Asia theatre Festival in BUSAn, Korea. the Untitled Series was later presented At the National theatre Festival in New Delhi, India in 2003, As well As the ESB Dublin Fringe Festival in Ireland in 2003.
1st Produced:
The Necessary Stage Black Box, Singapore
2000
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageWaiting
Synopsis:
Waiting is about what happens when three lonesome waiters bond together as a family to combat cold soups and demanding Diners.
Notes:
Waiting was first staged on 3 July 1993 As part of the Shell Friday Lunchtime Cultural Programme At Shell theatrette. It was later staged At Tampines Regional Library theatrette from 10 - 17 December 1994. In 2001, Waiting was presented Alongside Late Nights (also by Haresh Sharma) As A doublebill entitled Family Affairs for FamFest 2001.
1st Produced:
Shell Theatrette, Singapore
1993
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageWalking Into Doors
Synopsis:
A no-punches-pulled, in-your-face expose of violence in the Singapore home that is fun to watch. Think of Chaplin's comedies: funny vignettes which drive home the message that being poor is painful.
Notes:
Walking Into Doors was presented in collaboration with the Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centres.
1st Produced:
Jubilee Hall, Singapore
1998
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageWhat About Me?
Synopsis:
What About Me? is about Kheng, who is torn between her responsibilities and her dreams. When she realizes she does not have the time or energy to follow her heart and join the Talent Time, because her school, her mother and her best friend are pulling her in different directions, Kheng realizes she wants to place her own needs above theirs for a change.
Notes:
What About Me? toured schools As part of the Necessary Stage's theatre-in-Education programme from January - November 2003.
1st Produced:
Various Secondary Schools, Junior College And Ites, And The Necessary Stage Black Box, Singapore
2003
Organisations:
the Necessary Stage
1st Published:
-
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageWhen the Bough Breaks
Synopsis:
Depression affects about one in 10 women during the childbearing period. The impact is not only on mother-and-child relationship. It extends to the rest of the family and can affect the development of the baby. Understanding the tumultuous journey of maternal depression helps families cope with this common situation. Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children Hospital's Mental Wellness Service has commissioned The Necessary Stage to create and present a public awareness play dealing with maternal depression in Singapore. When the Bough Breaks tells the story of a new mother, Susan, who struggles with Postpartum Depression, and her recovery journey. Susan's story is a composite story of numerous mothers who have suffered from postpartum depression and shared their experiences in the development of the script.
Notes:
The script of When the Bough Breaks was published by The Necessary Stage in a collection entitled Don't Forget to Remember Me.
1st Produced:
Kadang Kerbau Women's & Children's Hospital
2010
Organisations:
The Necessary Stage
1st Published:
2013
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of Page