Our History

1965

Practice founded

  • The Theatre Practice (Practice), then known as Singapore Performing Arts School, is founded by dancer/choreographer Goh Lay Kuan and playwright/director Kuo Pao Kun. The school aimed to integrate creative performance with arts education through the teaching of dance, theatre and music.

  • Ballet classes taught by Goh Lay Kuan commences. The dance classes subsidised many of the school’s other projects during a time when there was no tradition for paid drama education and training.

1966

Practice moves to Sommerville

  • Practice moves from its first home at Clemenceau Avenue to a house at 12 Sommerville Walk.

  • Ethnic dance classes taught by Gan Beng Lee and Drama classes taught by Kuo Pao Kun commences. Initial take up was slow, but many students developed a strong passion for theatre and continued to be heavily involved in the company’s productions after graduation.

1969

The Struggle banned

  • The Struggle, written and directed by Kuo Pao Kun, was banned two weeks before opening night. Instead, it is replaced with poetry recitals and skits. Centred around workers’ rights, The Struggle: Years Later debuted 46 years later at Practice’s 50 year anniversary.

1971

Stage design classes commence

  • Stage design classes taught by Kuo Pao Kun and Chew Swee Fah commence.

  • A performing troupe, Art Ensemble, is formed to create Mandarin theatre and variety show works. A year later, they would go independent as the Southern Arts Society.

1972

Experience Life campaign created

  • The Experience Life campaign is created. Believing “art came from life”,  Kuo and his students spent weeks working alongside farmers and fishermen to gain an authentic insight into their lives. These experiences would subsequently inspire the students’ works.

  • Music courses (piano, accordion and composition) taught by Chew Seok Kwee and Ng Lay Hoon commences.

1976

Kuo Pao Kun & Goh Lay Kuan arrested under Internal Security Act

  • Kuo Pao Kun and Goh Lay Kuan are arrested under the Internal Security Act. Goh is released shortly after making a televised confession while Kuo spent four years and seven months in detention. In his absence, Goh continues to run the school.

1980

Kuo Pao Kun released

Kuo Pao Kun is released from detention and resumes teaching theatre.

1982

The White Sailing Boat presented

  • Kuo Pao Kun’s first production post-release, The White Sailing Boat, is presented at the Singapore Arts Festival. Written and directed by Kuo, the production was a collaboration between 14 Chinese theatre groups.

1983

First directing workshop commences

  • The first directing workshops commences. Helmed by Kuo Pao Kun, these workshops offered formalised directorial training and nurtured many of Singapore’s directors and artistic directors.

1985

The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole premieres

  • The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole premieres, written and directed by Kuo Pao Kun. Pitting man against the establishment, Kuo’s first English work is a satirical monologue about a man’s struggle with government bureaucracy as he attempts to fulfil his grandfather’s final wishes.

1986

Practice Theatre Ensemble formed

  • The Practice Theatre Ensemble (PTE) is formed. The bilingual semi-professional theatre troupe allowed company members to train and further develop their artistic skills.

1987

Mandarin production of Fire Raisers premieres

  • The Mandarin production of Fire Raisers by Max Frish premieres, translated and directed by Kuo. It marked the first public performance of PTE.

1988

Practice moves into Stamford Arts Centre

  • Practice moves into Stamford Arts Centre under the National Arts Council’s Arts Housing Scheme.

  • Singapore’s first full-length modern dance piece, Nu Wa – Mender of the Heavens, is choreographed by Goh Lay Kuan. Singapore’s first multilingual play, Mama Looking For Her Cat, is written by Kuo Pao Kun.

1989

Play-in-Arts Programme created

  • The Play-in-Arts programme for children is created by Goh Lay Kuan. Believing that child education begins with character development, the programme harnessed the power of play and the arts to teach children values.

  • Practice is invited to manage The Substation, with Kuo Pao Kun as the founder and artistic director. Envisioned as an arts space promoting the experimentation of all art forms, the arts centre officially opened a year later where it became an important resource for many emerging artists and companies.

1994

Student Theatre Exposure Project (STEP) launched

  • The Student Theatre Exposure Project (STEP) is launched, bringing the company’s arts education pedagogy directly to schools through productions, workshops and classes. Today, it lives on as The Theatre Practice Education Project (TTPEP).

1995

Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral premieres

  • The Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral premieres, written and directed by Kuo Pao Kun. Following the journey of Ming dynasty eunuch Zheng He, the fable discusses themes of cultural erosion and social castration and remains one of Singapore’s most iconic representations of contemporary theatre.

1996

The Fingers Players formed

  • The Finger Players is formed as a division aimed at promoting the traditional art of puppetry to youths. The troupe performed many school and community tours, while also experimenting with different puppetry forms. They will establish themselves as an independent theatre company 3 years later.

1998

The Spirits Play premieres

  • The Spirits Play premieres, written by Kuo Pao Kun and directed by award-winning Taiwanese director Stan Lai. One of Kuo’s most iconic works to date, the play features a group of lost spirits discussing the horrors of war.

2000

The Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP) created

  • The Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP) is created by Kuo and T. Sasitharan. The 3-year actor training programme immerses students in both traditional Asian art forms and western theatrical methodologies. The school would go independent 10 years later, renamed as Intercultural Theatre Institute.

2002

Kuo Pao Kun passes

  • Kuo Pao Kun passes away from cancer at 63 and his death is met with tributes worldwide. Playwright Wu Xi and director Kuo Jian Hong become Co-Artistic Directors of PPACL.

