https://2026.singaporefringe.com Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 03:56:19 +0000 https://2026.singaporefringe.com en https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Landing-Initial Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:48:53 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Landing-Initial https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Fringe-Foreword Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:48:53 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Fringe-Foreword window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); ENGLISH | PLAIN ENGLISH Fringe Foreword Aisha Thomas is an author and educator. She says that until everyone feels included, people will always wonder if they belong. Around the world, many people are pushing back against efforts to make sure everyone is treated fairly and included. Some leaders use strong words against these efforts. Even big companies and schools are less focused on being diverse now. Will this make it harder for people who are often ignored to be seen? The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) conducted a survey recently. People say they trust others from different races and religions more. Yet there is more unfair treatment happening. Another study by the International Journal of Sociology has the same results. They noted that Singapore media often shows ethnic minorities in negative ways. This can enforce the unfair views and treatment of others. Another IPS study showed that people prefer to interact with people of certain disabilities only. They tend to be OK with those with physical and sensory disabilities. But they are not comfortable with persons with cerebral palsy, or those with learning disabilities. Given these changes, we need to talk about what representation really means and why it matters. It is needed to build the type of society Prime Minister Lawrence Wong wants to achieve. It is a society where people look after each other, rather than putting your needs first. Bernice King is a lawyer and minister. She is also the daughter of Martin Luther King. She said that those who think representation doesn’t matter usually already see themselves represented. What does representation mean? It is not just about showing minorities with the majority. Being seen does not equal being heard. That is too simplified. It’s also about making sure their feelings and ideas are valued equally. When trying to give more visibility to minority groups, we have to ask: who should speak for them? Should only those from those groups speak? How can people who are not part of these groups be good allies? Audre Lorde has said that you do not have to be someone to help them fight for their rights. People who are different can still fight for the same cause. Real representation is a process. We want to build strong communities. It is one where everyone feels valued. When we listen to different voices, we learn and grow together. We can challenge our own negative ideas about others. Understanding each other and working together will create a friendly space where everyone feels valued. For Fringe 2026, we want you to think about representation. How can we make our society kinder and include more people? This Fringe is different from past Fringes as it is now supported by our community. We have works that will make you think and discuss the theme of representation. We have four exciting theatre shows: 1. A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical is a musical by Woody Avenue (Australia, Singapore and United Kingdom). It looks at love in the LGBTQIA+ community. 2. ART:DIS and The Necessary Stage’s present Invisible (Singapore). It explores disabilities that we don’t see. 3. Sofie Buligis (Singapore) is a rising theatre maker. She will present a work at the Fringe for the first time. Celup is her story about her mixed ethnic background, and whether she is “Malay enough”. 4. Taiwanese artist Wang Ping-Hsiang from k*hole karaoke (Taiwan &amp; Germany) will share his personal story. It is about his experience as a queer military reservist who rejects violence. However, he knows that he may be called to fight in a war anytime. Fringe 2026 will also host two panel discussions about representation—and the lack of it. 1. Is This Too Loud? Representation in Theatre. Our Fringe artists will share the importance of representation and challenges they face. 2. No Space for Art: Is the Fringe Dead? Many private art spaces have closed recently. What will happen to future creative work that does not make a lot of money? Join us in January 2026 as we explore the many sides of representation and its importance today. There are many things to discuss. We hope to inspire you to think differently, confront prejudice, and support those whose voices have been ignored for too long. Together, we can create a society that values equality, fairness, and care for others. Fringe Foreword Until society represents everyone, the question will always be “Where do I belong? Do I belong?” — Aisha Thomas, author and educator Across the world, we have been witnessing a strident backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Fuelled by the rise of populism and politicians capitalising on its rhetoric, the culture war against “wokeness” has also expanded to the corporate boardrooms and educational institutions. A global fast-food giant has opted to “retir[e] setting aspirational representation goals”. Will this retaliation against DEI threaten the representation of marginalised voices? Here in Singapore, a recent survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) reported that racial and religious stereotyping and prejudice has seen a sobering increase, despite Singapore residents’ indicating that they have more trust amongst different races and religions. A separate paper published by the International Journal of Sociology further reiterated this trend, specifically in how Singapore’s media has presented ethnic minorities in stereotypical ways, which may lead to the reinforcement of bias and social marginalisation. Similarly, a 2024 study by IPS concluded that there is a prevalence of stigma hierarchy towards people with disabilities. Singapore residents demonstrated a preference for interaction with persons with physical and sensory disabilities but are not as comfortable to do so with persons with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities and learning disabilities. Given these global and local shifts, it is timely for the Fringe to throw the spotlight on representation: what it means and entails, and why it is a crucial linchpin if we truly are to forge ahead to build—in the words of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong—a “we-first” society. If you don’t think representation matters, you’re probably well represented.