International Reach of Singapore Tamil Theatre
• A limited audience base for the Tamil theatre industry “ results in insufficient stimulation to propel artistses to raise their standards further in line with audience expectations which has reached international standards , having been constantly exposed to them ” ( Rajan , 2008 )
• We have yet to expand internationally . Even when local shows are staged internationally , the risk is higher for the production companies since the profit margin is uncertain .
Catering stories to the needs of the audience
• Theatre needs to centre around its target audience and its needs .
• There is a tendency for most writers to write about what they are passionate about , hence lacking a central message that tugs at the audience ’ heartstrings
• Shanmugam : The Kalinga Trilogy by Mirror Theatre was the first Tamil theatre production to appeal to a non-Tamil speaking audience and was very well received locally
37 has a localised flavour to cater to local audience
o Plays with a social message often generate the most buzz among theatregoers
• Within the range of local Tamil plays that are put up , there are very few dramas that convey social issues or messages
• Hence , there is a gap between what happens in our lives in reality and what is being portrayed on stage , suggesting a lack of relatability for the audience
Lack of appeal of certain types of theatre
There are different types of theatre spaces such as the proscenium stage , arena theatre , black box theatre , profile theatre , forum theatre etc .
○ For instance , a forum theatre , also known as “ The theatre of the oppressed ” would involve the audience coming in and interacting with the actors . A scene , with some kind of oppression is usually shown . Then , any member of the audience can step forward and take the place of one of the oppressed characters , showing how they can attempt to change the outcome of the situation .
o The type of theatre limits the type of stories that can possibly be portrayed , since certain
• Scriptwriters need to adapt to the changing theatre spaces and theatre formats would tastes and preferences of the audience require a certain genre and storyline to o Even when conveying Singaporean function effectively . Hence , the appeal stories and adapting stories from Tamil among audience for the different types of Nadu , they should ensure that the script theatre tend to vary , with some theatre types
being unpopular among the majority . Opportunities for Youth in Theatre – Platforms that Encourage Youth
School-based platforms
Secondary schools are generally where students get their initial exposure to the Tamil Arts like theatre , short film and creative writing through their participation in school productions or inter-school
Participation
competitions . The pool of students exposed to the Tamil Arts in secondary school are more likely to continue to be involved in them even after they move on to pre-tertiary and tertiary educational institutions