The Theatre and the State in Singapore Orthodoxy and Resistance [Paperback]

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the contemporary English-language theatre field in Singapore. It describes Singapore theatre as a politically dynamic field that is often a site for struggle and resistance against state orthodoxy, and how the cultural policies of the ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) have shaped Singapore theatre. The book traces such cultural policies and their impact from the early 1960s, and shows how the PAP used theatre  and arts and culture more widely  as a key part of its nation building programme.

Terence Chong argues that this diverse theatre community not only comes into regular conflict with the state, but often collaborates with it - depending on the rewards at stake, not to mention the assortment of intra-communal conflicts as different practitioners and groups vie for the same resources. It goes on to explore how new forms of theatre, especially English-language avant garde theatre, represented resistance to such government cultural control; how the government often exerts its power behind-the-scenes to preserve its moral legitimacy; and conversely how middle class theatre practitioners resistance to state power is strongly influenced by class and cultural capital.

Based on extensive original research including interviews with theatre directors and other theatre professionals, the book provides a wealth of information on theatre in Singapore overall, and not just on theatre-state relations.

1. Imagining the Singapore Theatre Field 2. The Arts in Singapore: Site of Ideologies, Fantasies, and Orthodoxies 3. The Singapore Theatre Field: A different world&unique but not completely so 4. Claiming Authenticity: Theatre-State Tensions 5. Cultural Intermediaries: The Media and The Arts Education Programme 6. Because its in my blood : The Politics of Illusio7. The Invisible State: Disciplining the Theatre Field 8. Resistance and Defiance: The Revenge of the Ml£*