The Parting Glass
Written by
Chris O’Connor
Directed by
Samantha Scott-Blackhall
A Production by
Gateway Arts
Dates: 3 – 13 September 2026
Standard: $45/ticket
Rating: To Be Advised
Themes:
- Depression
- Masculinity
- Isolation and Loneliness
- Emotional Expression
- Connection and Relationships
Each performance will be followed by a post-show discussion where we explore critical topics related to mental wellness offering valuable insights and practical advice.
Suitable for 18 years old and above.
Synopsis
Jim is the life of the party. He’s the joker, the storyteller, the one who always knows what to say. But when his eyes meet Sarah’s for the first time, something shifts. For the first time, words fail him. No matter how hard he tries to compose himself and make a good impression, he comes across as flustered and clumsy. But that’s okay, because Sarah finds him cute. It might even be love at first sight.
It’s Jim’s 30th birthday—a night for celebration and laughter, held at his favourite bar in town. But something doesn’t feel right. Jim has always felt out of place, like there’s a cloud in his mind that is hard to clear. Today, he wants to tell you his story.
Directed by Samantha Scott-Blackhall, written by Chris O’Connor, and adapted by Krish Natarajan, The Parting Glass is an immersive theatrical experience that invites you into Jim’s world—at live music bar The Blackbird Singapore. From the team behind Third Man Syndrome and Every Brilliant Thing comes a poignant exploration of mental health and masculinity that poses the question: how well do we ever really know someone—and what are we missing when we don’t ask?
Step in, join the party, and raise a glass to Jim.
Themes of depression and mention of suicide throughout the show.
Reviewed by psychologists and therapists, this play is not expected to increase risk for young people with lived experience. While many scenes reflect realities that may already be familiar, certain moments may feel particularly intense for parents and caregivers.
COMING SOON
Scaredy Kat Presents
21 May - 31 May 2026
Panic attacks have crippled Kathryn since childhood. Desperate to overcome them, she focuses on her favourite thing in life: making movies. But her stop-motion figurines keep falling apart — just like her confidence. New schoolmate Nadia might be the key to making her movie work, if only Kathryn can muster up the courage to make a friend.
From the producers of 12 Going On 13 and Third Man Syndrome, Scaredy Kat Presents is a youth theatre production in Singapore exploring panic attacks and friendship that blends live performance, puppetry and animation to deliver a big-hearted story about taking risks, making art and learning to fly.
Early bird sales starts on 1 April 2026.