The Nonya Nightingale 2026

Date & Time:
4 Mar to 6 Mar (Wed to Fri):
9:30am – 10.30am | 11:30am – 12:30pm

7 & 8 Mar (Sat & Sun):
11:00am – 12:00pm | 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Duration of Show:
Approximately 1 hour

Venue:
Goodman Arts Centre
Black Box, 90 Goodman Rd, Block M, Singapore 439053

Ticket Price:
Standard: $28
Bundle of Two: $50
Group of Four: $95

Early Bird Price (14 Jan – 15 Feb):
Early Bird 15% Off: $23.80
Early Bird 15% Off Bundle of Two: $42.50
Early Bird 15% Off Group of Four: $80.75

Additional Fee:
$3 booking fee per ticket for tickets between $20.01 and $40
$1 booking fee per ticket for prices below $20

Language:
English

Admission Rules:
Rating / Age Limit:
– Admission is subject to tickets produced at the Black Box entrance.
– Infants in arms or children below 3 years old shall not be admitted.
– Children aged 3 years old and above must book tickets for admission.

Late Seating Advisory:
– You are strongly advised to be seated before the performance start time.
– Latecomers will be admitted during suitable breaks, if any.
– Exceptions may be made at Paper Monkey Theatre’s discretion depending on the nature of the performance.

Photography / Video Recording Rules:
– No unauthorised photography, video and audio recording is allowed for this event.
– Please note that photographs and videos of patrons may be taken at this event for use in our archival and publicity material.

Help Us Keep Everyone Safe:
– Strictly no food & beverage allowed in the performance venues.
– Stay at home if you’re unwell.

*Free seating: First come, first served basis.

Synopsis:

Towkay Neo, a rich Peranakan matriarch, decides to divide her riches among her three daughters, and offers the largest share to the one who loves her best.

Upon knowing that Towkay Neo is charmed by the beautiful singing of the nightingale that lives in the garden, the eldest daughter captured the songbird while the second daughter made a mechanical songbird to please their mother in order to gain her favor, but not the youngest daughter. Angry that the youngest daughter does not appear to love her as her two elder sisters do, Towkay Neo flies into rage and disowns the third sister.

However, the matriarch’s blissful life was short-lived as her nightingale stopped singing and her two disrespectful elder daughters kicked her out of their households.

What will Towkay Neo do now? Will the youngest daughter gain understanding from Towkay Neo and be reunited with her mother? Will the matriarch live to hear her nightingale sing once more?

The Nonya Nightingale is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s – The Nightingale and Shakespeare’s – King Lear. A beautiful combination of two classics retold in a heartwarming tale. The Nonya Nightingale is a marvellous play with drama, puppetry, song and dance that promises to charm the young and old.

Hightlights

– The work celebrates Peranakan culture through music, storytelling, and puppetry, with a strong focus on toy theatre and object puppetry.
– Through imaginative staging, miniature sets, and the creative use of objects, the production invites audiences into an intimate theatrical world where small details spark big emotions.
– Toy theatre and object puppetry encourage curiosity and imagination, allowing children and adults alike to experience storytelling in playful and meaningful ways.
– Present your ticket to enter Peranakan Mansion @ Joo Chiat for free!
– 10% discount for all spending at Cafe Melba @ Goodman Arts Centre by showing your tickets!

*Free seating: First come first serve basis

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