— Bernice King, lawyer, minister and daughter of Martin Luther King What constitutes representation? Is it simply about visibility of minorities, so that we can assert that they are given space alongside the majority? Being seen does not necessarily equate with feeling heard and validated. Representation means going beyond performative tokenism and superficiality. It must assert that the lived experiences, perspectives, and contributions of sidelined or marginalised communities are as equally valued as those who are already well represented. Yet in our efforts to amplify minority voices, we are confronted with this crucial question: who should be provided the platform to represent them? Must marginalised, oppressed and underrepresented communities be the only ones who can speak up for themselves? How can we demonstrate effective, emphatic allyship and advocacy if we are not part of these groups? You do not have to be me in order for us to fight alongside each other. I do not have to be you to recognise that our wars are the same.—&nbsp;Audre Lorde, writer, professor and civil rights activist Authentic representation needs to be recognised as an ongoing process and not an endpoint. As we endeavour to build more resilient societies in these fraught times, representation matters because it acknowledges that there is always room for growth in our communities to be more fair, equitable and inclusive. By amplifying underrepresented voices, we boost our collective strength through drawing and learning from myriad lived experiences, histories and insights. Some of these voices may compel us to challenge the status quo or our long-held beliefs and ideas. But it is through radical listening, collaboration and understanding that we can courageously forge ahead to create a positive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and cherished. For Fringe 2026, we invite you to grapple with the complexities of representation and how we can further entrench inclusivity and compassion in our society. As we re-present the Fringe—this time as a wholly ground-up initiative crowdfunded by our enthusiastic supporters—we seek to invigorate our programming, not only through thought-provoking local and international productions, but also by way of engaging in dialogue with fellow arts practitioners and audiences centred on the theme Represent. We have four exciting works in theatres delving into different aspects of representation—from love within the LGBTQIA+ community in the riveting A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical by Woody Avenue (Australia, Singapore and United Kingdom), to hidden disabilities in our midst in ART:DIS and The Necessary Stage’s Invisible (Singapore). Up-and-coming theatre-maker Sofie Buligis (Singapore) makes her debut at the Fringe in Celup, which unpicks the multiplicity of her ethnic background as she ponders whether she is “Malay enough”. On the international front, we have Taiwanese theatre-maker Wang Ping-Hsiang presenting a monologue Retina Manoeuvre under the moniker of his arts collective k*hole karaoke (Taiwan &amp; Germany). Through an excavation of his personal archives—from photos and documents to his music playlists declaring his adoration of an Alicia Keyes song—Wang takes us on a compelling journey of a queer military reservist trapped by his disavowal of violence, whilst situated in a tenuous geopolitical situation where war is undoubtedly a possibility in the near future. Fringe 2026 is also delighted to present two panel discussions as part of our line-up, focused on different aspects of representation—and the lack of it. The first panel discussion Is This Too Loud? Representation in Theatre features our Fringe artists and their collective insights about the importance and challenges of representation from their personal and professional experiences. The second panel discussion, No Space for Art: Is the Fringe Dead? looks at the recent loss of several independent arts spaces and platforms and questions the future of innovative, experimental fringe art-making and support for edgy, intimate works that bucks the trend of commercial success. This January 2026, embark on a journey with us at Fringe 2026 as we dive into the multifarious aspects of representation and its importance in our world today. As we contend with its complexities, we hope to inspire you, our audience, to explore new perspectives, confront our assumptions and biases, and discover new ways to articulate our support for those who may not share our privileged spaces and voices, but have been suppressed or ignored for too long. Let us uplift one another, and in doing so, truly build towards the “we-first” society—one that espouses the values of equality, equity and compassion. Get Involved The Fringe Team&nbsp; PhotoS CREDITS 1. Retina Manoeuvre by Wang Ping-Hsiang (Taiwan &amp; Germany), Photographed by Juha Hanse2. A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical by Woody Avenue (Australia, Singapore and United Kingdom), Photographed by Crispian Chan3. Celup by Sofie Buligis (Singapore), Photographed by Angela Kong (@ak_artventures) Image Description: 1. A production photo of Retina Manoeuvre with a young East Asian man. He shouts triumphantly into a microphone held in his right hand, while his left hand raises a black computer keyboard in the air. He has light-tone skin and short dark straight hair. He is wearing black-framed spectacles and a red sweatshirt with blue jeans. 