The Necessary Stage (TNS) premieres a brand-new work on nationhood and belonging at a pivotal juncture in Singapore’s history come end October.
SG Insecure, a provocative investigation of Singapore’s past and present, is particularly apt as Singapore celebrates its 60th year of independence, amidst tumultuous times of social and global uncertainty.
Delving into stories of migrant workers through history who have and continue to contribute to nation-building, the 1954 Fajar Trial, and our country’s increasingly watchful surveillance systems, the work comprises a triptych of short plays written by Associate Artists A Yagnya, Deonn Yang and Sindhura Kalidas, interwoven with additional texts by Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma, to showcase a broader picture of our Little Red Dot.
Kickstarted by a singular writing prompt directed to the three playwrights—specifically how Singapore started and where we are headed towards Sharma, Director and Head Writer of SG Insecure, shared that the playwrights were given free reign over their scripts.
The results presented three distinctly different mini-plays brought together by a collective love and hope for Singapore’s future.
Kalidas’ piece delves into the theme of student activism and draws on the Fajar trials as a pivotal point of inspiration. It features cast members Shrey Bhargava, Munah Bagharib, Jamil Schulze, and Cheryl Ho as undergraduates fighting for student rights whilst navigating their own worries about the repercussions that follow.
Kalidas shares, “In view of recent events involving student activists, I feel it is important for us to acknowledge that dissent and dialogue (especially from young people) have always been a part of our history.”
Reflecting on her experience as an educator, she continues,
“I constantly ask myself what kind of future we are shaping if young people no longer feel like they can question or aspire beyond what currently exists?”
Yagnya’s work on the treatment of migrant workers, past and present, comes at a most timely point in our 60th year of nation-building.
With increasingly urgent voices by advocacy groups fighting to secure better transport measures, safety, welfare, and recognition for our migrant workers, it is undeniable that we have much to work on, and Yagnya’s play hopes to lend a voice to the matter.
Veteran television and film actor Sivakumar Palakrishnan takes on the roles of migrant workers through time, beginning as a rubber tapper in 1919 and ending as a modern-day worker caught in the crossfire and aftermath of the 2013 Little India Riot.
On that note, Yagnya ponders,
“I look at our post-independence treatment of migrant workers who leave their entire lives behind to come here and build our nation up. Our colonial masters left this land, but have they left our minds and mindsets?”
Yang, who dons dual hats of being Assistant Director as well as one of the playwrights, offers a work inspired by Singapore’s relationship with water and questions how our nation’s pursuit of security and control has shaped the way people live.
Featuring an affable trio comprising Jodi Chan, Moli Mohter, and Munah Bagharib, Yang’s play reaches into the societal gaps created by a booming metropolis that prioritises efficiency above all else.
The work follows the journey of two unlikely individuals—and a national icon—who find each other with a common hope for warmth, belonging, and friendship.
On the important questions she hopes to spark in the audience, Yang asks,
“In our relentless chase towards a man-made image of perfection, who gets left behind? Who gets forgotten? As we move forward, can we still make space for genuine human connection—both now and in the future?”
In the same vein, through SG Insecure, Dramaturg Melissa Lim encourages younger audiences unfamiliar with lesser-known episodes of Singapore’s history to interrogate more.
She elaborates, “There is good reason to probe deeper into these other forgotten or marginalised stories because they compel us to develop a more critical eye towards what we know about our country, why we celebrate a particular telling of our history, and how we can progress towards becoming a stronger, more confident Singapore that takes pride in being inclusive and empathetic of diverse perspectives.”
In true TNS fashion, audiences can expect drama, comedy, and a good balance of serious issues and local parody.
“SG Insecure is a show not likely to be endorsed by gov.sg, but that’s what the audience will like about it,” Sharma quips.
SG Insecure will run from Wednesday, 29 October – Saturday, 8 November 2025 at Practice Space, The Theatre Practice.
Tickets to the show will also be eligible for the SG Culture Pass, slated to be launched from 1 September 2025 for all Singaporeans aged 18 and above.
Tickets are now available for purchase at sg.bookmyshow.com.
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More from Wake Up Singapore:-
Haresh Sharma Awarded Honorary Doctor of Arts by Bath Spa University (UK)
‘To Be Seen’: Mental Health Film Festival Singapore Seeks Films That Turn Struggles Into Stories
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