IMDA disallows Wild Rice’s Homepar script over concerns of drug glorification

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has disallowed the staging of Homepar, a dramatised reading by theatre company Wild Rice, after assessing that a revised script breached national content guidelines.

The decision was announced on 20 June, 2025, in a joint statement by IMDA and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The agencies expressed concern that the new script glamorised drug use and misrepresented the role of narcotics enforcement officers.

Submission and review process

Wild Rice had originally submitted Homepar on 21 April, 2025. That version was approved for staging under an R18 classification, which allows adult audiences to attend but restricts access for younger viewers.

However, a revised version of the script was submitted on 5 June. According to IMDA, the changes were substantial and shifted the tone of the play. The regulator subsequently reassessed the material, consulting relevant agencies in line with its Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC).

Concerns highlighted by authorities

Authorities concluded that the updated script portrayed drug use in a sympathetic light, potentially normalising or glamorising it. In particular, IMDA and MHA highlighted the depiction of an undercover Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officer shielding drug users from detection.

The joint statement said such a portrayal could weaken public trust in Singapore’s anti-drug strategy, undermine the work of enforcement agencies, and contradict the country’s rehabilitation framework. IMDA added that content perceived to challenge national interest cannot be approved under existing rules.

Options offered to the theatre company

Wild Rice was informed that the original approved version of the script, dated 21 April, remained valid for performance under its R18 classification. The company was given the option to proceed with that staging.

However, the theatre company chose not to revert to the earlier version. Consequently, IMDA formally disallowed the staging of Homepar in its revised form.

Synopsis of the play

A synopsis previously available on Wild Rice’s website described Homepar as following a protagonist who, after a painful breakup and amid a period of gender identity exploration, hosts a “homepar”—a house party echoing Singapore’s gay nightclub scene.

The script was written by playwright Mitchell Fang and was part of The Rice Cooker, a Wild Rice initiative aimed at developing new works. The staging was to be presented as script-in-hand readings, with a limited audience of 60 people per performance.

Regulatory framework

The Arts Entertainment Classification Code governs how public performances are assessed in Singapore. The code restricts works deemed to undermine public trust in state institutions, promote criminal behaviour, or challenge national interests.

IMDA reiterated that its classification decisions are made in consultation with relevant government bodies where necessary. In this case, the Central Narcotics Bureau and MHA were consulted due to the script’s subject matter.

Singapore maintains one of the world’s strictest anti-drug regimes, with zero tolerance for narcotics use. Possession and trafficking of controlled substances carry heavy penalties, including capital punishment in the case of trafficking above specified thresholds.

Wild Rice responds

In a statement published on its social media channels, Wild Rice rejected the authorities’ assessment. It argued that Homepar did not glamorise drug use but instead provided a layered exploration of addiction, resilience, and recovery.

“The central character’s journey is one of struggle, resilience, and the power of community in overcoming addiction and stigma,” the company stated. It added that the play did not condone or celebrate drug use but asked difficult questions about why individuals turn to substances.

Wild Rice noted that the performance incorporated multiple perspectives and concluded with “a celebration of community that is explicitly and intentionally drug-free.”

Developmental work highlighted

The company also underscored that Homepar was presented as part of its developmental platform, The Rice Cooker. The initiative is designed to nurture new scripts and allow artists to test ideas in front of small audiences before further refinement.

“It is deeply disappointing that a developmental work has been thrust into the public spotlight and judged as if it were a complete and finished work,” the statement read.

Wild Rice operates a 20,000 sq ft theatre facility at Funan Mall and has been a prominent fixture in Singapore’s arts scene. Known for engaging with social, political, and cultural issues, it has often staged productions that test the boundaries of local censorship frameworks.

Broader arts context

The decision adds to ongoing debates about the scope of artistic freedom in Singapore. The country’s arts sector is tightly regulated, with performances subject to classification and licensing.

Authorities have argued that regulations are necessary to balance artistic expression with public order, social values, and national interests. Arts practitioners, however, often call for greater space to explore complex or controversial subjects.

Drug use remains a particularly sensitive theme, given Singapore’s uncompromising stance on narcotics. Past works dealing with drugs have faced restrictions, though some productions exploring rehabilitation and social impact have been permitted with appropriate content warnings.

Balancing regulation and expression

Wild Rice emphasised that it respects Singapore’s anti-drug stance and intends to work constructively with regulators. “We remain committed to responsible storytelling, and to working constructively with regulators to ensure that this important new Singaporean work can be seen, understood, and appreciated for what it truly is,” the company said.

The debate surrounding Homepar is likely to intensify discussions on how the arts can engage with challenging subjects without falling afoul of national content guidelines.