Festival Info
About the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival is an annual festival of live shows. The shows are by local and foreign artists. We choose the best modern works that deal with social issues.
Our world is getting more connected, complex and opposing. We show thoughtful works to get people to discuss the issues in a civil and open way. We hope people will work together to solve these issues. This way, we can dream together and create a future that thinks about and includes more people.
︎ Email info@singaporefringe.com
︎ Phone (65) 6440 8115
︎ Website singaporefringe.com
Join our online discussions about Fringe 2024 with the hashtag #M1SFF.
Fringe Team
The Necessary Stage organises and curates the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. Its mission is to create bold and inventive Singapore theatre that touches the heart and mind.
Melissa Lim
Executive Producer
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
Kareen Low & Jiong Ling, The Backstage Affair
Production Coordinatiors
Fiona Lim
Technical & Lighting Coordinator
Chan Yi Qian
Accessibility & Volunteer Coordination Intern
About the Necessary Stage
The Necessary Stage (TNS) was started in 1987 by Artistic Director Alvin Tan. TNS is a non-profit theatre company with charity status. TNS’ aim is to create bold and inventive Singapore theatre that touches the heart and mind.
TNS is supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period from 11 April 2023 to 31 March 2026. TNS also organises the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.
TNS is the only arts company in Singapore led by two Cultural Medallion recipients. They are Artistic Director Alvin Tan and Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma.
︎ Email admin@necessary.org
︎ Phone (65) 6440 8115
︎ Website necessary.org | tnsarchives.com
Alvin Tan
Artistic Director
Haresh Sharma
Resident Playwright
Melissa Lim
General Manager
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
Natasha Fathin & Nicole Lim
Project Managers
Choo Kok Cheng
Accounts Assistant
Two Point Pte Ltd
Accountant
Support Our Work
We are asking for your support to fundraise for our future.
Donations are tax deductible as per IRAS’ guidelines.
Please visit this link to find out more on how you can donate.
The Necessary Stage has made every effort to ensure that the contents of this website are correct and up to date. We cannot be held responsible for any consequences from subsequent errors or omissions.
About the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival is an annual festival of live performances by Singaporean and international artists. The Fringe aims to bring the best of contemporary, cutting-edge and socially engaged works to the Singapore audience.
In our increasingly connected, complex and often conflicted world, the Fringe seeks to present meaningful, socially engaged and provocative art to encourage civil and open dialogue and collaboration. Through our programming, we hope to collectively dream and create a more inclusive and compassionate future.
︎ Email info@singaporefringe.com
︎ Phone (65) 6440 8115
︎ Website singaporefringe.com
Join our online conversations about Fringe 2024 with the hashtag #M1SFF.
Fringe Team
True to the spirit of creating challenging, indigenous and innovative theatre that touches the heart and mind, the team from The Necessary Stage is the organiser and curator of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.
Melissa Lim
Executive Producer
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
Kareen Low & Jiong Ling, The Backstage Affair
Production Coordinatiors
Fiona Lim
Technical & Lighting Coordinator
Chan Yi Qian
Accessibility & Volunteer Coordination Intern
About the Necessary Stage
Established in 1987 by Artistic Director Alvin Tan, The Necessary Stage (TNS) is a non-profit theatre company with charity status. TNS’ mission is to create challenging, indigenous and innovative theatre that touches the heart and mind.
TNS is supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period from 11 April 2023 to 31 March 2026, and is also the organiser of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.
TNS also has the honour of being the only arts company in Singapore helmed by two Cultural Medallion recipients: Artistic Director Alvin Tan and Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma.
︎ Email admin@necessary.org
︎ Phone (65) 6440 8115
︎ Website necessary.org | tnsarchives.com
Alvin Tan
Artistic Director
Haresh Sharma
Resident Playwright
Melissa Lim
General Manager
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
Natasha Fathin & Nicole Lim
Project Managers
Choo Kok Cheng
Accounts Assistant
Two Point Pte Ltd
Accountant
Support Our Work
We are appealing for your support to fundraise for our future.
All donations will qualify for a tax deduction as stipulated by IRAS.
Please visit this link to find out more on how you can contribute.
The Necessary Stage has made every effort to ensure that the contents of this website are correct and up to date. We cannot be held responsible for any consequences from subsequent errors or omissions.
