KOOTHU 101
BY AK THEATRE, SINGAPORE
DATE & TIME:
22 August 2026 SAT, 10am to 4pm
VENUE:
Blue Room, Arts House
TICKETS :
$80 Std
Culture Pass eligible
DURATION : 6 hours
LANGUAGE : English and Tamil
SURTITLES : NA
RATING ADVISE : 18 and above
ADVISORIES : NA
SYNOPSIS
An immersive foundational workshop designed for theatre-makers seeking to engage deeply with the traditional Tamil performance form of Therukoothu. Through physical training, rhythmic footwork, expressive storytelling and character embodiment, participants are introduced to the aesthetics, musicality and dramaturgy of this centuries-old art form. Rooted in tradition yet relevant to contemporary practice, the session offers practitioners a hands-on exploration of how Therukoothu’s bold physicality and narrative energy can inform and enrich modern performance-making.
CREDITS
Presented by: AK Theatre Ltd
Commissioned by: Agam Theatre Lab
Facilitators: AKT Team
Koothu specialist: Tamilarasi (India)
Publicity Design: Indian Events SG
Photography: Brandon
Videography and Marketing Materials: Seyyon Media
ARTISTE INFORMATION
AK THEATRE LTD, SINGAPORE
AK Theatre Ltd is a dynamic theatre organization passionately dedicated to keeping the Tamil language, culture and performing arts alive for children, youth, and future generations. AK Theatre blends educational engagement with compelling stagecraft to enrich participants’ creative and cultural experiences.
At its core, AK Theatre’s mission is to inspire confidence, imagination, and lifelong skills through a diverse range of workshops, stage and video productions, interactive festivals, and arts education programs. Their artistic work places a strong emphasis on Tamil and bilingual productions with Singaporean elements, making their offerings deeply relevant to local multicultural contexts. Their rich history of engaging children and families through theatre and cultural arts, offers broad audience appeal to festival collaborations.
Rani Kanna, Director
Rani Kanna is the Director of AK Theatre Ltd and a distinguished figure in Singapore’s arts education landscape. With a Master’s in Applied Linguistics and NIE training, she specializes in using performing arts to foster bilingualism and cultural appreciation. Since 2014, Rani has directed numerous preschool musicals and leads the annual AKT Festival and Multi-lingual Storython. Her expertise spans traditional Tamil folk arts, including Koothu and Villupattu, which she integrates into modern storytelling. Rani leverages her extensive pedagogical and theatrical background to empower youth through immersive, culturally-rich performances.