Even in its 60^th year, the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) remains committed to empowering young artists to develop their creative voices. This year, SYF announced the new Drama Category for Primary School Students, enabling over 1,600 students across 60 primary schools to bring their stories to life.

It was a full-circle moment for Luanne as she takes on the role of an adjudicator for the category. She recalls the joy when she took part in SYF herself. So, when the festival approached her for a pilot of this direction in 2025, she and her team wanted to balance between the craft and the joy for all the students. Here’s how she managed:

What was it like when you were first approached to become the adjudicator for the SYF Drama for Primary School?

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Drama was finally being introduced to the Primary School category. I took part in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) myself when I was in secondary school, and it was such a memorable experience. I still look back on it very fondly, so I had always assumed that Primary Schools were already part of it. It was really exciting to be invited to be part of this new milestone.

How did you approach adjudicating the SYF Drama for Primary School?

During the pilot in 2025, which I had the privilege of being involved in, we spent a lot of time thinking and discussing about what would be most appropriate for students of this age. We wanted to find a balance between recognising good theatre-making and creating a positive, encouraging experience for the children. At the end of the day, we wanted them to enjoy being on stage, express themselves freely, and let their natural energy and joy shine through.

What was the one thing you kept in mind during the adjudication?

That I will always want to find and applaud the effort by the students onstage, and so that we can offer them words of affirmation immediately after each performance, in front of their family and friends.

What’s the biggest takeaway from your time adjudicating the SYF Drama for Primary School?

One of my biggest takeaways was that every group needs to be appreciated within the context of the resources they have, both naturally and through the support they've been given.

By "natural resources", I mean the students' age, cognitive development, and individual abilities. A group of Primary 2 students and a group of Primary 4 students can look and perform very differently, and that's to be expected.

The other part is the resources they've been given. The guidance of their teachers and drama instructors plays a huge role in shaping their experience and performance onstage. A great instructor doesn't just train students to be technically proficient - they create an environment where every child feels confident to contribute, and where the strengths of the ensemble can really shine, or vice versa.

That reminded me that good adjudication isn't about comparing one school against another. It's about recognising what each group has achieved with the resources available to them, and celebrating authentic growth, creativity, and collaboration. 

How do you think primary schools can approach drama and drama education beyond SYF Drama for Primary School?

I think it's important for schools to see drama as more than just something students do for a performance or competition. Drama is really about helping children develop confidence, empathy, creativity, and the ability to work with others. Those are skills that stay with them long after they've left the stage.

The SYF is a wonderful milestone, but it shouldn't be the end goal. Drama can be part of everyday learning—whether it's through classroom activities, storytelling, role play, devising, or simply giving students opportunities to express themselves and their ideas.

When we focus on the process as much as the performance, students gain so much more. They learn to listen, collaborate, solve problems creatively, and support one another. If schools can nurture that joy of exploration and play, I think they'll be building not just stronger performers, but more confident and thoughtful young people.