Seminar Ten: A People’s Theatre in the Park: Singapore’s National Theatre / Panggong Negara, 1963-1986

Come for a seminar and public forum where you can view an accurately finished and detailed virtual reconstruction of this demolished national cultural landmark of 1960s to 1980s Singapore, hear a range of recollections on the cultural activities once hosted there, and listen to the architect revisit the ideas and considerations behind its design.

Singapura Stories Seminar 10
Sat 13 Aug 2016
2-5pm
The Pod, National Library

Registration via GoLibrary

Singapore’s National Theatre, built in 1963 and demolished in 1986, was conceived as a ‘people’s theatre’. Its construction, begun in 1961, was partly financed through various public donation drives, including the Dollar-A-Brick campaign. Known in the National Language as Panggong Negara, it was dubbed a ‘theatre in the park’ and was sited at King George V Park at the foot of Fort Canning Hill.

Designed by architect Alfred Wong, winner of the 1998 Singapore Institute of Architects’ inaugural Gold Medal award, it was the winning entry in an invited, national architectural design competition held in 1960 – the first by the newly self-governing State of Singapore.

The Architectural Setting
The former national landmark featured a distinctive façade with five elongated diamonds which, along with the crescent-profile sculpture of the fountain constructed in 1966, represent the crescent and stars of the Singapore flag. An impressive cantilevered roof sheltered a performance stage and a large semi-outdoor seating area built into the slope of the hill with a capacity for 3,490. Conceived also as a people’s theatre, the surrounding slopes were intended to accommodate thousands more as spectators.

Dr Imran bin Tajudeen, and architecture and urban historian and Assistant Professor at the Dept of Architecture, NUS, will open the event by providing the context of the design of a ‘people’s theatre in the park’, and the cultural mission behind its conception.

A highlight of the Seminar is a faithful virtual replica of the theatre by two architecture graduates Chua Si Yang and Shi Yanjie of U.D.L.R. Studios, who have paid very close attention to accuracy and spatial realism in creating the immersive VR environment in close consultation with Alfred Wong, the architect, who is also on hand to explain the design during the Forum.

Seats, stage and cantilevered roof of Singapore’s former National Theatre. Image courtesy of Shi Yan Jie and Chua Si Yang of U.D.L.R. Studio, 2016.

A Cultural Venue
Between its opening in 1963 to its closure in 1984, the theatre fulfilled its cultural mission of bringing the arts to the people – it hosted numerous events ranging from the inaugural Southeast Asian Cultural Festival at its opening to affordable runs by renowned international ballet and theatre companies, Singapore dance groups such as the National Dance Company, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy, Sriwana, musical shows by luminaries such as Teresa Teng and S.P. Balasubramaniam, concerts by foreign and local bands, artistes and troupes such as Kassim Selamat and the Swallows, the Flybaits, and Sweet Charity, to convocations, Labour Day rallies, and National Day rallies.

During the Forum, the architect of the National Theatre, Alfred Wong, will be joined by Mrs Santha Bhaskar, Mr Richard Tan, and Mdm Som Said, who have all performed at the venue; as well as Dr Lai Chee Kien, who is behind the National Theatre façade replica installation at Singapore’s Biennale 2013 and is editor of Alfred Wong’s recently launched autobiography. The Forum will be moderated by Richard Ho, renowned award-winning architect and Professor in Practice in NUS Dept of Architecture; as well as Dr Imran.

PROGRAMME

I. SEMINAR: The National Theatre Revisited

2:00-2:20 pm
Welcome and Introduction 
‘Theatre in the Park’ and a ‘People’s Theatre’: The National Theatre and its contexts, 1959-1986
Dr Imran bin Tajudeen

2:20-2:40 pm
Virtual Reconstruction of the National Theatre by U.D.L.R. Studios
Shi Yanjie and Chua Si Yang, U.D.L.R. Studios

Special Guest:
– Mr Alfred Wong, Architect of the former National Theatre
Participants:
– Adjunct A/P Dr Lai Chee Kien, Architecture and Sustainable Design Pillar, SUTD
– Mr Richard Tan, dancer & choreographer (now Artistic Director, GenerAsia Ltd / The Peranakan Arts Festival)
– Mdm Som Said, dancer, National Dance Co. & choreographer, Sriwana (founder, Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd)
– Mrs Santha Bhaskar, dancer & choreographer (now Artistic Director and Chef Choreographer, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy)

Moderators:

Prof Richard Ho, Architect and Professor in Practice, Dept of Architecture, NUS;

Asst Prof Dr Imran bin Tajudeen, Dept of Architecture, NUS

4:00-4:20pm

This event is brought to you by Singapura Stories.

Register for this Seminar and Public Forum via GoLibrary here!

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