Singapore theatre company Wild Rice has revealed its 2025 anniversary season, marking a double celebration its 25th birthday and Singapore’s 60th year of independence.
The season promises six productions that spotlight the creative brilliance of Singaporean playwrights such as Alfian Sa’at, Joel Tan, and Thomas Lim. With a mix of homegrown classics and bold new works, the lineup underscores the unique power of local theatre to capture the essence of Singapore’s identity.
“Our work has always spanned the breadth and depth of what it means to be Singaporean,” says Ivan Heng, Founding Artistic Director of Wild Rice. “That’s why, in this landmark year for Wild Rice and for Singapore, we wanted to offer an eclectic season of theatre that best represents the excellent and diverse work being produced right here in the country.”
Kicking off the season is Supervision, a critically acclaimed domestic drama by Thomas Lim. Known for its sharp humor and emotional depth, the play explores themes of ageing, caregiving, and privacy in a Singapore where foreign workers often fill familial roles.
Next, Julian Wong brings Tunggu Sekejap: The P. Ramlee Suite to life, reimagining the music of P. Ramlee in a modern orchestral arrangement performed by the 30-piece re: mix orchestra. Wong’s reinterpretation of iconic melodies like Azizah and Tunggu Sekejap adds a fresh layer to the legendary works of the Malaysian entertainer.
Alfian Sa’at’s Dreamplay: Asian Boys Vol. 1 is set to make a vibrant return under Ivan Heng’s direction. First staged in 2001, the play remains a cornerstone of queer Singaporean theatre. Heng will collaborate with Pam Oei, who stars as Agnes, a goddess on a mission “to save gay men from themselves.” Another epic offering is HOTEL, a multi-generational drama co-written by Alfian Sa’at and Marcia Vanderstraaten. Spanning a century and performed in nine languages, the production delves into Singapore’s history to imagine its future.
For fans of 90s nostalgia, Joel Tan’s The Serangoon Gardens Techno Party of 1993 promises an explosive exploration of rebellion and youth. Set in a seemingly orderly Singapore, the play captures the simmering anger beneath the surface of a fast-evolving nation. Rounding out the lineup is The Emperor’s New Clothes, Wild Rice’s signature holiday musical. Reimagined for 2025, this family-friendly production transforms Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale into a Singaporean story brimming with humor and heart.
“This season has something for everyone – from modern classics like HOTEL to brand-new plays like The Serangoon Gardens Techno Party of 1993, from domestic dramas such as Supervision to family-friendly musicals like The Emperor’s New Clothes, exploring issues as varied as ageing with dignity and the rebelliousness of youth,” explains Heng.
“In conjunction with SG60, many shows in our WR25 season mine Singapore’s history for inspiration. Plays like HOTEL, Tunggu Sekejap, Dreamplay, and The Serangoon Gardens Techno Party of 1993 explore stories about Singapore and Singaporeans that we need to hear, but do not always find a place in our official narrative or the history books.”
Wild Rice’s commitment to local storytelling has resonated with audiences since its founding in 2000. Over the past 25 years, the company has staged nearly 180 productions, captivating over 1.2 million audience members.
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Reflecting on this journey, Heng says, “It’s deeply gratifying for us to have built an audience for homegrown theatre over the past quarter of a century. We can’t wait to welcome even more audiences into our theatre in 2025 to share our Singapore stories, in productions that are as ambitious and accomplished as anything you will see on Broadway or in the West End.”
Tickets for the first three productions—Supervision, Tunggu Sekejap, and Dreamplay—will be available to Wild Rice Angels from 16 December, offering priority access and exclusive benefits. Public sales begin on 6 January 2025, with early bird discounts running until 5 February. Tickets for the remaining productions will be released later in 2025.
- · Supervision (27 Mar to 12 April 2025)
- · Tunggu Sekejap: The P. Ramlee Suite (15 to 31 May 2025)
- · Dreamplay: Asian Boys Vol. 1 (21 June to 12 July 2025)
- · HOTEL (From 14 Aug 2025)
- · The Serangoon Gardens Techno Party of 1993 (17 Oct – 1 Nov 2025)
- · The Emperor’s New Clothes (From 13 Nov 2024)