“…an experiment in form and process that leaves one with more questions than answers. As enigmatic as it is at times, there is a clear attempt here to tackle and wrestle with the underrepresented in theatre. Offstage 2.0 is presented in a sensorially interesting and accessible way that shows the fruits of the training Emergency Shelter has undergone together, leaving us curious to see how and what this experimental collective can ascend to next.” —Bakchormee Boy, on Offstage
It began with a question. It always begins with a question. A provocation.
Q: Can we change the way we make theatre in the future?
A: Standby…
Offstage by Emergency Shelter—the training and research platform of Emergency Stairs—is a long-term research and experimental project. It seeks to understand, engage in dialogue with, and challenge the systems under which we make art. In Offstage 1.0, Emergency Shelter reimagined offstage roles as characters. In Offstage 2.0, the entire creation process was opened up to our audiences and the performance was staged behind closed doors, with no audience.
In Offstage 3.0, we will continue to question the value of theatre.
The value of theatre tends to be measured by models that are: quantitative instead of qualitative, product-centric instead of process-centric, short-term instead of long-term, and market-oriented instead of focusing on artistic development. However, we believe that this is unsatisfactory since the long-term process of artistic development is not for an absolute quantitative end.
Let’s question Stage on the stage, and provoke Theatre in the theatre.
Please view the pre-show kit here.
Visit emergencystairs.org for more information.
We regret that wheelchair access is not possible for this venue due to the current COVID-19 Safe Management Measures that restrict the usual building access route. We would very much like to welcome patrons who are wheelchair users to join us at our other Fringe events at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, which is accessible to wheelchair users, and online.
RELATION TO QUIET RIOT
Emergency Stairs’ sheer existence is provocation as praxis—provocation in the finer sense of creatively inciting investigation and exploration as a collective and a community. Theatre-making as refuge does not mean escape. It can be soul searching, saving oneself; it can even mean a revolution. As artists in solidarity for transformation, Emergency Shelter —the training and research platform of Emergency Stairs—has self-organised to examine rules of performance and seek out new ways of expression. Through previous productions Offstage 1.0 and Offstage 2.0, the proverbial envelope is constantly pushed.
Respectfully.
Innovatively.
Openly.
Tenaciously.
Offstage 1.0 in 2018 leaves the viewer wondering how much we truly comprehend and value the worth of each stakeholder in the theatre industry. Offstage 2.0 in 2019 is an attempt to rethink the value of theatre. Emergency Stairs’ creative provocations are fuelled by the desire to dialogue, debate, demystify and deconstruct the system.
Venue support by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
With the support of BinjaiTree and Hong Leong Foundation.
“…an experiment in form and process that leaves one with more questions than answers. As enigmatic as it is at times, there is a clear attempt here to tackle and wrestle with the underrepresented in theatre. Offstage 2.0 is presented in a sensorially interesting and accessible way that shows the fruits of the training Emergency Shelter has undergone together, leaving us curious to see how and what this experimental collective can ascend to next.” —Bakchormee Boy, on Offstage
It began with a question. It always begins with a question. A provocation.
Q: Can we change the way we make theatre in the future?
A: Standby…
Offstage by Emergency Shelter—the training and research platform of Emergency Stairs—is a long-term research and experimental project. It seeks to understand, dialogue with, and challenge the systems in which we make art. In Offstage 1.0, Emergency Shelter reimagined offstage roles as characters. In Offstage 2.0, we opened the entire rehearsal and creation process to our audiences. We staged the actual performance behind closed doors, with no audience.
In Offstage 3.0, we will continue to question the value of theatre.
We tend to measure the value of theatre by models that are:
- quantitative, not qualitative,
- product-centric, not process-centric,
- short-term, not long-term,
- and market-oriented, not focusing on artistic development.
However, we believe that this is not satisfactory. The long-term process of artistic development is not for an absolute quantitative end.
Let’s question Stage on the stage, and provoke Theatre in the theatre.
Please view the pre-show kit here.
Visit emergencystairs.org for more information
We regret that wheelchair access is not possible for this venue due to the current COVID-19 Safe Management Measures that restrict the usual building access route. We would very much like to welcome patrons who are wheelchair users to join us at our other Fringe events at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, which is accessible to wheelchair users, and online.
RELATION TO QUIET RIOT
Emergency Stairs’ sheer existence is provocation as praxis. We incite inquiry and exploration as a collective and community. Theatre-making as refuge does not mean escape. It can be soul searching, saving oneself. It can even mean a revolution. Emergency Shelter is the training and research platform of Emergency Stairs. We are artists in solidarity for change. We have self-organised to examine rules of performance. We want to seek out new ways of expression. Through previous productions Offstage 1.0 (2018) and Offstage 2.0 (2019), we have constantly pushed the proverbial envelope.
Respectfully.
Creatively.
Openly.
Tenaciously.
Offstage 1.0 asks how much we value the worth of each stakeholder in the theatre industry. Offstage 2.0 is an attempt to rethink the value of theatre. Emergency Stairs’ work is fuelled by desires to dialogue, debate, demystify and deconstruct the system.
Venue support by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
With the support of BinjaiTree and Hong Leong Foundation.
