An architectural landmark - the National Theatre

Built on the corner of Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road, the National Theatre was a significant cultural icon for Singapore in the nation's fledgling years (Singapore: The encyclopedia, 2006, p. 40). The National Theatre was opened on 8 August 1963 despite being only partially complete. Its opening premiere was the first Southeast Asian Cultural Festival in the region. This eight-day cultural festival was billed as "the greatest show in the East". Comprising 1,500 artists from 11 Asian countries, the festival included performances by Cambodian princesses and Hong Kong film stars, as well as an open-air show on the steps of City Hall where the crowd was so great that VIP seats were swept aside in the crush (The Straits Times, 9 Aug 1963, p. 1).

 

Plans for a national theatre

Plans to build an open-air theatre for the cultural entertainment of mass audiences in Singapore were first announced in early November 1959 by then Minister for Culture S. Rajaratnam (The Singapore Free Press, 9 Nov 1959, p. 1). Rajaratnam declared that the National Theatre would be an affirmation of the people's will to build a national monument based on their loyalty to Singapore (The Straits Times, 10 Dec 1959, p. 4). The theatre would also dispel the prevailing myth of Singapore as a nation of uncultured plebeians (The Straits Times, 22 Nov 1959, p. 7; The Straits Times, 21 Jan 1960, p. 4).

 

A committee was appointed on 10 January 1960 to oversee the planning of the National Theatre. Chaired by Rajaratnam, the planning committee comprised architects and experts such as J. G. Dowsett, Ong Eng Hung and Kee Yeap. It also included representatives from the Ministry of National Development, namely L. de Rosario and Tsao Hsien Hwa; Ministry of Culture, namelyYap Yan Hong and G. Seow Kai Hean, as well as Frank Howard of Radio Singapore (The Singapore Free Press, 11 Dec 1959, p. 5; The Singapore Free Press, 14 Jan 1960, p. 1; The Straits Times, 10 Jan 1960, p. 9).

 

It was decided that the National Theatre would be a joint endeavour, with the government and every stratum of the population participating in its establishment (Debates: Official Reports, 20 October 1960, Vol. 13, col. 855). The campaign to build the theatre was launched during National Loyalty Week, which was held between 3 and10 December 1959 (The Straits Times, 21 Nov 1959, p. 16). Funds were raised for the proposed theatre through the sale of concert tickets as well as half a million mementoes, called L-week souvenir cards (The Straits Times, 27 Nov 1959, p. 4, The Singapore Free Press, 7 Dec 1959, p. 10).

 

On 10 December 1959, a plaque was unveiled by newly installed Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Yusof bin Ishak, at the first proposed site of the National Theatre at Kallang Park. Engraved in Malay and Chinese were the words: "This is the site for the proposed National Theatre to be built in commemoration of National Loyalty Week" (The Straits Times, 10 Dec 1959, p. 4). Donations flooded into the National Theatre Fund, with contributions coming from people from all walks of life, through various donation drives, performances, and the "a-dollar-a-brick" campaign (The Straits Times, 21 Mar 1961, p. 4). As the majority of the fund-raising work was done by public-spirited persons and voluntary organisations and with contributions primarily from the general public, the theatre was dubbed the “Peoples' Theatre” (Singapore: The Encyclopedia, 2006, p. 374; The Straits Times, 11 Apr 1960, p. 5). Later, the site for the National Theatre was changed from Kallang Park to the corner of Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road (The Straits Times, 20 Apr 1960, p. 5).

