Award-Winning Playwright Haresh Sharma Returns to ITI to Direct Final Year Production godategod

From 23 to 25 April 2026, Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) will present godategod, written and directed by critically-acclaimed playwright and Cultural Medallion recipient Haresh Sharma and performed by the ITI graduating class of 2026.

godategod is a collection of multicultural, multilingual stories cutting across time and place, confronting the search for meaning in an existential vacuum. Cosmic in scope, tender and darkly funny, the play asks not only how we endure in seemingly relentless chaos, but who must answer for it. 

Assembled from past works by Haresh Sharma and interwoven with new narratives drawn from the lives of three immigrant students in Singapore – Henry Joseph Fundo, Jyoti Rana and Pratiksha Sindhu – the play refracts the personal through the political, layering constructed narratives with lived experience. The title continues from Sharma’s earlier play godeatgod, first staged in 2002 and written in response to the escalation of war following September 11. 

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In Sharma’s Words...

On the play: “The play explores very serious and universal themes such as power, faith and grief. However, there are also many light-hearted moments. Audiences can look forward to a show that is both thought-provoking and heartfelt.”

On the History of ITI: “ITI today embodies an ethos of hard work, discipline and artistic exploration that is absolutely essential to the Singapore cultural landscape.” 

On working with the artists at ITI: “To me, ITI is like an old friend. Pao Kun was a mentor to many young practitioners like me when we were starting out. Sasi continues to teach and inspire generations of theatre makers. The current teachers and the old and new graduates are people I respect very much and continue to work with." 

Collaborators on the Creative Team behind godategod include Movement Director Ruby Jayaseelan, Set Designer Yvan Karlsson, Lighting Designer Faith Liu Yong Huay, and Sound Designer Bani Haykal.

This production marks Sharma’s second collaboration with ITI. In 2014, Sharma wrote the play Cloud Messenger, directed by Alvin Tan and devised with the graduating class of that year. Similarly to godategod, Cloud Messenger also layered students’ personal stories in the script, highlighting the importance of young artists’ voices. 

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