2. A publicity photo of A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical. Two young Asian women are hanging out in bed. They are dressed in colourful outfits, and the lavender background and pink bed with navy pillows add to the cheerful vibe. On the left is a woman lying on her front. She props herself up on her elbows on a pillow and pouts as she drapes a lilac blanket over her head. She has light-tone skin, dark hair and light makeup. She wears a bright pink shirt and pale blue jeans. On the right is a woman sitting in bed, partially leaning over the other woman and rolling her eyes. She has&nbsp; medium-tone skin, dark hair tied in two space buns, and bright blue eyeshadow and light pink lipstick. She wears a bright blue shirt with a white ringer tee underneath, and yellow pants. &nbsp; 3. A publicity photo of Celup with Sofie who has dropped her takeaway cup of milky tea. Sofie is a young Malay woman with dark hair in a pixie cut. She wears a red modern Kebaya-inspired top and brown pants, accessorised with a gold necklace and gold hoop earrings. She raises both hands in frustration while a flock of pigeons fly overhead.&nbsp; She is standing in a back alley. The sky is pale grey and the golden onion dome of a mosque gleams in the background. https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Festival-Info-CTA Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:48:54 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Festival-Info-CTA window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); See More Festival Information https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Menu Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:48:55 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Menu window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); ︎ Home︎ Festival Info︎ About the FringeFringe Foreword Kudos Events︎ A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical Celup Invisible Is This Too Loud? Representation in Theatre No Space for Art: Is the Fringe Dead? Retina Manoeuvre Book Now︎ Ticketing Information Visitor Information︎ Fringe Calendar Accessibility Fringe Maps Get Involved︎ Be a Donor Be a Sponsor Be a Volunteer Fringe 2027︎ Application Details Frequently Asked Questions Financial Responsibilities Contact Us︎ window.onload = setTimeout(function(){ document.getElementById('menuClose').focus(); }, 1000); function trapFocus(){ var menu = document.getElementById('menuContainer'); var focusableEls = menu.querySelectorAll('a[href]:not([disabled]), button:not([disabled]), textarea:not([disabled]), input[type="text"]:not([disabled]), input[type="radio"]:not([disabled]), input[type="checkbox"]:not([disabled]), select:not([disabled])'); var firstFocusableEl = focusableEls[0]; var lastFocusableEl = focusableEls[focusableEls.length - 1]; var KEYCODE_TAB = 9; menu.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) { var isTabPressed = (e.key === 'Tab' || e.keyCode === KEYCODE_TAB); if (!isTabPressed) { return; } if ( e.shiftKey ) /* shift + tab */ { if (document.activeElement === firstFocusableEl) { lastFocusableEl.focus(); e.preventDefault(); } } else /* tab */ { if (document.activeElement === lastFocusableEl) { firstFocusableEl.focus(); e.preventDefault(); } } }); } function focusMenuButton(){ document.getElementById('menuButton').focus(); } trapFocus(); https://2026.singaporefringe.com/About-Fringe Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:48:57 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/About-Fringe window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); ENGLISH | PLAIN ENGLISH About the Singapore Fringe Festival The Singapore Fringe Festival is an annual festival of live shows. The shows are by local and foreign artists. We choose the best modern works that deal with social issues. Our world is getting more connected, complex and opposing. We show thoughtful works to get people to discuss the issues in a civil and open way. We hope people will work together to solve these issues. This way, we can dream together and create a future that thinks about and includes more people. ︎Email info@singaporefringe.com ︎Phone (+65) 6440 8115 ︎Website singaporefringe.com Join our online discussions about Fringe 2025 with the hashtag #SgFringe. ︎ ︎ ︎ Fringe Team The Necessary Stage organises and curates the Singapore Fringe Festival. Its mission is to create bold and inventive Singapore theatre that touches the heart and mind. Melissa Lim Executive Producer Jezamine Tan Festival Manager The Backstage Affair Production CoordinatorsTBCTechnical &amp; Lighting Coordinator About the Necessary Stage The Necessary Stage (TNS) was started in 1987 by Artistic Director Alvin Tan. TNS is a non-profit theatre company with charity status. TNS’ aim is to create bold and inventive Singapore theatre that touches the heart and mind. TNS is supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period from 11 April 2023 to 31 March 2026. TNS also organises the Singapore Fringe Festival. TNS is the only arts company in Singapore led by two Cultural Medallion recipients. They are Artistic Director Alvin Tan and Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma. ︎Email admin@necessary.org ︎Phone (+65) 6440 8115 ︎Website necessary.orgtnsarchives.com ︎ ︎ ︎ Alvin Tan Artistic Director Haresh Sharma Resident Playwright Melissa Lim General Manager Jezamine Tan Festival Manager Natasha Fathin &amp; Nicole Lim Project Managers Choo Kok Cheng Accounts Assistant Two Point Pte Ltd Accountant Support Our Work We are asking for your support to fundraise for our future. Donations are tax deductible as per IRAS’ guidelines. To find out on how you can donate, please visit donate.necessary.org.The Necessary Stage has made every effort to ensure that the contents of this website are correct and up to date. We cannot be held responsible for any consequences from subsequent errors or omissions. About the Singapore Fringe FestivalThe Singapore Fringe Festival is an annual festival of live performances by Singaporean and international artists. The Fringe aims to bring the best of contemporary, cutting-edge and socially engaged works to the Singapore audience. In our increasingly connected, complex and often conflicted world, the Fringe seeks to present meaningful, socially engaged and provocative art to encourage civil and open dialogue and collaboration. Through our programming, we hope to collectively dream and create a more inclusive and