LOCAL THEATRE SPACE : CENTRE FOR LOCAL THEATRE

Abstract

The basis of the project was inspired by issues of the lack of purpose-designed spaces and representation for local contemporary theatre. There is also a shortage of educational facilities and poor accessibility and use of theatre spaces. By studying the types and usage of theatre spaces in Singapore, the people involved and their usage patterns the project hopes to create a centre for local theatre that may be more relevant and better represents the local theatre condition. It was found that local theatre consists of two types of spaces - the theatre and the centres for theatre and that a regular but complimentory usage pattern exists in the use of these spaces by both the public and theatre practitioners. The proposed building deals with the issues of perception and spatial usage of theatre spaces using the vehicle of a school cum theatre. It was found that different types and nature of spaces are required to suit the variety of local contemporary theatre. Both a serious highbrow proscenium theatre and alternative spaces are needed for the thriving local theatre community. A system was thus planned based on the concepts of perception and access for the theatre and school. Perception and usage of the school/ theatre are governed by different access for the different user-groups and using a system of space perception in the form of 'positive' (solid/plastic form) and 'negative' (voids) spaces. A hypothesis of spatial perception based on solid for perception for a public front and using negative form for less obvious private spaces was used. The alternative performing areas and school exists within a less obvious system of spaces within the building while a commercial and highbrow theatre receives the visitors from the commercial front. Both types of spaces form one common theatre complex which is used by the school and public but accessed and percieved in different ways.