In 1965, Kuo Pao Kun and Goh Lay Kuan returned from Melbourne to a newly-independent Singapore and opened the Singapore Performing Arts School.
It still exists, half a century later, now as The Theatre Practice, a stalwart and driving force in the local theatre scene for bilingualism, multiculturalism and arts education, as its founders once envisioned. In its 50-year history, The Theatre Practice was also fertile ground from which many other arts institutions developed.
Trace how The Theatre Practice has grown, evolved, and spawned other arts establishments in this infographic below.
“Kuo was a natural institution builder able to harness the energy of not only theatre practitioners but also visual artists involved with newer arts practices such as performance art…and thereby helped pioneer a multidisciplinary contemporary art scene that vigorously explored local identity issues.”Source: The Asian Modern: Culture, Capitalist Development, Singapore by C. J. W.-L. Wee (p.91).
Sources:
- Images at the Margins: A collection of Kuo Pao Kun’s Plays. (2000). Singapore: Times Media.
- Tribute.sg – Kuo Pao Kun
- The Theatre Practice – Milestones
- The Substation – History
- The Finger Players
- Intercultural Theatre Institute
By Daniel Teo
Published on 9 October 2015
The Vault: Big Bird and the Cat revisits Kuo Pao Kun’s plays in Margaret Chan’s exploration into the metaphors of Big Bird and the Cat, on 12 October 2015, 8pm at Centre 42 Black Box. Admission is free. Find out more here.
