National Theatre opens

Plans to build an open-air theatre for the cultural entertainment of mass audiences in Singapore were first announced in early November 1959 by then Minister for Culture S. Rajaratnam.^[1] Rajaratnam declared that the National Theatre would be an affirmation of the people's will to build a national monument based on their loyalty to Singapore.^[2] The building fund for the theatre was launched during the inaugural National Loyalty Week, which was held between 3 and10 December 1959.^[3] Funds were raised for the theatre through the sale of concert tickets as well as half a million Loyalty Week souvenir cards.^[4]

On 9 December 1959, a plaque was unveiled by the newly installed Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Yusof bin Ishak, at the site of the future National Theatre at Kallang Park. Engraved on the plaque in Malay and Chinese were the words: "This is the site for the proposed National Theatre to be built in commemoration of National Loyalty Week".^[5] Donations quickly poured into the National Theatre Fund, with contributions coming from people from all walks of life, through various donation drives, performances, and the "a-dollar-a-brick" campaign.^[6] As the majority of the fund-raising work was done by public-spirited persons and voluntary organisations and with contributions primarily from the general public, the theatre was dubbed the “People’s Theatre”.^[7] In April 1960, the government decided to move the site of the proposed National Theatre from Kallang Park to the King George V Park facing Clemenceau Avenue as the ground at the latter site was deemed firmer.^[8]

Built at the corner of Clemenceau Avenue and River Valley Road, the National Theatre was a significant cultural icon for Singapore in the nation's fledging years.^[9] The National Theatre was opened on 8 August 1963 despite being only partially completed. It was subsequently completed in 1964.^[10] Its opening premiere was the first Southeast Asian Cultural Festival held in the region. Comprising 1,500 artists from 11 Asian countries, the festival included acts by Cambodian princesses and Hong Kong film stars.^[11] The theatre was declared structurally unsafe and held its last show in January 1984 before it was demolished in 1986.^[12]

References
1. National Theatre for S'pore. (1959, November 9). The Singapore Free Press, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Keep up the spirit of loyalty and unity – Mr. R. (1959, December 10). The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Loyalty Week: National Theatre fund launched. (1959, November 21). The Straits Times, p. 16. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. The Straits Times, 21 Nov 1959, p. 16; 500,000 souvenir cards for L-Week. (1959, November 27). The Straits Times, p. 4; Collecting for fund. (1959, December 7). The Singapore Free Press, p. 10. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. The Straits Times, 10 Dec 1959, p. 4.
6. National Theatre: The first step. (1961, March 21). The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Koh, T., et al. (Eds.). (2006). Singapore: The encyclopedia (p. 374). Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with the National Heritage Board. Call no.: RSING 959.57003 SIN; National Theatre draft plan will be ready soon: Public is praised. (1960, April 11). The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. A new site for Singapore’s National Theatre. (1960, April 20). The Straits Times, p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
9. Koh, 2006, p. 40.
10. Curtains for a dame: The National Theatre will be all gone within weeks. (1986, July 21). The Straits Times, p. 9.; National Theatre a success: Raja. (1964, May 16). The Straits Times, p. 6. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
11. Lim, H. L. P. (Ed.). (2009). Chronicle of Singapore: Fifty years of headline news 1959–2009 (p. 62). Singapore: Didier Millet in association with National Library Board. Call no.: RSING 959.5709 CHR.
12. The Straits Times, 21 Jul 1986, p. 9.