Rising theatre star brings magic to ChildAid’s 20th year
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ChildAid concert director Krish Natarajan (centre) and the cast at SPH News Centre’s auditorium on Nov 8.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Helmi Yusof
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SINGAPORE - Krish Natarajan is on a roll. Recognised as one of Singapore theatre’s rising stars, the 29-year-old actor, writer and director has had a packed 2024.
This year alone, he has delivered a series of productions, from staging two Crack The Case murder mysteries to acting in a string of acclaimed plays by Wild Rice and Checkpoint Theatre.
Now, he is wrapping up the year by scripting and directing ChildAid. It is a show close to his heart because it blends his love for imaginative storytelling with the joy of working with children.
Organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times, ChildAid blends music, dance, theatre and very talented child performers to raise money for underprivileged children.
“The kids are incredible,” Natarajan said, his eyes lighting up. “They’re passionate and so talented. They bring an energy that you don’t find in adult casts.”
Natarajan is better known for his immersive productions, such as the ongoing Crack The Case – Red: An Artful Murder which turns audience members into detectives,
But working with children has opened up a new side of his creativity.
“It’s a different language. I have to find ways to show things I’d usually just explain,” he said with a laugh. “With adult casts, I use words. With child casts, I have to physically demonstrate the motions.”
This year’s ChildAid is its 20th edition and is expected to be especially grand. Titled The Dream Emporium, it is set in an enchanting world where children’s dreams are sorted and made real through song, dance and artificial intelligence technology.
With whimsical sets, lively music and interactive moments, Natarajan expects the audience to be as enchanted by the world of the Dream Emporium as he had been while inventing it.
“Ultimately, it’s about creating a world where kids see that their dreams matter,” he said.
The show will be held at the Esplanade Theatre on Nov 29 and 30, with tickets priced as low as $28. Proceeds go towards The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.
As the young ones breathe life into characters from the fantastical Dream Emporium, Natarajan finds himself reflecting on his own journey into theatre, from acting in school productions to directing acclaimed shows across Singapore.
“When I was young,” he said, “I was lucky enough to have my parents who took me to theatre shows. Subsequently, my primary school put on The Wizard Of Oz, where I was cast as the Tin Man. It was the first time I felt that rush of excitement.”
Years later, he would enrol in the School of the Arts, originally as a visual arts student before switching to theatre – a turning point that set him on the path to a career marked by bold, unconventional productions.
Today, he is one of the hardest-working talents in theatre. He has developed a knack for reinventing the theatre-going experience – from immersive experiences in museums to roving productions in historical neighbourhoods.
His current show Crack The Case – Red: An Artful Murder, part of his popular murder mystery series produced with Sight Lines Entertainment, is described as “equally entertaining and challenging” by an ST reviewer.
“I love thrillers, horror and games, so putting those elements together into immersive theatre just felt natural,” he said.
In contrast, ChildAid has been a unique project, one that highlights a softer, more reflective side of him. “These kids remind me so much of myself,” said Natarajan.
He is particularly impressed with Jemima Liew-Yeo, an eight-year-old performer with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia, for her bold and instinctive choices.
“One day, Jemima asked if her character could have ADHD, and I said: ‘Of course’. I realised that theatre could be a space where she sees herself represented.”
ChildAid concert director Krish Natarajan with Jemima Liew-Yeo.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
For him, it is moments like this that make ChildAid special – a blend of performance, mentoring and cultivating young talent that leaves an impact.
As a full-time artiste, he faces challenges that come with the hustle of the performing arts.
“There’s a lot of anxiety,” he confessed, recalling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on his projects.
“We had plans, big ones, and suddenly everything was gone... Now, it’s the opposite – there is a constant pressure to say yes to every project.”
But the rewards outweigh the hurdles.
“Each show feels like family. You build these bonds, work intensely together, then part ways.”
Beyond his own work, Natarajan is a strong advocate for arts education, especially for young people.
“I think the arts are essential for kids in Singapore,” he says, noting the pressures of achievement in schools.
“Theatre gives kids a chance to be silly, to try things without worrying about grades and KPIs (key performance indicators). It’s a safe space where they can be themselves.”
ChildAid may be a culmination of everything he loves about theatre: performance, play and connection.
And though it is weeks away from opening, he is already looking forward to what’s next – a new mystery to crack, a new acclaimed play by a major theatre company, and perhaps, an ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of dreamers and doers.
ChildAid 2024 – The Dream Emporium
Where: Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive str.sg/CA24-show
When: Nov 29, 7.30pm; Nov 30, 2pm (gala show) and 7.30pm
Admission: $28, $38 and $68 via Sistic (go to