compassionate future. ︎ Email info@singaporefringe.com ︎ Phone (65) 6440 8115 ︎ Website singaporefringe.com Join our online conversations about Fringe 2026 with the hashtag #SgFringe. ︎ ︎ ︎ Fringe Team True to the spirit of creating challenging, indigenous and innovative theatre that touches the heart and mind, the team from The Necessary Stage is the organiser and curator of the Singapore Fringe Festival. Melissa Lim Executive Producer Jezamine Tan Festival Manager The Backstage Affair Production CoordinatorsTai Zi FengTechnical &amp; Lighting Coordinator About the Necessary Stage Established in 1987 by Artistic Director Alvin Tan, The Necessary Stage (TNS) is a non-profit theatre company with charity status. TNS’ mission is to create challenging, indigenous and innovative theatre that touches the heart and mind. TNS is supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period from 11 April 2023 to 31 March 2026, and is also the organiser of the Singapore Fringe Festival. TNS also has the honour of being the only arts company in Singapore helmed by two Cultural Medallion recipients: Artistic Director Alvin Tan and Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma. ︎Email admin@necessary.org ︎Phone (65) 6440 8115 ︎Website necessary.orgtnsarchives.com ︎ ︎ ︎ Alvin Tan Artistic Director Haresh Sharma Resident Playwright Melissa Lim General Manager Jezamine Tan Festival Manager Natasha Fathin &amp; Nicole Lim Project Managers Choo Kok Cheng Accounts Assistant Two Point Pte Ltd Accountant Support Our Work We are appealing for your support to fundraise for our future. All donations will qualify for a tax deduction as stipulated by IRAS. To find out more on how you can contribute, please visit donate.necessary.org.The Necessary Stage has made every effort to ensure that the contents of this website are correct and up to date. We cannot be held responsible for any consequences from subsequent errors or omissions. Photo by ART:DIS Invisible by ART:DIS &amp; The Necessary Stage (Singapore) Image Description: A production photo of Invisible. The woman in the middle is a middle-aged Southeast Asian woman with light-tone skin. She is wearing a staff uniform of maroon long-sleeved shirt with a grey tudung. She shouts as two people trap her between two white wire mesh screens. On the right is a young South Asian woman with medium-tone skin and long dark hair tied in a ponytail. She is wearing a black t-shirt. The person on the right is hidden in the shadows and only their hands gripping the screen are visible. https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Kudos Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:49:02 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Kudos window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); Kudos Organised by <img width="1254" height="1254" width_o="1254" height_o="1254" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/44924124faebc62911f63813847d7a1fd06e5adf4eb69fe9b2b31ac15f2c76f3/TNS-logo.png" data-mid="238931590" border="0" data-scale="7" data-icon-mode alt="The Necessary Stage" data-caption="The Necessary Stage" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/44924124faebc62911f63813847d7a1fd06e5adf4eb69fe9b2b31ac15f2c76f3/TNS-logo.png" /> In Collaboration with <img width="2552" height="2746" width_o="2552" height_o="2746" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3723a79177e055827f6c90481cdbfacd492a06fa15cad97827a05cf8c02c1f4b/Esplanade-logo.png" data-mid="238931592" border="0" data-scale="6" data-icon-mode alt="Esplanade &ndash; Theatres on the Bay" data-caption="Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3723a79177e055827f6c90481cdbfacd492a06fa15cad97827a05cf8c02c1f4b/Esplanade-logo.png" /> Official Accessibility Partner <img width="412" height="81" width_o="412" height_o="81" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/914f23df6ba77d3f526c363e7569bdd775d78703e8fab2cc25a9cd70b85d056a/Asset-6.png" data-mid="238931617" border="0" data-scale="81" alt="Equal Dreams" data-caption="Equal Dreams" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/412/i/914f23df6ba77d3f526c363e7569bdd775d78703e8fab2cc25a9cd70b85d056a/Asset-6.png" /> Official Production Partner <img width="2070" height="2823" width_o="2070" height_o="2823" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e82ac0d03b201c9911ad9e7de536e34b75379a0869c64cd1a0459505a923691f/The-Backstage-Affair-logo.png" data-mid="238931597" border="0" data-scale="5" data-icon-mode alt="The Backstage Affair" data-caption="The Backstage Affair" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e82ac0d03b201c9911ad9e7de536e34b75379a0869c64cd1a0459505a923691f/The-Backstage-Affair-logo.png" /> Official Ticketing Agent <img width="3298" height="947" width_o="3298" height_o="947" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2497f070b14de5817d167ff89a783195190cf5b03c586682fe90f6298ab0d393/bookmyshow-logo.png" data-mid="238931598" border="0" data-scale="4" data-icon-mode alt="Book My Show" data-caption="Book My Show" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2497f070b14de5817d167ff89a783195190cf5b03c586682fe90f6298ab0d393/bookmyshow-logo.png" /> &nbsp; Supported By <img width="833" height="258" width_o="833" height_o="258" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0dcfda587605133c59b789b639304a9de5b882d3207873a6d9feca21562065df/Asset-1.png" data-mid="239769954" border="0" data-scale="31" alt="Binjai Tree" data-caption="Binjai Tree" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/833/i/0dcfda587605133c59b789b639304a9de5b882d3207873a6d9feca21562065df/Asset-1.png" />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img width="369" height="132" width_o="369" height_o="132" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2e492963cccd123b32aa31d793c4f8e92ecd524ea2c56795f0865f55ebfc98ae/Asset-1.png" data-mid="240271127" border="0" data-scale="27" alt="Hong Leong Foundation" data-caption="Hong Leong Foundation" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/369/i/2e492963cccd123b32aa31d793c4f8e92ecd524ea2c56795f0865f55ebfc98ae/Asset-1.png" />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img