Fancy a deep dive into Peranakan heritage while creating new theatre as an emerging theatre-makers?
Our Peranakan Devising Lab, an intensive programme led by The Necessary Stage's Artistic Director Alvin Tan along with guest lecturers, might be up your alley! The series is dedicated to creating new theatre rooted in Peranakan living heritage, and for 2026, we have selected 10 emerging Peranakan and Peranakan-interested theatre-makers (nine who are Peranakan themselves) for this workshop series. The ultimate aim is to have participants form an evolving ensemble focused on contemporary Peranakan theatre in the future, where they can continue to deepen their artistic practice through cultural transmission, language work, and devising informed by TNS' unique methodology.
The Lab includes:
* Training in Baba Malay (with support)
Note: We are in the process of seeking out qualified translators who can assist with workshops in other forms of Peranakan patois and languages, so that these can be incorporated into the training syllabus.
* Wayang Peranakan and dondang sayang workshops
* Lectures on Peranakan performance history and social life
* Supervised devising with cultural mentors and dramaturgs
Our 10 articipants will develop and present 15–30 minute original theatre works informed by Peranakan history, language, and performance traditions.
For 2026, our participants are:
Ryan Damascus Ng
Yeo Wai May Adeline
Cara Ow
Benedict Khoo Kim Hoe
Eunice Yap
Chua Ming Wei Costa Daniel
Seet Ee Lerk Timothy
Tricia Sin Sze En
Kristel Soh Rei
Please note that the call for applications has closed on Monday 23 February 2026, 12pm.
With the support of
Tun Tan Cheng Lock Trust
In Partnership with:
Asian Civilisations Museum
The Peranakan Museum