CHINATOWN STAGE : THE CENTRE FOR CHINESE THEATRE

Abstract

Traditional Chinese theatre has long been a popular form of entertainment for the Chinese community. In recent decades, however, there has been a substantial decline in the number of professional performing groups and theatre buildings dedicated to Chinese theatre. Performances are now limited to those at occasional religious festivals and arts festivals. However, there is still a dedicated core of fans who attend these performances and the response is especially good for shows featuring well-known foreign troupes. There are also a few very enthusiastic amateur troupes as well as a newly-formed society dedicated to the promotion of Chinese theatre. The project seeks to encourage this interest by creating a centre for the development, promotion and performance of Chinese theatre. It will provide information resources, teaching facilities and practice studios for use by local performing groups. It will coordinate research and development, explore new ideas and actively promote and publicize this unique art form. Regular and frequent performances will form part of its programme and these will be held not only in conventional theatres but also in more traditional environments such as the teahouse theatre and the outdoor theatre. As such, the thesis will delve into the architecture of Chinese theatre and seek to uncover the architectural and spatial qualities which typify the Chinese theatre performance. The site is located in the heart of Singapore's Chinatown, in an area earmarked for conservation and with a long history of association with Chinese theatre.