“Buds is important not only because it nurtures Artists that then go on to contribute to enriching the cultural fabric around Singapore, but also because it is a place for kids to go when they feel like all the doors are shutting on them. It provides them with a rest stop till they ultimately find their way, a playground where rules are only used as an instrument to challenge them, an institution of learning and most importantly a community where they meet other kids who are like them and where they feel supported.”

“Buds also gave me the platform to discover the Singapore voice and how performing or writing a Singaporean play is equally if not more valuable than doing Macbeth or The Crucible for the 1000th time. I discovered that my voice, despite coming from a tiny red dot, is equally as important and has its place in New York City, where I currently live and study.”

“It is a space for youths of many different backgrounds, skills and interests to meet and hone their talents. Without it, where can the like-minded young with the passion but not the financial means come together to share their ideas, to inspire and be inspired by one another? ”

“It was a place where I found my voice at a time when I was incredibly lost. I know that it sounds very pretentious to say this but BYT genuinely saved me. If theatre didn’t find me; if I didn’t discover this place where I could have a few hours of quiet to investigate pressing questions about my life, my world and human nature, I would have gone down a different, darker path.”