We’ve been a little quieter than usual this year. Beyond our activities on Zoom, we definitely miss the buzz of artists working in and around 42 Waterloo Street. But in the meantime, we’ve been working on plans for the end of this year and beyond, which we presented on Zoom on 9 Nov 2020 to our community and friends. Here is a summary of the points covered:
1. SPACE
- We officially returned 42 Waterloo Street to the National Arts Council (NAC) on 1 May 2020.
- Renovations by NAC are set to commence in Nov 2020 (tbc), and slated for completion sometime in Q2 2021.
- We look set to return to 42 Waterloo Street in Apr 2021, based on the Sep update from NAC, as co-tenants with the Arts Resource Hub (ARH).
- The Black Box, Rehearsal Studio, and half the Meeting Room will be retained as spaces for practise, discussion and performance.
- We’re hoping to redesign our office as a multi-use space for artists and artists-in-residence to (co-work) alongside us!
2. PROGRAMMES
We’ve redesigned our programme offerings to deal with the challenges of space, resources and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as meet the evolving needs of the theatre landscape. Our new plans, however, will still continue our mission of supporting the creation, documentation and promotion of Singapore theatre.
Broadly, our work henceforth can be divided into four broad categories with corresponding programme offerings: (1) Incubation & Creation – C42 Residencies; (2) Documentation of SG Theatre – C42 Archive; (3) Capability Development & Training – Courses & Workshops; and (4) Partnerships & Collaborations – Pilots & Experiments.
C42 Residencies
We will have six residencies to offer multiple developmental opportunities for artists to explore, engage and collaborate. The goal of the Residencies is to build a network of vibrant and collaborative practices.
To engage with practice, artists can look forward to:
1. Co-Lab Residency
For collaborative exploration of text-based practices.
2. New Scripts Residency
For artists to test new work and receive critical feedback.
3. Creation Residency
For development of original process-drive, text-based work.
To engage with history, artists can look forward to:
4. Archival Residency
For independent artists and groups to create an archive of their body of work.
5. The Vault
For artists to create contemporary responses to classic Singapore plays.
6. The Vault: Lite
For artists to experiment and ideate contemporary responses to classic Singapore plays. Open call for The Vault: Lite is happening now till 29 Nov 2020, more details here.
More details on the Residencies will be available soon.
C42 Archive
The C42 Archive is a consolidation and reorganisation of our documentation and archive material, and a diversification of our methods of documenting Singapore theatre.
The C42 Archive looks to be the definitive first-stop for comprehensive documentation, resources and networks on Singapore theatre. The goals of the Archive are to build a more comprehensive picture of Singapore theatre history, to improve access to C42 documentation, and to increase use of the Archive.
The C42 Archive will contain the following collections of documentation materials:
1. Theatre ephemera
2. Archival videos and photos
3. Publications
4. Reviews
5. Social history records
6. Articles and essays on Singapore theatre
Two new initiatives that C42 will undertake to document Singapore theatre will be:
7. Registry of Unpublished Scripts
An online registry for play scripts that have been written and performed at least once, but never published.
8. Archival Residency
<See previous section>
A public beta of the C42 Archive is slated for release at end Mar 2021.
Courses & Workshops
We’ve already run some courses and workshops on Zoom so far, and more are in the pipeline. The ones that have been completed or are still ongoing are:
- Pandemic Purpose (17 Jun – 12 Aug)
- Performance Arts & Augmented Reality (23 Jul – 4 Aug)
- An Introduction to the Dramaturg’s Work (1 Oct – 29 Oct)
- An Introduction to Performing Arts Management with SMU Arts & Culture Management Programme (Aug – Dec)
3. MORE
We’ve got some other events and projects to mention as well!
1. Proposals for Promoting Singapore Theatre (SMU-X Course)
- Public presentation by four groups on 11 Nov (Wed), 4.30pm – 8.00pm.
- Register at tinyurl.com/ACM201PITCH.
2. Year in Review 2020
- This will be our fourth time running this annual look-back at the year in Singapore theatre.
- 19-21 Dec, on Zoom. Further details to be announced soon.
- This edition will be in partnership with ArtsEquator, with support from Ke Weiliang.
3. Love Letters to 42
- This project to document the memories of artists who have worked at 42 Waterloo Street is spearheaded by Thong Pei Qin and Jean Tay.
- 42 Love Letters have been collected, which will be uploaded to a virtual repository in Mar/Apr 2021.
- Some letters will be performed in LATE-NIGHT TEXTING 2021, helmed by Secretive Thing & Thong Pei Qin, in collaboration with The Doodle People. Further details to be announced soon.
4. ADN Book Project
- The ADN Book Project is a publication to consolidate, review and respond to four years of Asian Dramaturgs’ Network proceedings.
- Co-Editors for the book are Charlene Rajendran and Peter Eckersall, assisted by Daniel Teo.
- The book will be published in 2022.
4. FUNDRAISER
Centre 42 needs to raise $42,000. The “Small Ways to 42K” campaign, running from now till end Mar 2021, aims to encourage small ways to help keep C42 going. Click here to find out how.
If you have any enquires about the Update, please write to info@centre42.sg.