  • Works for Pao Kun – Legend Alive is organised by Professor Vivien Ku of Taiwan and presented in memory of Kuo’s passing. Former collaborators and close friends were invited to reinterpret sections of Kuo’s works.

2003

Inaugural Kuo Pao Kun Festival debuts

  • The inaugural Kuo Pao Kun Festival debuts as an international celebration of Kuo’s legacy, beliefs and contributions. The festival invited a diverse group of artists to examine Kuo’s works through different lenses, cultural contexts and art forms.

2004

Second instalment of Legend Alive presented

  • The second instalment of Legend Alive is presented. Honouring Kuo’s dedication to intercultural exchange, the two double bills feature original works from Practice alongside theatre companies from Japan, India and China.

2005

Lao Jiu: The Musical premieres

  • Lao Jiu: The Musical premieres, directed by Kuo Jian Hong. Adapted from Kuo Pao Kun’s original script Lao Jiu, the musical marks Practice’s first foray into the Chinese musical theatre genre.

2006

Kuo Jian Hong becomes Artistic Director

  • Kuo Jian Hong becomes Artistic Director.

2007

“If There're Seasons..." premieres

  • “If There’re Seasons…” premieres, written by Raymond To and directed by Kuo Jian Hong, with lyrics by Liang Wern Fook. The second of Practice’s series of original Chinese musicals, the jukebox musical features music from the 1990s Xinyao movement.

2011

Inaugural Chinese Theatre Festival presented

  • The inaugural Chinese Theatre Festival is presented. Envisioned as a platform to promote Chinese language theatre, it showcased a diverse selection of mandarin blackbox theatre works from Singapore and the region.

2012

Kuo Pao Kun Festival - In Search of Kuo Pao Kun presented

  • Kuo Pao Kun Festival – In Search of Kuo Pao Kun is presented to mark the 10th anniversary of Kuo’s passing. The second installment of the festival again features reinterpretations of Kuo’s works by an international set of collaborators.

2013

The Practice Lab formed

  • The Practice Lab is formed to train theatre makers in experimentation, creation and training. Divided into four parts, the Lab offered training to directors, actors, reviewers and playwrights.

2015

The wee Question Mark and The Adventurer premieres

  • The wee Question Mark and the Adventurer premieres. Directed by Kuo Jian Hong, the production’s light touch and willingness to tackle difficult topics with children became a signature characteristic of Practice’s Theatre for Young Audiences works.

2017

The Nursery Rhymes Project launch

  • The Nursery Rhymes Project is launched. Aimed at promoting Mandarin nursery rhymes to the next generation, the three-part initiative consisted of an illustrated lyrics book, music album and touring jukebox musical.

2018

I came at last to the seas debut

  • I came at last to the seas debuts, written by Wu Xi and directed by Kuo Jian Hong. The international multidisciplinary work explored the Chinese diaspora through six individuals in various stages of migration, and was Esplanade’s first local commission for the 2000-seat Esplanade Theatre for Huayi — Chinese Festival of Arts.

  • The inaugural Patch! A Theatre Festival of Artful Play is presented. A platform to promote the importance of play, the festival transcends form, genre or language to curate a selection of art, performances and experiences.

2019

Liao Zhai Rocks! makes its China debut

  • Liao Zhai Rocks! makes its China debut as part of the SAIC·Shanghai Culture Square’s Shanghai International Musical Festival. While Practice has toured several blackbox shows overseas, this marks the company’s first ever large-scale international tour.

2020

Four Horse Road restaged

  • Promenade theatre production, Four Horse Road 2020 is restaged. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show only ran for 2 out of 26 shows before it was forced to close.

  • Practice’s annual festival goes digital and is renamed Patch! A (Live) Theatre Festival of Play.

1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
Practice founded
1965
Practice moves to Sommerville
1966
1967
1968
The Struggle banned
1969
1970
Stage design classes commence
1971
Experience Life campaign created
1972
1973
1974
1975
Kuo Pao Kun & Goh Lay Kuan arrested under Internal Security Act
1976
1977
1978
1979
Kuo Pao Kun released
1980
1981
The White Sailing Boat presented
1982
First directing workshop commences
1983
1984
The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole premieres
1985
Practice Theatre Ensemble formed
1986
Mandarin production of Fire Raisers premieres
1987
Practice moves into Stamford Arts Centre
1988
Play-in-Arts Programme created
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
Student Theatre Exposure Project (STEP) launched
1994
Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral premieres
1995
The Fingers Players formed
1996
1997
The Spirits Play premieres
1998
1999
The Theatre Training and Research Programme (TTRP) created
2000
2001
Kuo Pao Kun passes
2002
Inaugural Kuo Pao Kun Festival debuts
2003
Second instalment of Legend Alive presented
2004
Lao Jiu: The Musical premieres
2005
Kuo Jian Hong becomes Artistic Director
2006
“If There're Seasons..." premieres
2007
2008
2009
2010
Inaugural Chinese Theatre Festival presented
2011
Kuo Pao Kun Festival - In Search of Kuo Pao Kun presented
2012
The Practice Lab formed
2013
2014
The wee Question Mark and The Adventurer premieres
2015
2016
The Nursery Rhymes Project launch
2017
I came at last to the seas debut
2018
Liao Zhai Rocks! makes its China debut
2019
Four Horse Road restaged
2020
2021
2022
2023