A $30 million waterfront theatre is slated to open at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay by 2021.

The 550-seat venue, announced by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu at the M1-The Straits Times Life Theatre Awards yesterday, will give arts groups space to stage new work and also attract more audiences. She said the Government would contribute at least $10 million to the new theatre. The Esplanade will raise the rest.

Among the top winners of the annual theatre awards were B*tch: The Origin Of The Female Species, a two-hander about a man and his dog, which took home Production of the Year; and family drama Falling, staged by Pangdemonium, which won director Tracie Pang her first Best Director award and also netted Best Actor and Best Actress prizes for newcomer Andrew Marko and veteran Tan Kheng Hua.

SEE TOP OF THE NEWS: $30m waterfront theatre to seat 550 at Esplanade