Associate Artists

The Necessary Stage is delighted to unveil a brand new iteration of its Associate Artist Programme (AAP) in April 2023.

Over our 36-year history, we have been at the forefront of developing new generations of young artistic voices, and many of Singapore’s current art and theatre changemakers have passed through TNS’ door. Through a variety of platforms, initiatives and workshops, these theatre-makers have undergone training in the company’s distinctive creative methodology in socially engaged art and theatre. The APP is a continuation of that trajectory, with the objective of honing the crafts of potential creative leaders that can be part of the company’s collective. 

Throughout the year-long training, mentorship and presentation programme, the two selected artists for the AAP will work alongside TNS’ creative heads, Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma, to create brand new Singapore theatre with a social conscience, as well as actively contribute to its Devising Platform by paying it forward to nurture other younger practitioners.  

‍For 2023, the two theatre-makers selected to be TNS’ Associate Artists are Sindhura Kalidas and Deonn Yang. Click here to find out more about them.

Deonn Yang will be directing Survivor Singapore, a vibrant youth-oriented work about young people’s perception of their Singapore identity and how they can make an impact in society. Survivor Singapore is slated to run from 4 to 7 July 2023 as part of Esplanade’s Feed Your Imagination programme. More information as well as ticketing details can be found at this webpage. She will also be serving as Assistant Director for TNS’ upcoming main season production, scheduled to premiere in August 2023. More information about this production will be released in due course. 

Meanwhile, Sindhura Kalidas will be writing and co-directing a verbatim theatre play about the experience of being a South Asian woman in Singapore today. This work is due to premiere in November 2023 at Drama Centre Black Box. Sindhura will also be our Dramaturg for a TNS main season production in March 2024. More information about both productions will be released in due course.  

Both Yang and Kalidas will also be assisting with and conducting sessions for the company’s workshops, including its popular Devising with Actors and Playwrights workshops for emerging theatre-makers.


The Necessary Stage’s Associate Artists Programme 2023-2025 is made possible by the generous support of William and Lena Lim.