Festival Info
About the Singapore Fringe Festival
The 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) 6876 1152
︎Website singaporefringe.com
Join our online discussions about Fringe 2027 with the hashtag #SgFringe.
Support Our Work
We are appealing for your support to help the Fringe flourish for future editions.
Donations above $10 will qualify for a tax deduction as stipulated by IRAS.
Please contribute to our cause. Visit go.singaporefringe.com/support-us.
Fringe Team
The Necessary Stage organises and curates the 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
The Backstage Affair
Production Coordinators
Tai Zi Feng
Technical & Lighting Coordinator
About the Necessary Stage
The Necessary Stage (TNS) was started in 1987 and the current Artistic Director is Haresh Sharma. 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 also organises the Singapore Fringe Festival.
TNS has presented more than 130 original plays in Singapore and abroad. TNS still focuses on new types of original local content and explores within cultures and forms. For our Main Season, we create about two plays a year. The works are original, mostly devised pieces created in a process with all team members. It is based on research, improvisation before scripting, and the entire team provides their input.
TNS also continues to nurture new talents and local content. We do these through youth- and senior-oriented training platforms and new works at the Fringe Festival. TNS also does laboratory and developmental platforms, including the TNS Devising Platform since 2020. The company also has a well-developed online archival portal at tnsarchives.com. It provides the public access to its 39 years of history.
︎Email admin@necessary.org
︎Phone (65) 6876 1152
︎Website necessary.orgtnsarchives.com
Haresh Sharma
Artistic Director
Melissa Lim
General Manager
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
Natasha Fathin & Nicole Lim
Project Managers
Choo Kok Cheng
Accounts Assistant
Two Point Pte Ltd
Accountant
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 Singapore Fringe Festival
The 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) 6876 1152
︎ Website singaporefringe.com
Join our online conversations about Fringe 2027 with the hashtag #SgFringe.
Support Our Work
We are appealing for your support to help the Fringe flourish for future editions.
Donations above $10 will qualify for a tax deduction as stipulated by IRAS.
Please contribute to our cause. Visit go.singaporefringe.com/support-us.
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 Singapore Fringe Festival.
Melissa Lim
Executive Producer
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
The Backstage Affair
Production Coordinators
Tai Zi Feng
Technical & Lighting Coordinator
About the Necessary Stage
Established in 1987 and currently helmed by Artistic Director Haresh Sharma, The Necessary Stage (TNS) is a non-profit theatre company with charity and IPC status. Our mission is to create challenging, indigenous and innovative theatre that touches the heart and mind. The company is also the organiser and curator of the annual Singapore Fringe Festival.
THaving presented more than 130 original plays in Singapore and abroad, TNS remains focused on breaking new ground in original local content and intercultural and interdisciplinary exploration. For our Main Season, we produce an average of two plays a year. The works are original, mostly devised pieces created in a collaborative process that is based on research, improvisation before scripting, and input from all members of the production
TNS has also been unwavering in its efforts to nurture new talents and local content, through various platforms including youth- and senior-oriented training initiatives, commissions at the Fringe Festival, and laboratory and developmental platforms, including the TNS Devising Platform since 2020. The company also has a comprehensive online archival portal at tnsarchives.com, providing the public access to its 39 years of history.
TNS is supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
︎Emailadmin@necessary.org
︎Phone(65) 6876 1152
︎Websitenecessary.orgtnsarchives.com
Haresh Sharma
Artistic Director
Melissa Lim
General Manager
Jezamine Tan
Festival Manager
Natasha Fathin & Nicole Lim
Project Managers
Choo Kok Cheng
Accounts Assistant
Two Point Pte Ltd
Accountant
Second Class Queer by Kumar Muniandy (Germany & Malaysia)
Image Description: A dimly-lit production photo of Second Class Queer. A bare-chested South Asian man stands in the spotlight gazing up. He wears a colourful checked lungi (a traditional South Asian garment, usually of a cotton cloth wrapped around the lower half of the body). An altar with red flowers and an empty photo frame with tea lights is dimly spot-lit in the background. A single lotus candle burns in the foreground.