Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition

Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition is an urban theatre experience that takes the audience on a virtual journey through the unique neighbourhoods of Singapore. Directed by renowned Japanese director Akira Takayama and his theatre unit Port B, the project was commissioned for Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention. Each board game turns into a portal to rediscover a Singaporean neighbourhood, guiding participants on a journey to explore and reconnect with these cityscapes and the people whose social interactions brought them to life. Together, these board games create a psychogeographical map of Singapore's cityscape.

Since 2002, Akira Takayama and Port B have been challenging the conventions of theatre. They engage audiences by redefining their relationship with urban spaces through the act of touring. In their continuous quest to blur the distinction between performers and audience, while empowering participants to assert their agency, Takayama introduces Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition. This initiative comprises a series of board games developed through workshops with students from the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore.

The project is inspired by Takayama's interpretation of Bertolt Brecht's final statement: "What will be needed from now on are various small and mobile forms-Theatre-let." Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition represents Takayama's pursuit of a new form of theatre characterised by a sense of intimacy. The games will be made available at three Regional Libraries—Woodlands, Jurong and Tampines—before moving to 20 Anderson Road, one of the venues of Singapore Biennale 2025.

Part of Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention. Singapore Biennale 2025 takes place from 31 October 2025 to 29 March 2026, and is commissioned by the National Arts Council, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and organised by Singapore Art Museum. For more information, visit singaporebiennale.org.

Collaborator Credits:
Assistant Director
Saki Tanaka

Dramaturg
Shawn Chua

Student Mentor/Facilitator
Federico Ruberto

Student Collaborators
Bi Hongying
Bob Shi
Chai Ning
Cheah Hao Yuan
Jillian Mae Lee
Marco Guo
Sim Yee Shuang
Shervon Tan
Tan Wan Theng
Wang Tianyun
Wong Yi Xuen