Mediacorp Debuts Multilingual Drama 128 Circle

Mediacorp has unveiled 128 Circle, depicting a microcosm of Singapore society, marking Channel 5’s first multilingual drama.

The drama follows the lives of a group of hawkers operating from the titular 128 Circle Food Centre. The fictional address plays on the similarities between “128” and “want to eat,” a reference to the Singaporean passion for food, combined with the metaphoric circle of community.

The 15-episode drama looks at the challenges hawkers face, both at work and in their personal lives. It debuted September 28 on Toggle and will bow October 7 on Channel 5.

128 Circle was produced by Weiyu Films and directed by its founder, Lee Thean-jeen.

Irene Lim, chief customer officer at Mediacorp, said: “128 Circle is set in a hawker center, an icon of Singapore culture and a much-loved destination where Singaporeans from all walks of life congregate. The setting reveals the rich diversity of our heritage while the use of multiple languages reflects our different voices in a fresh, authentic way. At the heart of what Mediacorp does is telling relatable stories that are close to the hearts of Singaporeans and celebrate our unique identity. 128 Circle tells our stories.”

Thean-jeen said: “Weiyu Films is delighted for the opportunity to collaborate with Mediacorp in bringing this landmark production to our viewers. I could not think of a better way to showcase our multi-faceted society than the humble hawker center, which in 128 Circle serves as the perfect backdrop to explore the colorful and rich interactions between different races in Singapore. The stories that these hawkers tell are raw but very relatable to every Singaporean.”