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Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore: Cultural Intervention and Artistic Autonomy, 1990-2006

Published thirteen years ago in Chinese, Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore: Cultural Intervention and Artistic Autonomy, 1990-2006 received critical acclaim for its “comprehensive insight” into cultural policies and “excellent analysis” of Drama Box’s practice which “amplifies the voices of marginalised communities.” Now available in English, it has been updated and edited for a wider readership.

The many questions raised by the book remain highly pertinent today, including whether theatre should, and how it can serve as cultural intervention, have become more significant than ever as practitioners now must negotiate their artistic autonomy with the state and other funding bodies within the wider global context of growing economic inequalities, living costs, climate change, political and military conflicts.

As companion to two other recent publications on Drama Box, Drama Box 30 Keywords and Changing Places: Drama Box and the Politics of Space, Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore: Cultural Intervention and Artistic Autonomy, 1990-2006 is a compelling read that will interest practitioners, academics working in theatre studies, arts and cultural policies, and cultural studies.


Reviews

“Against insurmountable odds, Drama Box has become vital to Singapore’s cultural ecosystem. Their commitment to theatre as social service while also being powerful, accessible, and inclusive art that transcends human-made barriers, is an inspiration to us all.”
– David Diamond, Founding member of Theatre for Living (formerly known as Headlines Theatre) and creator of the Theatre for Living technique
“Ng presents a compelling narrative of how Drama Box has emerged as a prominent theatre company for social intervention, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and establishing itself as a leading advocate of socially engaged arts in contemporary Singapore.”
– Professor Rossella Ferrari, University of Vienna, Austria

“Highly critical in thought, this book examines the cultural policies and official history of Singapore within a wider global context.”
– Mok Chiu Yu, Founding Member, Centre for Community Cultural Development, Hong Kong

“Examination of a riveting tango between Drama Box and the state in Singapore, where power is renegotiated, where subtle and dramatic moves into the cultural landscape and civil society leave lasting reverberations.”
– Janet Pillai, Practitioner-researcher in socially-engaged arts and cultural sustainability
“A groundbreaking monograph on Singapore theatre studies based on the study of Drama Box, showcasing a wealth of primary sources and excellent analysis.”
– Associate Professor Quah Sy Ren, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
“A very precious monograph that demonstrates comprehensive insight and courage in its candid analysis.”
– Assistant Professor Yu Shan-Lu, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan

Title: Drama Box and the Social Theatre of Singapore: Cultural Intervention and Artistic Autonomy, 1990-2006

Author: Ng How Wee

Translators: Wong Chee Meng, Shelly Bryant

Editor: Liew Kai Khiun

Copyeditor: Hong Xinyi

Publisher: Drama Box Ltd and Pagesetter Services Pte Ltd

ISBN:
978-981-18-8768-0 (paperback)
978-981-18-8810-6 (e-book)

First published in March 2024


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