A new 1,000-seat performing arts theatre is planned for Tanglin by 2030.
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is behind the design, with plays, musicals and concerts planned.
The wider development will include retail, offices, wellness spaces and a contemporary art museum.
The new performing arts venue will form part of the redevelopment of the former Tanglin Shopping Centre.
Singapore’s arts scene is set to gain a major new venue. A purpose-built 1,000-seat performing arts theatre is coming to Tanglin, transforming the site of the former Tanglin Shopping Centre into a new destination for culture, entertainment and the arts.
Scheduled for completion by 2030, the theatre will be located within the mixed-use redevelopment at 19 Tanglin Road. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the new proscenium theatre will cover approximately 98,000 square feet and has been conceived as a flexible venue for larger-scale productions. Its programme is set to include plays, musicals, dance performances and concerts, with a combination of Singaporean and international productions taking to the stage.
The 1,000-seat capacity will also fill an important gap in Singapore’s performing arts landscape. It will sit between smaller venues such as Victoria Theatre, which accommodates around 600 people, and larger spaces including the Esplanade Theatre, which has a capacity of more than 1,600.
Singapore-based developer Pacific Eagle Real Estate is funding and building the theatre, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Arts Council. The National Arts Council will appoint an operator for the venue, with local arts groups able to apply independently or work alongside international companies.
The theatre will form part of a much larger development at the former Tanglin Shopping Centre. Plans for the site include retail outlets, offices, wellness facilities and cultural spaces. A new contemporary art museum operated by the Tanoto Art Foundation will also sit alongside the performing arts venue, adding another significant cultural attraction to the neighbourhood.
The redevelopment is supported by the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Strategic Development Incentive scheme. Introduced to encourage the rejuvenation of older properties in strategic locations, the programme supports developments that contribute new public, cultural and community facilities.
With a theatre, contemporary art museum and new lifestyle spaces all planned for the site, the former Tanglin Shopping Centre is preparing for a dramatic transformation. Come 2030, Tanglin could have one of Singapore’s most significant new cultural destinations.
Where: Tanglin Theatre, Tanglin Shopping Centre, 19 Tanglin Road, Singapore
When: Opening in 2030.
Contact: www.mccy.gov.sg