Centre 42 launches online archive The Repository

SINGAPORE — You might want to think twice about throwing out that theatre programme booklet — it has got a lot to tell you about the history of Singapore theatre.

That’s the idea behind Centre 42’s new online archive called The Repository (http://repository.centre42.sg).

The writing centre’s latest project is an online resource of publicity materials — primarily programme booklets and flyers — by Singapore theatre groups and institutions. It will be launched today, April 7, along with the complementary online resource listing books on Singapore theatre called Book Den (http://bookden.centre42.sg).

There are 800 “artefacts” that are currently up, with the oldest dating back to 1987, courtesy of The Waiting Room, one of The Necessary Stage’s earliest productions. The other groups that have already lent their resources are Cake Theatrical Productions, spell#7, The Finger Players and W!ld Rice.

There will also be contributions from Checkpoint Theatre, Drama Box, Singapore Repertory Theatre, Teater Ekamatra, Toy Factory, The Esplanade, and The Theatre Practice, which is lending materials that go back to the `60s.

“(It’s an) easy, accessible way of knowing what happened in Singapore theatre and what will happen,” said Casey Lim, the centre’s executive director.

“You can trace a lot of history from the programme notes themselves. It’s important to remember and mark those memories and be able to gain access to them,” said Robin Loon, head of documentation, dramaturgy and discourse.

There are also plans to track down materials regarding shows by independent players and “defunct or dormant” groups such Action Theatre and luna-id, as well as those that were staged under bigger events such as the Singapore Arts Festival.

Patterned after microblogs such as Tumblr, the online portal will have a strong emphasis on visuals, said Daniel Teo, research and documentation executive. “It’s a visual snapshot of Singapore theatre.”

The portal will offer basic information on the productions. It also has a search function to allow user to sift through what’s expected to eventually be a sizeable database, However, those interested in viewing the entire digital version of the programme booklets will have to physically visit the centre’s library at its Waterloo Street premises.

Centre 42’s The Repository is one of a few archival projects focusing on the local performing arts scene, such as photographer Tan Ngiap Heng’s Work In Process project in collaboration with LASALLE College of the Arts and the ongoing exhibition Theatre Memories: 50 Years Of Singapore Theatre at The Arts House. The National Archives and The Esplanade also have ongoing projects.

But Lim pointed out that compared to the curated focus of some of these, The Repository is not a curated programme. There are also plans to link up with the National Archives or work with institutions such as the National University Of Singapore. “We do not want to duplicate (other efforts),” he said.

Aside from launching its digital archive projects, Centre 42 also announced a month-long open call for the second batch of playwrights under its playwriting incubation programme Boiler Room, and plans for a new apprenticeship programme for dramaturges called The Garage. Its Living Room series of discussions also continues this month with actor/journalist Koh Boon Pin in conversation with playwrights Russell Heng on Friday, April 10, and Desmond Sim on April 17.

For more information on Centre 42’s events, visit http://centre42.sg.