width="284" height="457" width_o="284" height_o="457" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4685e90287ff95c80ffef8727f6268dac892746c0639ffe5f4e1cf69bf891a6a/Geothe-Institut.png" data-mid="241622824" border="0" data-scale="10" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/284/i/4685e90287ff95c80ffef8727f6268dac892746c0639ffe5f4e1cf69bf891a6a/Geothe-Institut.png" /> Photo by CRISPIAN CHAN A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical by Woody Avenue (Australia, Singapore and United Kingdom) Image Description:&nbsp; A publicity photo of A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical. Three young Asian women are standing together, posing confidently. They are all dressed in colourful outfits that create a cheerful vibe. The woman on the left has light-tone skin, dark hair and smoky eye makeup. She wears an orange denim vest and dark blue denim jorts. She folds her arms and smiles at the camera. In the middle is a woman with medium-tone skin, dark hair in space buns, and bright blue eyeshadow and light pink lipstick. She wears a bright blue shirt and yellow pants. She grins as she raises her arms above her head to form a heart shape. On the right is a woman with light-tone skin, dark hair and light makeup. She wears a bright pink shirt with a fuschia top underneath, and pale blue jeans. She smiles and poses with her left thumb hooked into her jean pocket. https://2026.singaporefringe.com/A-Lesbian-Love-Story-The-Musical Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:49:11 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/A-Lesbian-Love-Story-The-Musical window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); <img width="8001" height="4501" width_o="8001" height_o="4501" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0267d58f14b60fce4ea520d60f2902e67974317ea05d4b8924b850d985bbc5be/Fringe26-Website-Images-07.jpg" data-mid="241126370" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0267d58f14b60fce4ea520d60f2902e67974317ea05d4b8924b850d985bbc5be/Fringe26-Website-Images-07.jpg" /> <img width="8000" height="4500" width_o="8000" height_o="4500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b04e9d24ae0be133a08719928d61be06e78aa54a3aad7378a1d5bcca287837ca/Fringe26-Website-Images-01.jpg" data-mid="241126364" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b04e9d24ae0be133a08719928d61be06e78aa54a3aad7378a1d5bcca287837ca/Fringe26-Website-Images-01.jpg" /> <img width="8001" height="4500" width_o="8001" height_o="4500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c829c77e299943b39d51f0a8059fe0c75de6441c6be8f5f0232fb2ec710ae612/Fringe26-Website-Images-04.jpg" data-mid="241126367" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c829c77e299943b39d51f0a8059fe0c75de6441c6be8f5f0232fb2ec710ae612/Fringe26-Website-Images-04.jpg" /> <img width="8001" height="4501" width_o="8001" height_o="4501" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c07a016cbd89cfde2d91125d206f09de98b1a87c313451a1a79e6f9b64ad7e31/Fringe26-Website-Images-08.jpg" data-mid="241126371" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c07a016cbd89cfde2d91125d206f09de98b1a87c313451a1a79e6f9b64ad7e31/Fringe26-Website-Images-08.jpg" /> <img width="8001" height="4501" width_o="8001" height_o="4501" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/054d7626685d793d70054f86125baede4e60d252ab1d477fba70ccce4b0644f8/Fringe26-Website-Images-06.jpg" data-mid="241126369" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/054d7626685d793d70054f86125baede4e60d252ab1d477fba70ccce4b0644f8/Fringe26-Website-Images-06.jpg" /> <img width="8000" height="4501" width_o="8000" height_o="4501" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/744df3b91b1acdf52caf8bd3db9a771ca707145b24df0d416a18529de61ebbf7/Fringe26-Website-Images-05.jpg" data-mid="241126368" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/744df3b91b1acdf52caf8bd3db9a771ca707145b24df0d416a18529de61ebbf7/Fringe26-Website-Images-05.jpg" /> <img width="8001" height="4500" width_o="8001" height_o="4500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/72c4577c64251f69099b3b3f6800d54da96a1de7179cd3dd1c23daeb3af0be28/Fringe26-Website-Images-03.jpg" data-mid="241126366" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/72c4577c64251f69099b3b3f6800d54da96a1de7179cd3dd1c23daeb3af0be28/Fringe26-Website-Images-03.jpg" /> <img width="8001" height="4500" width_o="8001" height_o="4500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b399de8620277db3e59984ac72108366b3672a837692406b9e821099f78fc72a/Fringe26-Website-Images-02.jpg" data-mid="241126365" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b399de8620277db3e59984ac72108366b3672a837692406b9e821099f78fc72a/Fringe26-Website-Images-02.jpg" /> Photos by CRISPIAN CHAN ENGLISH | PLAIN ENGLISH A LESBIAN LOVE STORY: THE MUSICAL Woody Avenue (Australia, Singapore &amp; United Kingdom) Fringe Commission • World Premiere BOOK NOW↗ Charlie is writing a musical. She's tired of how lesbian love stories always have sad endings. She wants to change this. Her musical will be the happiest, shiniest, and most magical love story. And the queerest. If only her real life would stop getting in the way of her great work. This musical is created by Rosemary McGowan and Kluane Saunders. They are from Woody Avenue. It is a multicultural, queer, female-led theatre company. The original music is composed by Henry Allen. The musical will be fierce, fun, and very queer. The actors are: Coco Wang Ling Melissa May Garcia Mitchell Fang Natalie Yeap The musical is a moving look at what a love story really is.After the 8pm show on 16 January 2026, there will be a talk with the artists. If you need speech to text interpretation for the talk, please email us at info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Artist Statement Do you want to see more lesbian characters onstage? We did too! Are you tired of your favourite lesbian characters being sidelined or dying of cancer, or heartbreak? Same! You don’t need to look anymore. We have created just the show for you! We got rid of the usual lesbian stories. We wrote a show that centres queer love. It gives us all the love story we should get! A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical is a fun, funny queer musical. It celebrates love and explores what love stories are through a queer lens. Can we have