 

The National Theatre Trust

A bill to form a body known as the National Theatre Trust was published on 29 October 1960 and passed on 17 November 1960 (The Straits Times, 29 Oct 1960, p. 5; The Straits Times, 17 Nov 1960, p. 9; Debates: Official Reports, 20 October 1960, Vol. 13, col. 746). The board was tasked with administering the theatre so as to stimulate the growth and appreciation of the arts, and thereby foster a Malayan culture and identity. This trust was also to succeed the National Theatre Fund, which had been held by the government for the public (Debates: Official Reports, 20 October 1960, Vol. 13, col. 854). The National Theatre Trust came into operation on 1 December 1960 (Supplement to the Laws of the State of Singapore, Ord. 61 of 1960, p. 425). On 19 January 1961, the Minister for Culture appointed the Board of Trustees for the National Theatre Trust. The board included chairman Lee Khoon Choy as well as members Zubir Said, K. P. Bhaskar, Liu Hsue Ying, Ng Aik Huan, Wee Kim Wee, P. Abisheganaden, Liao Sung-Yang, Liew Yung Ho, Othman Wok, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture (The Straits Times, 19 Jan 1961, p. 4). By that time, the National Theatre Fund had collected a total of $630,000 (The Straits Times, 14 Jan 1961, p. 4).

 

An architectural icon

The theatre, initially expected to cost $500,000, was slated to be an architecturally distinctive cultural centre catering to local conditions and practical requirements (The Straits Times, 1 Feb 1960, p. 4; The Straits Times, 11 Sept 1960, p. 9). Through an architectural competition, the design by local architect Alfred H. K. Wong was eventually adopted (The Straits Times, 21 Jul 1986, p. 9; The Straits Times, 9 Aug 1984, p. 12). His design featured a five-pointed façade representing the five stars of the Singapore flag and a fountain representing the crescent moon. The theatre also featured a magnificent 150ton cantilevered steel roof overhanging an open-air auditorium with a seating capacity of 3,420 (Singapore: The encyclopedia, 2006, p. 374). In addition, the theatre included a stage with a 50ft-diameter revolving platform, and ample provisions for dressing rooms and storage space (The Straits Times, 9 Jan 1961, p. 4; The Straits Times, 11 Sept 1960, p. 9).

 

Construction of the theatre was completed in 1964 with the final cost being estimated at $2.2 million. Total public contributions for the theatre came to $856,279 with the government supplying the balance of $1.43 million required (The Straits Times, 4 Nov 1964, p. 5). On 14 May 1964, the keys to the theatre were officially handed to Minister for Culture S. Rajaratnam. Between 1963 and the theatre's eventual closure in 1984, the National Theatre was the venue of many important events and performances, including National Day rallies (1966-1982) and university convocations (Singapore: The encyclopedia, 2006, p. 374). The theatre, was described by ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn as "the perfect one for this sort of climate". It was also graced by the Russian Bolshoi Ballet, the Sadlers Wells Ballet, the Louis Armstrong Jazz Band, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Woody Herman & his Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, Shirley Bassey, the Bee Gees, the Hollies, Walker Brothers, the Yardbirds and Herman's Hermits, among other famous performers and musicians (The Straits Times, 21 Jul 1986, p. 9).

 

Closure

On 16 January 1984, the National Theatre was closed as it had become structurally "unsafe” (The Straits Times, 21 Jul 1986, p. 9; Singapore: The encyclopedia, 2006, p. 374). The decision was made to demolish the building, as plans to build a flyover along Clemenceau Avenue as part of the Central Expressway were underway (The Straits Times, 28 Jan 1984, p. 19). Construction of the elevated eight-lane expressway would cause noise and pollution, rendering the theatre unsuitable for patronage (The Straits Times, 4 Jan 1984, p. 1; The Straits Times, 17 Mar 1984, p. 16). Moreover, the theatre was simultaneously incurring substantial maintenance costs while seeing declining usage as it lacked facilities such as air-conditioning and padded seats (The Straits Times, 22 Jan 1984, p. 19; The Straits Times, 6 Jun 1986, p. 25). In March 1986, the office for the National Theatre Trust moved to Kallang, making way for demolition works at the National Theatre from June to August 1986 (The Straits Times, 21 Mar 1986, p. 15).

Sources

The information in this article is valid as at 2011 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Streets and Places