abstract
| - Drama Box is a non-profit, professional theatre company located along Trengganu Street in Singapore’s Chinatown. Founded by a group of members of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Alumni in 1990, it is helmed by artistic director Kok Heng Leun. The history of Drama Box is a microcosm of Singapore’s contemporary theatrical history. Along with other local theatre companies such as The Necessary Stage and Theatreworks, Drama Box is part of the emerging wave of contemporary theatre companies that have been influenced by Kuo Pao Kun, a prominent dramatist who played a leading role in shaping Singapore’s theatrical landscape after 1965. Hitherto, the origin of Drama Box’s name remains unknown. Interestingly, one common myth shared amongst Drama Box’s staff is that the name was conjured up because the founders intended to present the company’s productions as a gift to its audience. Since its establishment, Drama Box has been noted for being a hotbed of creative young talent, evident in its repertoire of plays that explore a eclectic range of themes across a variety of genres, such as the plight of women, homosexuals, the racial minorities and the elderly in Singapore, and the impact of a rapidly changing physical landscape on Singaporeans. Hitherto, Drama Box has produced more than 30 plays, including the award-winning VaginaLogue and Stranger At Home. Owing to a lack of funding, Drama Box has ceased operation as a full-time theatre company since May 2003.
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