[02] Give the Gift of Theatre: Devising for Young Adults with Adib Kosnan

Bestow the magic of theatre upon the next generation – donate theatremaker Adib Kosnan’s workshop, Devising for Young Adults, to children and disadvantaged youths from Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC)!

During this workshop, youths will learn how to devise for theatre and create their own original stories, under the guidance of experienced theatre practitioner and Associate Artist Adib Kosnan. They will be introduced to Checkpoint Theatre’s unique devising process, and experience how theatre is made while learning openness, cooperation, and teamwork.

About Tak Takut Kids Club:
In 2019, Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC) started as an independent social experiment by 3Pumpkins. The curiosity was to find out if a community space for children, embedded in a rental flat estate and helmed by fun-loving and caring adults, would bring any positive change to the environment and socio-emotional resilience of its young residents. Boon Lay Drive was chosen as the pilot site, and TTKC started with a half-shop space, a subtenant of a laundromat.

Today, TTKC is a strategic partner of a larger integrated social service network of Comlink @Jurong West. Our ‘child-first’ approach on the ground has led us to discover emerging issues and resolve problems that the conventional social work structures have difficulty in detecting and engaging: a child who endures beating at home because he is afraid of seeking professional help; a child who goes hungry for weeks because she is afraid of reporting loss of ez-link card; a child who doesn’t attend school because he is afraid of the piling school work. “Tak Takut” means don’t be afraid. Our core relational work is to build trust so that the kids will not be afraid to open up to connect with others, connect with themselves. The centre has thus far connected with 200 children (aged 7-14) and their families, and journeyed with 50 at-risk children in close case support.

Building a stable and engaging community life has been a big part of TTKC’s placemaking work in the past year. Our current spaces include a multi-purpose art studio, community kitchen, and a children’s garden. Our routine includes cooking, gardening, sports, free play, and TTKC Getai, a performative platform where the kids can showcase their talent. These spaces and routines create a stable and supportive second home for children and youth who yearn for a sense of acceptance and belonging. To quote 11-year-old Nikky, “TTKC is the only therapeutic space in my life.”

Biography:
Adib Kosnan is a theatre practitioner, educator, and Associate Artist with Checkpoint Theatre. Since his professional debut in 2003, Adib has performed in numerous productions, including Checkpoint Theatre’s Escape to Batam (2025), Brown Boys Don’t Tell Jokes (2023) and FRAGO (2018). He is also a founding member of the Singaporean Malay playwright collective Main Tulis Group. His play 28.8 (2017) was nominated for Best Original Script at the Straits Times Life Theatre Awards 2018, and is published in Checkpoint Theatre’s Feels Like Home: New Singapore Plays Volume 3 (2023). As an educator, Adib teaches in schools and conducts Checkpoint Theatre’s NAC-AEP and outreach programmes. He enjoys the collaborative nature of theatre and sharing what he has learnt from wearing his multiple hats.

Terms & Conditions:
– A workshop for 12 to 18 pax
– Duration: 2 sessions of 3 hours each
– Checkpoint Theatre will liaise directly with the beneficiaries to provide these sessions to their youth participants