ment grant but by a combined effort of both the Government and every stratum of Singapore society. In December 1959, a National Theatre Fund was launched and met with an enthusiastic response from the people of Singapore. By November 1960. the Minister of Culture was able to report that the fund had already reached $600,000, contributed by all classes and all races
cultural
organisations, civic and sports or- ganisations. trade unions, political parties, business concerns and thou- sands of individuals, from farmers and industrialists to shopkeepers, hawkers and school children.
Towards the end of 1960. a National Theatre Trust Board was set up by the Singapore Legislative Assembly to take over the job of raising funds and also of building and managing the theatre. A Board of 12 trustees was appointed for the
including purpose
representatives from the press. unions, cultural organisations and businessmen, the object being to give all sections of the community a chance to partici- pate in the running of the theatre.
In the meantime, several local architects were invited to submit plans, according to a brief of require ments drawn up by the Ministry of Culture. The brief called for the building of an open-air theatre (later it was found impracticable to make the theatre completely 'open-air') with limited seating accomodation within the King George V Park. Pro- vision was to be made also for lecture-cum-exhibition rooms for cul-
tural organisations, to enable the theatre building to be used to the
utmost.
The theatre would. in fact, be a culural centre "architecturally dis- tinctive and possibly Malayan in character, subject to local conditions and practical requirements. but the architect would be given a free hand to exercise his discretion in produc- tion of the best possible design. The existing landscape should be taken into consideration and indiscriminate felling of trees should be avoided. The use of the park by the public should in no way be restricted."
The accommodation required in- cluded:
(i) Theatre Stage. This should have ample circulation space for
Construction in progress on the structural steel cantilever roof.
The pro-
artistes and props. scenium opening should not be less than 60 feet wide. The stage should be sheltered from the elements and would be used for people's variety concerts. stage shows and the staging of a full-scale opera or a choir of about 200 people. Provision should be made for a 50-ft. diameter revolving stage.
(ii) Seating. Provision of seat- ing accommodation for 7,000 people later reduced to 3,500) immediately in front of the stage, all seats to have an un- obstructed view of the stage. In addition to this formal seating. space should be left for enough
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LONGITUDINAL SECTION
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER VOLUME 18. NUMBER 5
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