TWorks

TheatreWorks, also known as T:>Works (pronounced as TWorks) is an independent, non-profit international performance company based in Singapore. It is an Institute of Public Character, a recognised charity in Singapore, that aims to develop and nurture professional art skills. It is currently led by Artistic Director, Ong Keng Sen.[1]

History

In 1985, TheatreWorks Pte Ltd was established by Lim Siauw Chong, Lim Kay Tong and Justin Hill.[2] Lim Siauw Chong became the company's first artistic director. On 1 April, Heman Chong became the group's chairman.[3] In the same year, they staged their first production Be My Sushi Tonight, an adaption of Mike Leigh's Goose-Pimples.[4]

In 1988, Ong took on the post of Artistic Director.[4]

In 1988, TheatreWorks staged Singapore's first musical, Beauty World, during the Singapore Arts Festival.[5][6] Singapore Broadcasting Corporation went into negotiations with TheatreWorks to film the musical for broadcast on television.[6]

In 1989, TheatreWorks applied to be a non-profit charity and was approved to be a non-profit company in 1990.[7][8] The company started to wind down and was liquidated in 1993 to become a non-profit charity.[7]

In 1990, TheatreWorks moved to the former Singapore Squash Centre building located at Fort Canning, sharing the premise with the Singapore Dance Company.[8][9]

On 15 September 2005, TheatreWorks moved to a heritage building that was once a rice warehouse located at 72-13, Mohamed Sultan Road.[9] The building cost $2.9 million, of which $2.8 million which was sponsored by the National Arts Council and the remainder from TheatreWorks itself.[9]

After 1999, TheatreWorks hosts and manages the Arts Network Asia (ANA).[10]

In 2020, former Artistic Director Ong returned to TheatreWorks and rebranded the company as T:>Works, pronounced as TWorks, conceived by the theatre's chairman Chong.[3][11] The new name was inspired by the early days of computing and the Disk Operating System.[3]

Funding

In 1989, three companies, Tang’s Studio, Glaxochem Pte Ltd and Waterford Wedgwood Singapore donated $175,000 to TheatreWorks as they had found its works impressive.[12]

Since 2000, TheatreWorks was one of National Arts Council's (NAC) registered company Major Company Scheme which enabled to receive grants from the NAC.[13]

Productions

References

  1. ^ "B2B Marketing Singapore". Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Theatre company T:>Works turns 40 by turning attention to ageing artists". The Straits Times. 23 July 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Arts company TheatreWorks gets new name; veteran Ong Keng Sen is artistic director again, after a decade". The Straits Times. 1 May 2020. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "WE'RE 25!". Today. 1 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Encore for Beauty World". The New Paper. 3 August 1988. p. 29. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ a b c Brazil, David (20 October 1988). "Talent under our noses". The New Paper. p. 14. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ a b "TheatreWorks winds up to be non-profit charity". The Straits Times. 18 February 1993. p. 24. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ a b "Drama company turns non-profit". The New Paper. 12 May 1990. p. 12. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ a b c Chew, David (31 August 2005). "Theatre Works towards the future". Today (2nd ed.). p. 49. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  10. ^ "MONEY FOR CULTURE". Today. 8 January 2007. p. 24. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  11. ^ Helmi Yusof (7 May 2020). "New Chapter For Singapore Arts". The Business Times. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  12. ^ "3 firms donate $175,000 to theatre group". The Straits Times. 21 August 1989. p. 22. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ Oon, Clarissa (21 May 2003). "Meeting of minds Up Close and Personal". The Straits Times. pp. L1, L4.
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