Esplanade Presents: The Studios

23/03/2026

Our heartiest congratulations to multi-disciplinary artist JAHA KOO, who was recently awarded the International Ibsen Award 2026! Just last year, we had the pleasure of presenting his work, Haribo Kimchi, at The Studios, an exceptional multi-sensory production that delved into the complexities of migration, cultural assimilation, and food as a vessel for embedded notions of home and identity.

Widely recognised as “The Nobel Prize of Theatre”, the International Ibsen Award highlights artists whose practice expands the artistic and societal possibilities of the stage and reflects the complexities of the world we live in today. As the newest recipient of this award, Jaha joins the ranks of fellow groundbreaking artists like Peter Brook, Ariane Mnouchkine, Jon Fosse, Forced Entertainment and Lola Arias.

30/09/2025

"When The Studios: Sustenance came to a close on 14 Sep 2025, it was also a wrap for The Studios Land trilogy from 2023 – 2025. Much like The Studios, we continue to evolve as individuals, communities as citizens of the world and as a species, grappling with our place in this world of many contradictions. We hope that the productions, companion programmes and conversations in the season have proposed interesting ways forward or at the very least, provided some form of solace.

There would not have been a Land trilogy without the artists and their dedicated teams, whose work challenged, inspired, made us laugh and at times, despair. And of course, The Studios would also not exist without you, the audience. You meet the artists and their work with your own unique perspectives and lived experiences. Without you, there would not be any meaningful exchange or conversation. We hope to find better ways to engage with you in future seasons. Till next time!"

– Shireen Abdullah, Esplanade Senior Producer

29/09/2025

Limited access to Esplanade from 1 – 7 Oct 2025, Wed – Tue due to the F1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, as Esplanade is located within the F1 Circuit Park.

Pedestrian and carpark access to the centre will be limited as follows:

- Esplanade Basement Carpark will be closed to all motorists from 1 Oct 2025, Wed, 12am to 7 Oct 2025, Tue, 5.30am
- There will be no access to Esplanade and Esplanade Mall for all members of the public (except F1 ticket holders) from 3 – 5 Oct 2025, Fri – Sun.
- PIP’s PLAYbox will be closed from 2 – 6 Oct 2025

Visitors to the area during this period are advised to take public transport as there will be extensive road closures around Esplanade.

For more details, please visit www.singaporegp.sg. You may also contact the Land Transport Authority at 1800 2255 582 or Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377.

Catch non-stop race action and entertainment at the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025

08/09/2025

As The Studios 2023–2025 Land trilogy comes to a close, join us for a reflective conversation with the artists and producers who have shaped its journey. Together, they will look back on The Studios and its strands — Landings, Fault Lines and Sustenance — and unearth how their practices have engaged with the themes, how their work has evolved, and what it means to create within Singapore’s arts ecology today.

Happening 13 Sep at Esplanade Black Room, free by registration.

Register here:

As The Studios 2023–2025 Land trilogy comes to an end, join us for a conversation with the artists and producers of the season to look back on the past three years.

26/08/2025

Registration open now! As The Studios 2023–2025 Land trilogy comes to an end, join us for a conversation with the artists and producers of the season to look back on the past three years.

Happening on 13 Sep at Esplanade Black Room, free by registration: https://bit.ly/4myZyqD

As The Studios 2023–2025 Land trilogy comes to an end, join us for a conversation with the artists and producers of the season to look back on the past three years.

19/08/2025

Please note that registration for this programme will begin on 26 Aug 2025, Tue, 10am instead of 21 Aug 2025, Thu. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Find out more at www.esplanade.com/thestudios

12/08/2025

“At the start of creating this work, I was thinking about it in terms of content, but it gradually became about my grief. It’s very much about our father-daughter relationship, certainly how to carry on and to embrace grief as much as one is able to embrace love that still continues.” – Claire Wong, performer and co-playwright of Escape to Batam by Checkpoint Theatre

Drawing parallels between different eras, Escape to Batam is a powerful meditation on what it means to experience both love and loss, connecting stories of the past to experiences in the present.

