Singapore bans Wild Rice’s theatre performance for ‘glamorising’ drug abuse
The company rejected the media regulator’s characterisation of ‘Homepar’, saying the play does not ‘glorify’ drug use
A revised script for a dramatised reading, titled “Homepar”, was submitted on June 5, with IMDA assessing it to be in breach of the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC). This was done in consultation with the MHA, it added.
IMDA noted that the revised script had “substantially changed” from the version that was submitted on April 21.
“The new material depicts and glamorises drug abuse and portrays an undercover CNB officer shielding abusers from detection,” it said.
“It undermines Singapore’s anti-drug policy, our drug rehabilitation regime, and public confidence in the CNB. Performances that undermine Singapore’s national interest are not permitted under the AECC.”
IMDA said it had previously informed Wild Rice that the earlier script submitted met classification requirements and could be staged under an R18 rating.