Singapore Repertory Theatre’s rebrand sparks controversy in theatre community

Previously recognized for its notable productions of Shakespeare in the Park at Fort Canning Green, the former SRT justified the rebranding by emphasizing that the new name, STC, would better represent Singapore on the international stage.

Despite the heightened anticipation surrounding STC’s gradual revelation of the name change, both artistic director Gaurav Kripalani and managing director Charlotte Nors were caught off guard when members of the theatre community publicly expressed their displeasure, accused STC of appropriating the label of “Singapore Theatre.”

Last week, STC officially announced its name change to “Singapore Theatre Company” following the celebration of its 30th anniversary in 2023.

Mr Kripalani explained that the decision to drop “repertory” from the name had been under consideration for a year.

“No one knows what it means. We’ve never been a repertory company,” he said.

Kripalani highlighted the company’s international ambitions, stating that adopting the name STC would enhance their representation on the global stage.

Rama Chandran deems name change ‘disrespectful’ to Singapore theatre community

Rama Chandran, founder and director of children’s theatre company Act 3 Theatrics, on 31 January took to Facebook and criticised that SRT are “disrespectful” to all the rest of us working in ‘Singapore theatre’ by modifying its name to “Singapore Theatre Company.”

His criticisms revolved around the perceived lack of acknowledgement and incorporation of the efforts made by many in the theatre industry since the early days of Singapore’s independence.

“To wear the name of ‘Singapore’, one has to incorporate the diverse elements of this beautiful nation. ”

“One must be soaking with blood, sweat and tears of her citizens. I must want to stand up and sing ‘Majulah Singapura’ when I am applauding your effort.

He called on SRT, now STC, to reconsider the name change out of respect for fellow practitioners and urged them to rethink the move, even if the authority overseeing the use of the nation’s name remained silent on the matter.

In another post, Mr Chandran further argued that if STC doesn’t accurately describe the organization, then “STC” is even less fitting.

Multilingual theatre company The Theatre Practice’s artistic director Kuo Jian Hong, in a Facebook post, pointed out the historical context in which Singapore Performing Arts School was founded in July 1965. Still, after Singapore became a nation, the use of the word “Singapore” as a prefix for any non-governmental organization was no longer accepted.

Kuo Jian Hong explained that during this time, the organization did not attempt to revert to its original name, emphasizing that the name is not just a label but carries a significant responsibility to represent Singapore.

“It is a responsibility we are unable to shoulder because Singapore theatre is too DIVERSE. Language, culture, heritage, art forms, aesthetics, purposes, perspectives… it is as “rojak” as it gets, and that is what’s most unique about us. That is what we celebrate.”

Ms Kuo questioned whether any single company can fully represent the entirety of Singapore Theatre due to its rich and diverse nature.

“That may not have been the intention, but objectively it is tough not to read it this way. So how do we celebrate our rojak diversities, while making laser-sharp branding, but always keeping space for as much imagination of our identity as possible?”

“I am a Singapore theatre practitioner. But if someone decides for me that “Singapore Theatre” does not belong to all of us, then what am I?”