TWorks
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TheatreWorks, also known as T:>Works (pronounced as TWorks) is an independent, non-profit international performance company based in Singapore. It is an Institute of Public Character, a recognised charity in Singapore, that aims to develop and nurture professional art skills. It is currently led by Artistic Director, Ong Keng Sen.[1]
History
In 1985, TheatreWorks Pte Ltd was established by Lim Siauw Chong, Lim Kay Tong and Justin Hill.[2] Lim Siauw Chong became the company's first artistic director. On 1 April, Heman Chong became the group's chairman.[3] In the same year, they staged their first production Be My Sushi Tonight, an adaption of Mike Leigh's Goose-Pimples.[4]
In 1988, Ong took on the post of Artistic Director.[4]
In 1988, TheatreWorks staged Singapore's first musical, Beauty World, during the Singapore Arts Festival.[5][6] Singapore Broadcasting Corporation went into negotiations with TheatreWorks to film the musical for broadcast on television.[6]
In 1989, TheatreWorks applied to be a non-profit charity and was approved to be a non-profit company in 1990.[7][8] The company started to wind down and was liquidated in 1993 to become a non-profit charity.[7]
In 1990, TheatreWorks moved to the former Singapore Squash Centre building located at Fort Canning, sharing the premise with the Singapore Dance Company.[8][9]
On 15 September 2005, TheatreWorks moved to a heritage building that was once a rice warehouse located at 72-13, Mohamed Sultan Road.[9] The building cost $2.9 million, of which $2.8 million which was sponsored by the National Arts Council and the remainder from TheatreWorks itself.[9]
After 1999, TheatreWorks hosts and manages the Arts Network Asia (ANA).[10]
In 2020, former Artistic Director Ong returned to TheatreWorks and rebranded the company as T:>Works, pronounced as TWork, conceived by the theatre's chairman Chong.[3][11] The new name was inspired by the early days of computing and the Disk Operating System.[3]
Funding
In 1989, three companies, Tang’s Studio, Glaxochem Pte Ltd and Waterford Wedgwood Singapore donated $175,000 to TheatreWorks as they had found its works impressive.[12]
Since 2000, TheatreWorks was one of National Arts Council's (NAC) registered company Major Company Scheme which enabled to receive grants from the NAC.[13]
Productions
- Be My Sushi Tonight (1985), an adaption of Mike Leigh's Goose-Pimples[4]
- Beauty World (1988)[6]
- The Continuum