a love story with ourselves and others? The story is partly from real life events (but with more singing and dancing). Absolutely blown away by the brilliant [musical]. This is going to be a HUGE hit! —&nbsp;Audience member Sally on the London research and development showcase in August 2025 Charlie is on a mission to write a musical. She's sick of the lack of happy lesbian love stories and has decided she’s going to change this. Her musical will be the happiest, shiniest, most magical love story the world has ever seen. And the queerest! If only her real life would stop interfering with her masterpiece. Created by Rosie McGowan and Kluane Saunders from the multicultural, queer, female-led theatre company Woody Avenue, with original music composed by Henry Allen, get ready for a fierce, fun, and unapologetically queer musical! Starring Coco Wang Ling, Melissa May Garcia, Mitchell Fang, and Natalie Yeap, A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical takes a heartfelt look at what a love story really is. There will be a dialogue with the artists after the 8pm performance on 16 January 2026, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Artist Statement Desperately want to see more lesbian characters onstage? We did too! Are you tired of your favourite lesbian characters being sidelined, dying of cancer, or having their heart broken? Same! Look no further because we have created just the show for you! We ditched the usual lesbian tropes and wrote a show that centres queer love and gives us all the love story we deserve! A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical is a fun, funny queer musical that celebrates love and explores what love stories are through a queer lens—can we have a love story with ourselves and others? Inspired by real life events (but with more singing and dancing), we bring you A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical. Download artist biographies↗ Dates &amp; Duration15 – 16 January 2026, 8pm 17 January 2026, 3pm &amp; 8pm60 minutes with no intermission VenueEsplanade Theatre StudioTickets$38 *20% discount for students, NSF, senior citizens and PwD cardholders *10% discount for Esplanade&amp;Me membersEligible for SG Culture Pass credits! Use your $100 SG Culture Pass credits for ticket purchases. Visit sgculturepass.gov.sg for more information. RatingR18 (Homosexual Theme) Accessibility Features · &nbsp; Open captions in English for all performances · &nbsp; Relaxed performance on 17 January 2026, 3pm · &nbsp; Speech to text interpretation for post-show dialogue upon request ︎ rosiemcg.com ︎ kluanesaunders.com ︎ @LesbianLoveStoryMusical Share ︎&nbsp; https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Celup Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:06:57 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Celup window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); <img width="1921" height="1081" width_o="1921" height_o="1081" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/327217c24fce23711e75d48aa8eb86a6224b78af9c8864dc08b5f2f6bc0e042b/Celup-08.jpg" data-mid="239773923" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/327217c24fce23711e75d48aa8eb86a6224b78af9c8864dc08b5f2f6bc0e042b/Celup-08.jpg" /> <img width="1921" height="1081" width_o="1921" height_o="1081" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/41dcfbe03aa36754a8eef47a75780873dd36ea4c665dd9bb117cb634a776457e/Celup-07.jpg" data-mid="239773920" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/41dcfbe03aa36754a8eef47a75780873dd36ea4c665dd9bb117cb634a776457e/Celup-07.jpg" /> <img width="1921" height="1081" width_o="1921" height_o="1081" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e0558196eff7148a0a743a105f4f232c8ca29064b22ab9be9c4840087e20775c/Celup-06.jpg" data-mid="239773917" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e0558196eff7148a0a743a105f4f232c8ca29064b22ab9be9c4840087e20775c/Celup-06.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1081" width_o="1920" height_o="1081" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/92d7784e7fa51c2e515ad42bc7b4c5785ada1cfa2ae0969eab4abcd3e589f7b1/Celup-05.jpg" data-mid="239773913" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/92d7784e7fa51c2e515ad42bc7b4c5785ada1cfa2ae0969eab4abcd3e589f7b1/Celup-05.jpg" /> Photos by Angela Kong (@ak_artventures) ENGLISH | PLAIN ENGLISH CELUP Sofie Buligis (Singapore) Fringe Commission • World Premiere Book Now↗ Celup is a Malay girl’s thoughts on not feeling Malay enough. The only actor is Sofie Buligis. Sofie has to do tasks to help her feel “more Malay”. She will ask you, the audience, to help her. It will be a funny and sincere show. Sofie will reflect on things like: - her clumsy accent when she speaks Malay - how many Malays feel that they are not as good as others - that even though being Malay comes with certain challenges, she’s still proud to be Malay Celup is Sofie’s love letter to anyone who has ever struggled with a language that was meant to be their mother tongue. After the 8pm show on 23 January 2026, there will be a talk with the artists. If you need speech to text interpretation for the talk, please email us at info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Artist Statement I am a young Malay woman. The work explores my struggle with cultural identity in Singapore. I grew up in a mixed-race family. The label on my identity card is “Malay”. But I don’t agree with the cultural baggage tied to this label. It hides my mixed heritage. I am Javanese, Boyanese, and Pakistani. Our race is usually simplified in society. My work shows the layers and inner conflict many Malays face. I go beyond the usual talk of cultural pride. I confront shame, and the learned feelings of not being good enough. These affect how we see ourselves. Celup wants to heal us from these thoughts. I want a space to talk openly about identity and belonging. It deals with my past and is also a love letter to my community. It is messy, has many sides, and worthy of making sense of. —Sofie Buligis Hearing you made me feel seen and less alone —&nbsp;Audience response to an early iteration of Celup in March 2025 Celup is a Malay girl’s musings on not feeling Malay enough. In this interactive one-woman show, Sofie