Founded in 1993, Singapore Theatre Company(1) is one of the leading English language theatre producers and presenters in Asia. In addition to its repertoire of original musicals like Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress, the company has produced a number of critically acclaimed plays that include ART, The Pillowman and God of Carnage.
SRT's mission is to enrich, engage and entertain audiences by staging theatrical productions and learning programmes of the highest calibre, collaborating with the best talent in the world. SRT’s vision is to inspire, engage and entertain audiences of all ages.
SINGAPORE – When it comes to staging blockbusters from the West End and Broadway, the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) is in a class of its own. It is, after all, the company which coaxed stars such as Lea Salonga and Ian McKellen to perform in Singapore. SRT produces the very successful Shakespeare in the Park season and is also one of the biggest producers of children’s theatre in Southeast Asia with shows like The Cat in the Hat, The Ugly Duckling and The Three Little Pigs.
SRT, which marks its 30th anniversary in 2023, was the first theatre company to stage Broadway shows here. Just five years after the company was founded by the late American director Tony Petito in 1993, it was nominated for three Tony awards as associate producer of playwright David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child.
The company’s growth, and the challenges it faces, has mirrored the maturing professionalism and international flavour of Singapore’s theatre scene, which has seen companies such as Drama Box and Toy Factory Productions also crossing the three-decade milestone in recent years.
SRT’s international collaborations include Royal Shakespeare Company’s King Lear and The Seagull starring Sir Ian McKellen, Oscar-winning Sam Mendes The Bridge Project (2009-2011) as well as 3 Titans of Theatre – a season of works directed by Simon McBurney, Yukio Ninagawa and Peter Brook. SRT co-commissioned Peter Brook’s Battlefield in 2015.
SRT is committed to making theatre accessible to all and has a range of educational programmes for children and adults. The Little Company, which is part of SRT, produces shows for children, including The Cat in the Hat and The Ugly Duckling. The Centre for Creative Learning offers workshops and courses for adults, while the Inclusive Young Company provides opportunities for young people with disabilities to participate in theatre.
(1) The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) change the name into officially the Singapore Theatre Company (STC). The name change comes on the heels of the company celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023.
Further Reading
30 years of Singapore Repertory Theatre: Ready to ride the global Asian wave