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About
On November 16, 1960, a bill establishing the National Theatre Trust was passed. The Trust assumed two key responsibilities previously managed by government-appointed committees:
- Raising funds
- Overseeing the planning and construction of the National Theatre, envisioned as a monument to Singapore’s self-government and a platform for fostering a Malayan cultural identity
A public appeal for contributions to the National Theatre Fund had been launched earlier on December 3, 1959. A ‘Dollar-a-Brick’ campaign was organized to augment the Fund from the public support.
In addition to managing the National Theatre, the Trust was also tasked with overseeing any other theatrical institutions placed under its care by the Ministry for Culture.
On January 18, 1961, the Minister for Culture appointed the Board of Trustees for the Trust, chaired by Lee Khoon Choy, then Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Culture. The board members included:
- Lee Khoon Choy (chair)
- Ang Hock Lam
- Zubir Said
- K. P. Bhaskar
- Liu Hsue Ying
- Ng Aik Huan
- Wee Kim Wee
- P. Abisheganaden
- Liao Sung-Yang
- Liew Yung Ho
- Othman Wok
- Liew Ah Kok, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture
City
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Person (isSupportOf)
Troupe (isSupportOf)
Performance (isSupportOf)
Production (isSupportOf)
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Media
Sources
Kartini Saparudin, Zhi Wei. (2018). National Theatre. Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board, Singapore. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=5ec6738a-7536-448c-b43a-570dc081ee18.
National Theatre Trust Annual Report (1961).
Contributor
2025. “National Theatre Trust“. In Performing Archipelagos, edited by Kyueun Kim, Alvin Eng Hui Lim and Hedren Wai Yuan Sum. Singapore: National University of Singapore.