Buligis embarks on a quest towards becoming a little more Malay. With humour and heart, she reflects on her kekok accent, the cultural baggage that comes with her ethnicity and the internalised racism so many in the Malay community face. At its core, Celup is Sofie’s love letter to anyone who has ever struggled with the awkward twist of their tongue around a language that was meant to be their mother tongue. Supported by BinjaiTree There will be a dialogue with the artists after the 8pm performance on 23 January 2026, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Artist Statement My work explores the complexities of being a young Malay woman navigating cultural identity in Singapore. Growing up in a mixed-race family, I grapple with the cultural baggage tied to being labelled “Malay” on my identity card—a label that can obscure the rich mix of Javanese, Boyanese, and Pakistani heritage within. In a society where racial categories are often simplified, my work highlights the nuances and internal contradictions many Malays face. I move beyond the usual rhetoric of cultural pride to confront the shame and internalised racism that can shape our self-perception. My work seeks to heal inherited insecurities and open space for more honest conversations about identity and belonging. It is both a reckoning with my past and a love letter to my community—messy, multifaceted, and worthy of deeper understanding. —Sofie Buligis Download artist biographies↗&nbsp; Dates &amp; Duration 22 – 23 January 2026, 8pm 24 January 2026, 5pm &amp; 8pm 45 minutes with no intermission Venue Practice Space 实践空间 (54 Waterloo Street, S187953) Language English &amp; Malay Tickets $38 *20% discount for students, NSF, senior citizens and PwD cardholders Eligible for SG Culture Pass credits! Use your $100 SG Culture Pass credits for ticket purchases. Visit sgculturepass.gov.sg for more information. Rating Advisory (Some Mature Content) Accessibility Features · &nbsp; Open captions in English · &nbsp; SgSL interpreted performance on 23 January 2026, 8pm · &nbsp; Relaxed performance on 24 January 2026, 5pm · &nbsp; Speech to text interpretation for post-show dialogue upon request ︎ @SofieBuligis Share ︎&nbsp; https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Invisible Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:00:46 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Invisible window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); <img width="4001" height="2250" width_o="4001" height_o="2250" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3ffc8559bfbbb24931d296709e7c0019ac3993c45893f1f8113adf12318a1f9f/Fringe26-Website-Images.jpg" data-mid="239812716" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3ffc8559bfbbb24931d296709e7c0019ac3993c45893f1f8113adf12318a1f9f/Fringe26-Website-Images.jpg" /> <img width="4001" height="2251" width_o="4001" height_o="2251" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3f388a29a2f72bf5106e91fa634a48f6197c451508c5f0d62f002574ce473182/Fringe26-Website-Images-08.jpg" data-mid="239812715" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3f388a29a2f72bf5106e91fa634a48f6197c451508c5f0d62f002574ce473182/Fringe26-Website-Images-08.jpg" /> <img width="4001" height="2251" width_o="4001" height_o="2251" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/23125e31180e083008d90123c0c8ce1e8531ca61551d396f1b5f42c4488fb55a/Fringe26-Website-Images-07.jpg" data-mid="239812714" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/23125e31180e083008d90123c0c8ce1e8531ca61551d396f1b5f42c4488fb55a/Fringe26-Website-Images-07.jpg" /> <img width="4001" height="2251" width_o="4001" height_o="2251" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/89203af340cb0c0c756779ea3e61955ec5a84f8ca812df3392ea8dc4d8262d40/Fringe26-Website-Images-06.jpg" data-mid="239812713" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/89203af340cb0c0c756779ea3e61955ec5a84f8ca812df3392ea8dc4d8262d40/Fringe26-Website-Images-06.jpg" /> <img width="4000" height="2251" width_o="4000" height_o="2251" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/26368fd46bb27ae19f8596d74da0b009964df2bb2d5078a0631b4d74dbdd03a6/Fringe26-Website-Images-05.jpg" data-mid="239812712" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/26368fd46bb27ae19f8596d74da0b009964df2bb2d5078a0631b4d74dbdd03a6/Fringe26-Website-Images-05.jpg" /> <img width="4001" height="2250" width_o="4001" height_o="2250" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b215fb9a46156c07e0532c64e4af229eae0164a7991782d4a52afc47c080f4b5/Fringe26-Website-Images-04.jpg" data-mid="239812711" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b215fb9a46156c07e0532c64e4af229eae0164a7991782d4a52afc47c080f4b5/Fringe26-Website-Images-04.jpg" /> Photos by ART:DIS &amp; THE NECESSARY STAGE&nbsp; ENGLISH | PLAIN ENGLISH INVISIBLEART:DIS &amp; The Necessary Stage (Singapore) Fringe Commission • World Premiere Book Now↗ Malini is a young disabled woman. She starts her new job as a hotel cleaner. She wants to do her best. A guest Anita loses an important item. This causes tension. Supervisor Safiah and hotel manager Jane try to calm everyone down. We start to see the hidden struggles of each person. This makes us question what disability means. Invisible is written by Haresh Sharma. He has won many awards. It is directed by Sharma and Grace Kalaiselvi. The actors are: Dalifah Shahril Deonn Yang Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon Periyachi Roshini Invisible is an exciting work that looks at ideas of: disability being able to imagine what someone else is feeling how people have problems that are not seen or talked about After the 8pm show on 22 and 24 January 2026, there will be a talk with the artists. If you need speech to text interpretation for the talk, please email us at info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Artist Statement Invisible is the story of Malini. She is a young disabled woman. She starts her new job as a hotel cleaner. Through Malini’s story, playwright Haresh Sharma looks at the challenges of disability. A guest Anita loses an important item. Things get tense between Malini and Anita. It shows how both women have hidden struggles. This show is directed by Sharma and Grace