Exploring Singapore’s Hidden Stories, One Game at a Time

Hi Huneybees,

Installation view of Akira Takayama/Port B’s ‘Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition’ at Woodlands Regional Library.
Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum(4)

What if I told you that you could explore Singapore’s most fascinating places is not by walking the streets, but by rolling dice and moving game pieces?

At Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition, Japanese director Akira Takayama and his theatre collective Port B invite you to see our island through a whole new lens; one that turns storytelling, imagination, and play into a theatre experience like no other.

Commissioned for Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention, this project transforms 11 board games into creative “portals” that take you deep into Singapore’s neighbourhoods. Each game draws from the histories, myths, and people that shape these spaces, turning familiar landmarks into thought-provoking adventures waiting to unfold.

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Detail view of Chai Ning’s ‘Wishing on Kusu’ (2025).
Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum

A Playable Map of Singapore

Each board game feels like a journey into a different part of Singapore’s soul. You might start with “Ah Ubin!”, a game that channels the rustic charm of Pulau Ubin, or dive into “Tiger Run!”, a wild chase inspired by Singapore’s legendary tiger sightings of the past. There’s also “Searching for Serai”, which uncovers forgotten scents of spice and trade, and (Re)Scripting Tiong Bahru, where you can reimagine one of Singapore’s most iconic neighbourhoods through its people and architecture.

Installation view of Sim Yee Shuang’s ‘Where We Were Buried: Whispers from Bukit Brown Cemetery’ (2025).
Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.  

From haunted paths in Bukit Brown Cemetery to the sacred myths of Kusu Island, each game connects you to the city’s layers of memory - the unseen stories that still live quietly among us.

The beauty of this project lies in its redefinition of what “theatre” can be. Instead of sitting in a darkened hall, you’re part of the performance - moving pieces, making choices, and shaping your own narrative. It’s an invitation to play, imagine, and reconnect with the stories that make Singapore home.

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Detail view of Shervon Tan’s ‘Urban Space for the People’ (2025).
Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum

From Stage to Tabletop

Developed through workshops with students from the National University of Singapore’s Department of Architecture, the Theatre-Let Project was inspired by Takayama’s reading of theatre legend Bertolt Brecht’s final statement:

“What will be needed from now on are various small and mobile forms — Theatre-let.”

In other words, theatre doesn’t always need a stage. It can live in everyday spaces or even in a board game box. Takayama’s Theatre-Let vision brings performance down to a human scale that's intimate, portable, and personal. Each game becomes a miniature world where imagination takes the lead, encouraging us to see familiar landscapes with fresh eyes.

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Installation view of Akira Takayama/Port B’s ‘Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition’ at Woodlands Regional Library.
Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum

Where to Experience It

After its debut at Woodlands Regional Library (20 August – 5 October 2025), Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition is currently on display at Jurong Regional Library (8 October – 23 November 2025).

Next stops:

• Tampines Regional Library - 26 November 2025 to 11 January 2026

• 20 Anderson Road (Singapore Biennale venue) - 14 January to 29 March 2026

💡 Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention is commissioned by the National Arts Council, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and organised by the Singapore Art Museum. Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition is supported by the JCCI Foundation Singapore.

There’s something incredibly poetic about discovering Singapore through play. Every dice roll, every card drawn, feels like a small step into the stories that quietly shape our everyday surroundings.

Whether you’re an art lover, a curious explorer, or just looking for a creative date idea, Theatre-Let Project: Board Game Centre Edition invites you to slow down, reflect, and reconnect, one game at a time. So if you’re looking for a weekend activity that’s equal parts art, culture, and curiosity, this might just be the most imaginative way to explore Singapore without leaving the table.

Website: https://bit.ly/Theatre-let-project
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