SINGAPORE — The organisers of Singapura: The Musical believe the show will resonate with both Singaporean and international audiences when it opens at the Capitol Theatre on May 19.

The US$2 million musical, written by Filipino composer, arranger and musical director Ed Gatchalian, and directed by American Broadway veteran Greg Ganakas, will tell the stories of ordinary Singaporeans between 1955 and 1965. Produced by the Philippine-based 4th Wall Theatre Company, the show will feature Filipino and Singaporean actors.

At a press conference at The Fullerton Hotel yesterday, Mr Jonathan Lim, best known as the creator of the popular Chestnuts theatre series here, said he felt more strongly about the struggles his father’s generation went through because of his involvement in the musical.

Mr Lim is the dramaturge and has a role in the show.

“Living in Singapore today .... we don’t really understand how it feels to be a person living through those times, the racial tensions, the economic instability,” he said.

“Yes, I’ve seen it on TV, but ... when you deal with characters in the show, they force you to really confront real problems. They are life and death — disease, poverty.”

As to why the Singaporean characters in the musical will be played by a mix of Singaporean and Filipino actors, Mr Lim said it did not matter who the performers were, as long as the show was good.

“The show needs to be really, really solid — to the point where you can show it to the world. I think if we were to insist on telling the story (using only Singaporean actors), it will always be small, because our scene is really small.”

He added: “(The Philippines has) a bigger industry and it is willing to loan us its skills ... At the end of the day, the story wins.”

Citing other musicals, Mr Gatchalian pointed out that Miss Saigon was not written by a Vietnamese, while Madama Butterfly was written by an Italian. “In musical theatre ... there’s no Filipino, Singaporean or American. We are all artistes,” he said.

Singapura: The Musical will make its world premiere at the Capitol Theatre, which will reopen this year after a 17-year hiatus.

The musical will run for six weeks. Tickets are available from S$65 through eventCliQue at http://singapurathemusical.eventclique.com.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said the budget for the musical was S$2 million. This is incorrect. The budget is US$2 million. We apologise for the error.”