Photo by TUCKYS PHOTOGRAPHYOo-Woo by The Necessary Stage (Singapore)
Image Description: A Muslim woman gazing upwards while holding an empty bird cage.
MESSAGE FROM M1
We are thrilled to present the 20th edition of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival in 2024.
At M1, we recognise the profound impact of art in connecting communities, inspiring change, and sparking conversations. The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival has always been a platform that pushes artistic boundaries, challenges conventions, and explores the world's pressing issues.
This year's festival features seven remarkable performances from both local and international artists. Each work is a testament to the power of art to shape our perspectives, provoke reflection, engender dialogue, and ignite change. As we delve deeper into the works, we are also captivated by the festival's visual identity, which invites us to engage with art on a deeper level.
From 17 to 28 January 2024, join us for an unforgettable feast of creativity and expression. Together, let's celebrate the transformative power of art at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024.
Petrina Teoh
Assistant General Manager, CSR and Sustainability
M1 Limited
Here Where You Were by Matter.Less (Singapore)
Image Description: A close up shot of a shrouded body in a dimly lit diorama.
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024
The Fringe started in 2005. Since then, it has been showing fresh and modern work that follow a theme each year, to talk about urgent issues.
We asked artists what they were worried about in today’s world. What can we do to create a better future? When we chose the works, we could clearly see what they cared about.
We picked six works. They show different ideas about how to connect with other people in hard times. How do we stop following old ideas and habits?
Bertolt Brecht said that art does not just show how the world is, but can change it.
As we release the works for 2024, we are also sad about what is happening in the world. People are still violent and fighting. The past has shown that no one wins in war. We hope that art can help us think more about how violence does not help. Perhaps art can bring back hope, to help us see each other as humans, and build strength and a community.
Our artists want peace and to connect with other people. People are finding it harder to agree and getting angry with each other. We hope you can think more about what you think is right or wrong, and why. What is your role? While we still live in peace, not everyone does. We hope these works can show care and hope for those who are hurt. We hope you can speak up for those who cannot.
We still believe art can unite people. This is despite the fighting and many crises of the environment, politics, and wealth differences. We think art can help us see each other as fellow humans, even though we don’t agree with each other. Seeing the art, we hope people will have the courage to speak up.
Join our conversations on social media @m1sff about Fringe 2024 with the hashtag #m1sff.
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
17 to 28 January 2024
The Fringe Team
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2024
From its inception in 2005 till today, the Fringe has presented cutting edge, contemporary works curated around a specific theme that reflected what we felt were urgent issues of the day.
We wanted to hear from artists about what they are concerned with in the world today, and what they hope to see as a healing process, or a way forward to a different, better future. Through the curation process, we saw clear messages about what artists care about in a world that is still struggling through various crises.
Through our line-up of six works, we see distinct voices about connections in troubled times and breaking free from stereotypes and routines.
“Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”
—Bertolt Brecht
As we unveil the programming for 2024, we are deeply saddened by the new and continued waves of hostility, violence, and chaos in many parts of the world. History has demonstrated time and again that there just are no winners in strife and war, and we hope that through art, we confront the senselessness of violence, and revive hope in these ominous times through building resilience, community, and our shared humanity.
Our artists seek peace and connections in these tumultuous times. In an increasingly divided world, we urge everyone reflect upon our own moral conscience and responsibilities, challenging conditioned biases and weaponised grief. We may live in privileged peace, but we hope that these works can convey messages of care and hope for the vulnerable and hurting, while encouraging others to raise their voices in solidarity.
Amidst global strife and violence, added to ongoing crises such as environmental and biodiversity collapse, political polarisation, and growing economic inequality, we continue to believe in the power of art to unite people, help us embrace our shared humanity despite differences, and inspire the courage to speak truth to power.
We invite you to join us at Fringe 2024.
Join our conversations on social media @m1sff about Fringe 2024 with the hashtag #m1sff.
Get involved.M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
17 to 28 January 2024
The Fringe Team
Photo by Vojtěch BrtnickýSAME SAME by Dame de Pic/Cie Karine Ponties & Temporary Collective (Belgium & Czech Republic)
Image Description: Two women in black skirt suits—one appearing to catch the other from falling backwards.
Kudos
THOM PAIN (based on nothing) by Edith Podesta, Yarra Ileto & Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Australia & Singapore)
Image Description: A group of Asian youths.