NADAGAVAATHI
LOST IN TRANSLATION?
Language, identity and the future of Theatre in Multicultural Singapore
DATE & TIME:
22 August 2026 SUN, 5PM TO 6PM
VENUE:
ASIAN CIVILIZATION MUSEUM RIVER ROOM
TICKETS : FREE - BY REGISTRATION
DURATION : 1.5 hours
LANGUAGE : English
SURTITLES : NA
RATING ADVISE : PG
ADVISORIES : NA
SYNOPSIS
Lost in Translation? explores the evolving relationship between language, identity and theatre in multicultural Singapore. As Singapore becomes increasingly multilingual, the traditional linguistic boundaries of English, Tamil, Malay, Mandarin and other theatre practices are becoming more fluid, raising questions about how theatre can remain culturally rooted while reaching audiences beyond its traditional communities.
Moderated by Cultural Medallion recipient T. Sasitharan, the conversation brings together Cultural Medallion recipient Heng Leun, multidisciplinary artist Effendy, multilingual practitioner Grace, and award-winning actor, director and writer Karthik, drawing together perspectives from across Singapore’s diverse theatre landscape.
Together, they examine what happens when audiences encounter languages they may not understand, whether surtitles and translations are enough to bridge linguistic divides, and how theatre-makers might work across languages, cultures and forms. Ultimately, Lost in Translation? considers what the next generation of Singapore theatre might look and sound like — and whether its future lies not within any one language, but in what happens between them.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Co-Presented by: AGAM Theatre Lab & CSTC
Moderator : T Sasitharan
Speakers : Kok Heng Leun, Karthikeyan Somasundaram, Kalaiselvi Grace, Noor Effendy Ibrahim
ARTISTE INFORMATION
AGAM THEATRE LAB, SINGAPORE
AGAM Theatre Lab (AGAM) is a young Singaporean Tamil theatre company dedicated to creating a sustainable platform for Tamil theatre within Singapore's vibrant arts landscape. Established in January 2019, AGAM has grown exponentially, producing trailblazing works that continually invigorate and enhance the presence of Tamil theatre in the local arts scene. Accorded with charity status and an accredited Institute of Public Character (IPC), AGAM became the first Tamil theatre company recognised under the Major company scheme under the National Arts Council.
Over the past years, AGAM has not only produced traditional Tamil theatre works but has also innovated new forms of production and direction, pushing the boundaries of Tamil theatrical expression. The company has undertaken various initiatives to nurture and support young and aspiring artists, fostering the growth and development of talents within the community. Its work is characterised by its commitment to nurturing emerging talents, supporting new writing, and creating platforms for underrepresented voices.
At the core of AGAM's work is the aspiration to create professional plays of the highest quality for contemporary audiences. Despite being a relatively young theatre company, AGAM's core team possesses a wealth of experience spanning organisational management and theatre-making, driving its remarkable success over the past five years. AGAM has successfully collaborated with various arts organisations, including Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and has received recognition for its contributions, including the ST Life! Theatre Awards
Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC)
The Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC) is a ground-up, non-profit organisation dedicated to the study, preservation and sharing of Tamil culture and heritage in Singapore.
Singapore’s multicultural identity has long recognised the importance of its diverse cultures and languages. Yet, amid globalisation and changing social landscapes, sustaining our cultural roots, languages and identities requires continued effort and active participation.
CSTC was established in response to this need, creating a platform to better understand the history, culture and evolving identity of Tamil-Singaporeans. While Tamils have travelled through this region for centuries, their continuous recorded presence in Singapore dates back to 1819. Over more than two centuries, the community has developed a distinctive cultural identity shaped by both its ancestral roots and the Singapore experience.
Founded on 6 February 2019, exactly 200 years after the signing of the Singapore Treaty, CSTC was conceived as a contribution to Singapore’s Bicentennial. It was subsequently registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 2 June 2021.
Driven by voluntarism and active citizenry, CSTC continues to bring people together to study the past, engage with the present and strengthen the place of Tamil culture within Singapore’s multicultural future.