Noted Singapore thespian G Selva has lived and breathed theatre for most of his life. He began acting at the age of 12, first in school productions, then on radio, and later with the Ravindran Drama Group, a youth-run local theatre collective. After graduating, Selva carried his passion abroad. In 2001, he started Avant Theatre in Melbourne, where he staged productions with international artistes. A decade later, he brought Avant Theatre home to Singapore, where it continues to grow, staging plays across many genres.
Selva, who is also trained in Bharatanatyam, often blends movement and rhythm into his productions. Now, as Singapore marks SG60, he is directing a new stage production titled Kopi Kadai (Coffee Shop), a heartfelt multilingual play that pays tribute to the nation’s unique coffee shop culture and its role in shaping community bonds.
“Kopi Kadai is a space where cultures blend and gossip mingle, where common problems are shared and resolutions discussed,” Selva explains during an exclusive interview with Connected to India’s Sudipto Maity. “It is a convenient and comforting cocoon where concerns are voiced, and friendships are formed. Beyond all, it is a place of hope and assurance of unassumed friendship.”
A story rooted in community
The seed for Kopi Kadai was planted in 2024. “The primary idea was by me, and I worked closely with the original story writer, Syed Ashtrafulla,” says Selva. “Later, the dialogues were devised by the cast with the director.” The collaborative process ensured that the voices of the performers reflected the lived experiences of the community.
The play will be staged at the SOTA Drama Theatre — a performing arts theatre in Singapore — on September 18, 19 and 20, with shows at 3.00 pm and 8.00 pm daily. Performed primarily in Tamil, with elements of Bahasa Melayu and Hokkien, it mirrors the city-state’s multilingual identity. The ensemble cast of 35 actors and 20 crew members bring together a range of perspectives and memories to tell this story.
At its heart, Kopi Kadai is about everyday struggles and the extraordinary bonds they create. “It reminds us of days when we needed financial help, where we looked up to neighbours or stall holders to allow us some cash help and credits,” Selva recalls. “Difficult times create bonds and trust. This, in return, celebrates humanity and gives the hope that we are there for one another, not just for good times.”
Central character and legacy
The story’s protagonist is inspired by Singapore’s migrant forefathers, who left their homelands in search of survival. After years of manual labour, the character starts a small wheel-cart coffee stall. Over time, it grows into a building that not only sustains him but becomes a shelter for others.
“He is no different from the early migrant who wanted to make Singapore home,” Selva says. “He was a support for a struggling new family, a runaway, a single mother, and boys who were looking for hope. TTTT is a remarkable 60-year-old man who just helped people in tough times, even with their personal problems. Today he stands tall with his only proud child, who will continue his legacy of helping and caring for others in the community.”
Through this character, Kopi Kadai captures the resilience, compassion and collective spirit that shaped Singapore.
Coffee shop culture on stage
The coffee shop has always been more than a place for food and drink. In Selva’s eyes, it is a stage of its own, where stories unfold daily. “Kopi Kadai is an unrestricted, non-judgemental space where people’s values melt together and shared goals are formed,” he explains. “It creates hopes and a meaning for what we are living for and the future we collectively want for our children.”
The production draws on humour, nostalgia, and authenticity to re-create this atmosphere. For Selva, some memories of coffee shop interactions still stand out vividly. “It was about trust,” he says. “Those little moments when you knew you could rely on someone, even when times were tough, stayed with me.”
Celebrating SG60 with theatre
As Singapore celebrates 60 years of nationhood, Kopi Kadai is both a tribute and a reflection. It highlights how the humble kopitiam has acted as a cultural meeting point, encouraging dialogue and mutual respect across ethnic lines.
Avant Theatre, under Selva’s direction, has long explored themes of identity, migration, and community. With Kopi Kadai, Selva and his team are extending this exploration to one of Singapore’s most familiar and beloved spaces.
For Selva, theatre remains a tool to mirror society, spark conversations, and build connections. With Kopi Kadai, he invites audiences to step into the warmth of the coffee shop, to relive the shared laughter, whispered secrets, borrowed help, and unspoken solidarity that bind people together.
