Wild Rice unveils new theatre, modelled after one in Shakespeare’s home town

SINGAPORE — While third time is the charm for many, the number is eight for Singapore theatre company Wild Rice, which unveiled its new theatre on Thursday (July 25).

The theatre faced a delay in opening in June, but will now hold its first show early next month.

The company’s founding artistic director Ivan Heng said that it took more than 20 years for Wild Rice to secure its own venue. Seven attempts at finding a home later, property developer CapitaLand approached him.

The 20,000-sqf complex that spans across three floors in the new Funan mall comprises a 60-seat performance studio, rehearsal rooms, Wild Rice’s office as well as its 358-seat Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre.

The theatre features Singapore’s only thrust stage ­— or a theatre in a round, as Mr Heng described it — where the performance space extends into the auditorium with the audience seated on three sides.

Designed by award-winning Singaporean architecture studio Zarch Collaboratives and international theatre design consultancy Charcoalblue, the theatre is modelled after the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.

Every seat, imported from Barcelona, was installed at different angles to provide an optimum viewing experience for each audience member and has an in-built air-conditioning raft under it.

No audience member will be further than 12m away from the performers on stage, Mr Heng said.

He added that the stage configuration, which boasts acoustics engineered to project the human voice with few or no microphones or vocal enhancement systems, creates an intimate setting between audience and performers, making them feel like they are “in the same room”.

“In designing this theatre, we had two main considerations. Firstly, to create the optimum condition for audiences to experience a theatre performance.

“Secondly to enable Singapore’s theatre practitioners… to achieve the fullest expression of their craft. We want all these elements to create an electrifying experience.”

A PERFECT ‘PLAYGROUND’

Charcoalblue’s James Nowell said that building this theatre was a mammoth undertaking from the start.

“A theatre like this usually takes five or 10 years to plan out and build, but never two years, so it’s a challenge for us. That’s why this theatre is very special,” he said.

In June, Wild Rice had to cancel two headline shows planned for its “housewarming” season and also relocate one youth showcase to Aliwal Arts Centre.

There were unexpected delays in completing the venue, and one reason was the procurement and delivery of the custom-designed seats from Spain.

Mr Nowell, who is in charge of the technical specifications of the theatre, said that every screw, light fixture and even sprinkler needs to be of precise measurement to create the perfect “playground” for Wild Rice to hold its shows.

To build and sustain the performing arts facility, Wild Rice has successfully raised S$13.5 million in the last 18 months and is still appealing to the public to support its ongoing fundraising.

It also received a government funding of S$2 million, Mr Heng said, but it intends to raise another S$1.5 million.

Wild Rice’s executive director Tony Trickett said: “We hope that members of the public will be inspired by this groundbreaking endeavour and make a contribution towards building this exciting new home for Singapore theatre.

“Every donation, large or small, will help make a positive impact on the social, cultural and intellectual life of the city.”

A SPACE FOR ALL

Having a venue of its own will allow Wild Rice to develop new talents and homegrown works, Mr Heng said, adding that he hopes to see the younger generation showing more appreciation of the performing arts scene here.

Wild Rice is looking to expand and enhance its education and community engagement programmes, which will include learning opportunities for people of all ages, as well as providing subsidised access to its shows.

“Theatre is for everyone. Its transformative power can change lives and open hearts and minds, and it should not be available only to those who have the means and privilege to go to the theatre,” Mr Heng said.

Wild Rice will open its doors on Aug 8 with the re-staging of Thomas Lim’s award-winning Supervision featuring Janice Koh, Patrick Teoh and Umi Kalthum Ismail. It tells the story of a wheelchair-bound grumpy retiree who is looked after by a domestic helper, and his no-nonsense daughter who keeps a close watch on his health.

Mr Heng said: "Janice is the (vice-chairperson) of our board. She has journeyed with us from the start... helped in the fundraising. We want her to have the privilege of saying the first line on this stage, which is, ‘Open your bag’.”