August 9, 1965 might make it clearer. Yes, it has been forty years since Singapore's (and Lee Kuan Yew's tearful) separation from Malaysia.

Watch sparks fly as Singapore’s The Necessary Stage joins Malaysia’s Dramalab to parade characters in Singapore and Malaysia over the past four decades.

Separation 40 will be an intimate and humorous spotlight on people and situations in the context of Singapore and Malaysia, while confronting the what-ifs no one wants to ask or answer. Join in the fun as they present stories that will crack you up:

1. Friends in therapy
2. Two strangers on a turbulent flight
3. A mother and son torn apart during the Malaysia Cup
4. A look at Singapore and Malaysia today – if we had never separated
5. Saying goodbye in 1965

Separation 40 will bring together the writing talents of Boh Cameronian Arts Award winning playwright Jit Murad and Singapore’s Haresh Sharma (Otak Tak Centre). Each playwright will generate material separately, in tune with the general theme of the collaboration, and it will be workshopped by the two directors: Boh Cameronian Arts Award winning director Zahim Albakri and Singapore’s Alvin Tan, both of whom later will fuse and bridge the stories together.

The cast and crew of this unique co-production are both from Malaysia and Singapore. It will be a process that exemplifies the special ability of theatre – to bring together disparate elements and generate artwork of unique and special significance.

Starring Chua Enlai (Singapore), Soefira Jaafar (Malaysia), Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit (Singapore), Yeo Yann Yann (Singapore), Syed Zalihafe (Malaysia). Lighting by Mac Chan (Malaysia) and set design by Vincent Lim (Singapore).