Gateway Arts will present How To Be A Kid, an award-winning coming-of-age play exploring childhood, family relationships and grief, at Gateway Theatre’s Black Box from 5 to 15 November 2026.
Written by UK playwright Sarah McDonald-Hughes and localised for Singapore audiences by director Ian Loy, the 60-minute production follows 12-year-old Molly after the death of her grandmother. As her mother struggles with grief, Molly steps into the role of “Supergirl”, taking on household chores and caring for her six-year-old brother Joe while trying to manage her own emotions.
The play is written for children aged seven to 12, as well as the parents, caregivers and educators who support them. Through humour, visual storytelling and moments of adventure, How To Be A Kid explores the different ways people experience bereavement and how families can support one another through difficult changes.
Gateway Arts said the production also aims to address the challenges families can face when talking about death and grief. A survey commissioned by the Singapore Hospice Council found that 40.9% of adults feel confident talking to a child about death and grief.
Children and adults can also respond to grief differently. Children may move between sadness and play, while older children may suppress their feelings to avoid adding to the emotional burden of adults around them. In the play, Molly’s response to the loss of her grandmother is to take on responsibilities beyond her years, leaving little space for her own experience as a child.
Director Ian Loy, whose work has focused on young audiences since 2009, leads the Singapore production. He received the Young Artist Award in 2014.
The production will also extend its focus beyond the stage through post-show discussions following every public and school performance. For public shows, panellists from Singapore Children’s Society will introduce shared emotional language and practical coping strategies to help caregivers and children discuss grief, loss and other difficult feelings.
The discussions will encourage families to reflect on the characters and story, recognise different experiences of grief and practise listening without judgement. Caregivers will also be encouraged to give children space to ask questions and recognise when additional support may be useful.
School performances will feature post-show sessions facilitated in partnership with the Singapore Association for Mental Health. These sessions will provide students with a space to explore difficult emotions, discuss the importance of friendships and family relationships, and learn about practical coping strategies and available sources of support.
Gateway Arts will also pilot a parent-child workshop titled “Leaning On Each Other”, designed by actor, drama educator and applied theatre practitioner Renee Chua. The one-hour interactive workshop will take place on 7 and 15 November at 3:15pm after the performance.
Through facilitated discussions, role play and drama games, the workshop will invite families to revisit moments from the play, consider different perspectives and explore ways to respond to challenging situations. Participants will also work on emotional vocabulary, listening without judgement and practical ways family members can support each other.
Families purchasing two performance tickets can attend the workshop for $10 per parent-child pair. Places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Despite its focus on bereavement, How To Be A Kid also incorporates humour and lighter moments. During a nighttime adventure, Molly and Joe encounter a cleaner, played by Misha, whose comic antics provide a change of pace within the story.
Public performances will take place on 6 and 13 November at 7:30pm, 7, 8 and 14 November at 2pm and 5pm, and 15 November at 2pm. School shows are scheduled for 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13 November.
Early Bird tickets are priced at $36, excluding the SISTIC booking fee, while standard tickets cost $45, excluding the booking fee. Early Bird sales run from 21 September to 4 October, followed by general sales from 5 October to 15 November.
How To Be A Kid will be staged at the Black Box at Gateway Theatre from 5 to 15 November 2026, with tickets available through SISTIC.