A new, original play by powerhouse theatremakers Claire Wong and Huzir Sulaiman, featuring a stellar ensemble cast comprising Adib Kosnan, Chaney Chia, Genevieve Tan, Rebekah Sangeetha Dorai and Neo Swee Lin. Don't miss out, get tickets now at www.esplanade.com/thestudios!

The source material comes from handwritten letters from Wong's father. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

10/08/2025

"It is a devastating and bodily experience of how far humans have strayed from their evolutionary roots, the cost of endless building, and the unseen exploitation involved in the mundane ritual of dining in a restaurant."

Thank you to Clement Yong of The Straits Times for this review of Geoff Sobelle's FOOD! Join us at the dinner table and treat yourself to a multi-sensory experience full of Sobelle's signature onstage magic and impressive physicality.

Last two shows happening today 10 Aug, 3pm & 8pm. Get your tickets at esplanade.com/thestudios

Read the full review here: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/theatre-review-geoff-sobelles-food-sees-white-tablecloth-restaurant-devolving-into-magical-chaos

Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

08/08/2025

Unlocking memories through objects 🗝️

Claire Wong, director and co-playwright of Escape to Batam, takes us through her journey of unearthing memories sparked by personal items from her father’s past. Among these artefacts, her father’s handwritten letters recounting his life in Batam during the Japanese Occupation became the foundation for this deeply personal story of family, loss and resilience.

Watch this powerful story, both poignant and hilarious, unfold in Checkpoint Theatre’s Escape to Batam, happening 21 – 24 Aug at Esplanade as part of The Studios 2025.

Get your tickets: bit.ly/escapetobatam

05/08/2025

We wrapped up an engaging masterclass with theatre maker JAHA KOO yesterday on Valid Languages for the Intersection, where participants gained valuable insight from Koo on his past experiences and works. It was a fruitful day of exploration and reflection on artistic approaches for these theatre practitioners!

Interested in more masterclasses and workshops? Check out our upcoming programmes at www.esplanade.com/thestudios

02/08/2025

Thank you to Clement Yong of The Straits Times for this lovely review of Haribo Kimchi!

“Where Haribo Kimchi is brilliant is in Koo’s instinctive understanding of the need for bigger perspectives, and he gives food that gravity beyond the personal – kimchi turning red as a result of mediaeval changes in global temperatures, the proliferation of fried chicken stalls after the financial crisis reminding his father of the smell of corpses during the Gwangju democratic demonstrations in 1980.”

Two more shows left for this production, the latest work by acclaimed theatremaker and composer Jaha Koo, happening 2 Aug, 8pm and 3 Aug, 3pm. Tickets at esplanade.com/thestudios

Read the full review here: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/theatre-review-jaha-koos-haribo-kimchi-cooks-up-hearty-serving-of-themes

The show is part of the Esplanade's Studios season. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

01/08/2025

Road and carpark closures around Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay for National Day Parade 2025 on 2 & 9 Aug

If you are coming to Esplanade, please arrive with a comfortable lead time and use public transport, as there may be significant delays caused by traffic congestions and restricted vehicular access around Esplanade.

• All entrances and exits from Esplanade’s Basement Carpark will be closed every Saturday from 1pm to 12am. During this time all vehicles will not be able to enter or exit from the carpark.
• Entry and exit along Esplanade Drive (towards Fullerton Road) will be closed every Saturday from 1pm to 12am.
• Entry along Esplanade Drive (towards Nicoll Highway) and exit along Connaught Drive (towards Stamford Road) will be closed every Saturday from 2am to 2am (the next day).
• Esplanade Mall Driveway, Taxi Stand and Esplanade Loading Bay will be closed from 6pm to 10.30pm on 2 & 9 Aug.

Please note that the Esplanade Roof Terrace will also be closed from 4pm – 9pm. Access to the Roof Terrace will only be for Baia guests with reservations. PIP’s PLAYbox remains open from 11am – 6pm.

For more information on road closures, please visit www.ndp.gov.sg. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

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