First aired on 5 March 2020 as part of our HistoriaSG lecture series Dr Emily Soon Research Fellow, National Museum of Singapore
What role did Shakespeare play in 20th-century Singapore? How did individuals from Singapore’s diverse ethnic communities respond to, and rework, the plays of this English Renaissance playwright? Beyond the classroom, how did students and teachers creatively adapt Shakespeare’s texts to better resonate with life in this tropical city?
This talk by Dr Emily Soon explores the Shakespearean threads within Singapore’s multicultural history, tracing how people in Singapore engaged with Shakespeare as the island transitioned from being a British colony to an independent Southeast Asian state.
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20 October 2025
Our Singapore History Gallery will close on 17 November 2025 (last day 16 November) as part of our museum's restoration and upgrading efforts. Visitors may continue to visit our Once Upon a Tide special exhibition, which will remain open during this period. The gallery will re-open in October 2026 with a whole new experience.
01 January 2025
Parts of the National Museum of Singapore are undergoing restoration and upgrading works. We remain open with exhibitions, programmes as well as dining and retail offerings.