Kalaiselvi. It looks at being able to imagine what someone else is feeling. Many people have problems that are not easily seen. We think about disability in fixed ways. This work asks us to think about those who face such difficulties. With these stories, the play hopes we will be more kind to each other. Everyone should feel included and understood. The creators hope this work will make some changes. Disabled people deserve rights and to be known. We should talk about and support them more. When Malini, a young disabled woman, starts her new job as a hotel cleaner, she is determined to do her best. Tensions rise when guest Anita loses her prized possession. Supervisor Safiah and hotel manager Jane attempt to diffuse the situation. However, the characters’ hidden struggles begin to surface, unveiling deeper questions about what disability means.Written by award-winning playwright Haresh Sharma and co-directed by Sharma and Grace Kalaiselvi, Invisible is a compelling exploration of disability, empathy, and the unseen and unspoken personal battles many of us face. There will be a dialogue with the artists after the 8pm performance on 22 and 24 January 2026, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Artist Statement In Invisible, playwright Haresh Sharma explores the complexities of disability through the story of Malini, a young disabled woman starting her new job as a hotel cleaner. The narrative unfolds when tensions rise between Malini and guest Anita over a lost possession, revealing the hidden struggles of each character. Co-directed by Sharma and Grace Kalaiselvi, the play examines themes of empathy and the often-unseen battles individuals face in society. It challenges assumptions about disability and encourages audiences to engage with the realities of those who are marginalized. By highlighting these personal stories, Invisible fosters a culture of inclusivity and understanding, reminding viewers of their shared humanity. Through this compelling work, the creators aim to inspire dialogue and advocacy for the rights and recognition of disabled individuals within the community and the world at large. Download artist biographies↗ Dates &amp; Duration 21 – 24 January 2026, 8pm 24 – 25 January 2026, 3pm 90 minutes with no intermission Venue Esplanade Theatre Studio Tickets $38 *20% discount for students, NSF, senior citizens and PwD cardholders *10% for Esplanade&amp;Me members Eligible for SG Culture Pass credits! Use your $100 SG Culture Pass credits for ticket purchases. Visit sgculturepass.gov.sg for more information. Rating Advisory (Some Mature Content) Accessibility Features · &nbsp; Open captions in English for all performances · &nbsp; Embedded narration in English for all performances · &nbsp; Relaxed performance on 24 January 2026, 3pm · &nbsp; Speech to text interpretation for post-show dialogue upon request ︎ artdis.org.sg ︎ necessary.org ︎ @art.dis.singapore | @TheNecessaryStage ︎ @art.dis.singapore | @TheNecessaryStage Share ︎&nbsp; https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Is-This-Too-Loud-Representation-in-the-Theatre Fri, 24 Oct 2025 03:56:19 +0000 Singapore Fringe Festival 2026 https://2026.singaporefringe.com/Is-This-Too-Loud-Representation-in-the-Theatre window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-DMF2V0524R'); <img width="4000" height="2250" width_o="4000" height_o="2250" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b2f01ee892b2a9ddbcdb0b5fe5a5eea0e1525eba331db6f93de5ade0108fdc84/Fringe26-Website-Images.jpg" data-mid="239812858" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b2f01ee892b2a9ddbcdb0b5fe5a5eea0e1525eba331db6f93de5ade0108fdc84/Fringe26-Website-Images.jpg" /> Photos COURTESY OF THE ARTISTS ENGLISH | PLAIN ENGLISH PANEL DISCUSSION IS THIS TOO LOUD? REPRESENTATION IN THEATRE Featuring Rosie McGowan, Sindhura Kalidas, Sofie Buligis, and Wang Ping-Hsiang as panellists, facilitated by Kathy Rowland Book Now↗ We need to see many types of people in media, arts and culture, and everyday life. We often talk about why “representation” is needed. But what does it really mean? Is it just to recognise and see people who are in the minority? Who gets to speak for these groups? Is it only those who have lived those experiences? Can friends help too? Can we tell the difference between real and fake support? Four Fringe artists will talking about this: Rosie McGowan (A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical)Sindhura Kalidas (Invisible)Sofie Buligis (Celup)Wang Ping-Hsiang (Retina Manoeuvre)&nbsp;They will talk about their experiences creating their Fringe shows. They will also share their stories as part of different communities. Kathy Rowland will guide the discussion. She is the co-founder and managing editor of ArtsEquator. If you need speech to text interpretation for the talk, please email us at info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. We often speak about and are surrounded by discourse about why representation is crucial in media, arts and culture, and everyday life. But what does representation actually mean? Is it simply about recognition and visibility of underrepresented communities? Who gets to represent them—just those with these authentic lived experiences or can allies speak for them too? And how can we distinguish true allyship from performativity and appropriation? Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring Fringe theatre-makers Rosie McGowan (A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical), Sindhura Kalidas (Invisible), Sofie Buligis (Celup), and Wang Ping-Hsiang (Retina Manoeuvre) in this important conversation facilitated by Kathy Rowland, Co-founder of ArtsEquator. They will share their collective insights from their experiences not only with respect to their artistic creations at the Fringe, but also from their lives as part of diverse minorities. Speech to text interpretation is available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com by 5 December 2025. Download artist biographies↗ Date &amp; Duration 17 January 2026, 11am90 minutes with no intermission Venue Esplanade Black Room Tickets Free via registration at bookmyshow.sg Accessibility Features · &nbsp; Speech to text interpretation upon request Share ︎&nbsp;