Creative talents behind our mega shows

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CONTENTS
29 MAY
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ISSUE 17
features
02
PROFILES
ABC GUIDE
06 10
THE BIG SPECTACLE
P RAMLEE.
THE
RAMAYANA.
REDIFFUSION.
RUBEN PANG
R
RU
Besides helming stage shows,
theatre practitioners have become
increasingly involved in super-sized
productions.
This
T
hi 24-year-old’s
meteoric
rise in the
me
visual
vis arts scene.
NEWS
14
WHAT’S A-BUZZING
COVER CREDITS Illustration BRIAN CHIA
SEA Games arts installations,
behind the NDP 2015 theme song,
and the latest contest.
THE GREAT SPY
EXPERIMENT
After 10 years on the music
scene, this homegrown indie band
takes a bow.
13
08
VOCAL DELIGHTS
15LISTINGs
24EPILOGUE
THE A TEAM
editorial director
MICHAEL CHIANG
Why are a cappella groups all the
rage now?
[email protected]
creative director
TONY LAW
head, digital marketing
WILLIAM LOW
editor
PAMELA HO
specialist, digital marketing
NICK YEO
writer
JO TAN
contributors PAMELA QUEK,
[email protected]
[email protected]
one small
voice
07
11
1
1
MAIN OBJECTIF
THE WRITE
ROLE
Visual arts centre Objectifs
celebrates new beginnings as it
moves into a new home.
Arts reporter MAYO MARTIN
describes his place in the arts
ecosystem.
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PUBLICATION BY
SUPPORTED BY
associate art director
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Printed by Times Printers Pte Ltd.
HELD IN
IN CELEBRATION OF
BI
SPECT
the
2
PHOTO Courtesy of SEA Games Organisers
T
his year sees a slew of
spectacular megaevents taking place
in Singapore, what
with the Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games and celebration
concert Sing50 expected to pack
stadiums and fill up screen time
with television coverage. Then in
August, Singaporeans will witness
the biggest National Day Parade
(NDP) ever staged, a fitting tribute to
mark the nation’s Golden Jubilee.
What does it take to create the
fireworks and fanfare for these
eye-popping extravaganzas? As
such mega-productions involve
huge manpower resources,
massive technical support and
complicated logistics, they need
to be planned at least a year in
advance. While government agencies
like the Singapore Armed Forces
typically provide all the necessary
infrastructure, the show itself is
usually the brainchild of creative
talents from the arts scene.
We talk to the movers and shakers
involved in a few upcoming big events
to give you an idea of what it takes.
The SEA
Games
NATIONAL STADIUM
5 JUNE (OPENING CEREMONY) +
16 JUNE (CLOSING CEREMONY)
B
eatrice Chia-Richmond (right),
actress, director and now creative
director of the SEA Games 2015’s
opening and closing ceremonies,
describes her life in the months
leading up to the Games, which take
place from 5 to 16 June in Singapore.
G
TACLE
Besides helming stage shows,
theatre practitioners have
become increasingly involved
in mega-productions that
require drama and creativity
on a grand scale. JO TAN
BY
3
“Last Saturday, a
typical SEA Games
Saturday, I woke up at
6am. I left the house at
6.30am to get to Khatib
Camp by 7am and set
up by 8.15am, when
our performers arrive.
The team starts briefing
them at 8.30am about
the agenda and also
safety issues. Then we rehearse
the
hearse tth
he
different acts, each act involving
700 to 800 people. During what’s
supposed to be our lunchtime, we
usually work with the choreographer
to polish bits that are
not quite right. At
1.30pm, the next batch
of performers arrive. We
repeat the process till
the next group arrives
at 6.30pm,” she says,
taking a breath.
“At 10.30pm, we have
an after-action report
to discuss what and how to improve.
We get home close to midnight,
dehydrated and sunburnt and fall
into bed in a coma. At 6.30am the
next day, we go back to rehearse for
the closing ceremony. The days we’re
not rehearsing, there are meetings
with the various people involved
lasting as long as 9am to 9pm,
to report the problems and what
needs to be solved before the next
rehearsal. These range from medical
incidents to missing costumes, to
broken props... I barely see my son, I
feel I’m failing as a mother.”
Luckily, Chia-Richmond has
her amply qualified creative
team to help her, including chief
choreographer, the award-winning
dancer/choreographer Jeffrey Tan.
LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT
BEATRICE CHIA-RICHMOND,
PICTURED WITH GOH BOON
TECK AND COLONEL YANG
SI CHENG, SEA GAMES
SHOW CHAIRMAN, CAME
ONBOARD AS SEA GAMES
CREATIVE DIRECTOR IN
2013.
With additional reporting by Pamela Ho
4
Handling the high-tech machinery
is technical director Kenny Wong.
“We’re struggling with things that
have never been done in the stadium,
or ever been seen in Singapore
before, actually! But that’s what
makes it exciting. The projection
system we’re using is going to be in
the Guinness Book of Records!”
Pitching in as production designer
is Goh Boon Teck, chief artistic
director of Toy Factory and National
Arts Council Young Artist Award
recipient. “It’s just ultra-difficult,
t,
technically. We’re very proud
of the results. Expect flying
metal and five giant auspicious
creatures — that’s just two
out of over 300 spectacles
you’ll see!” he shares. Others
in the creative team include
celebrated playwright and
Young Artist Award recipient
Haresh Sharma (who served as
writer and co-conceptualiser),
costume and puppet designers
Phisit Jongnarasin and Saksit
Pisalasupongs, sound designer Shah
Tahir, lighting designer Mac Chan
and multimedia designer Brian
Gothong Tan, another Young Artist
Award recipient.
Wong stresses it’s not just glitz and
technology on the cards. “For all
the shows I do, whether a small
A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS INVOLVED IN
THE SEA GAMES CEREMONIES
4,500
PERFORMERS {
}
2,000
OPENING
CEREMONY
PERFORMERS {
CLOSING
CEREMONY
}
Behindthescenes
Chia agrees, “Our state-of-the-art
aerial system, our LED medallions
— all that is just technology, tools
to help you tell a story. And the
SEA Games’ story, its theme, is
‘Celebrate the Extraordinary’,
highlighting how ordinary people
drive themselves to achieve
extraordinary things. I believe
in that story, so does my team,
and what’s more, we believe we
can create those extraordinary
moments for the audience. That’s
why everyone, including the
volunteers, work so hard. We want
to look back and feel we’ve done
something great.”
8,000
For more on the 28th SEA Games, visit
www.seagames2015.com. Catch the
SEA Games coverage on okto, MediaCorp’s
dedicated channel for the Games.
C
COST
$33MILLION
$
33M
ON
NOW YOU SEA ME
THE SEA
S GAMES CREATIVE
TEAM
TEA INCLUDES (FROM
TOP)
TOP THEATRE VETERANS
GOH BOON TECK,
KENNY WONG AND
JEFFREY TAN.
Live audience
Live
audience
43,000
,
TV audience
600
MILLION
ESTIMATED
“The magnitude of helping to
create a performance representing
11 countries is astounding,” says
Tan, who is also associate artist
of T.H.E Dance Company. “I work
with choreographers assisting
me to rehearse the thousands of
performers, brainstorm with the
other creatives and work with the
multimedia department. I don’t rest.
Even when I’m lying in bed, I will go
through formations in my head to
think of ways to improve them.”
black-box
theatre show, or
something like
this, the thing
we really aim
for is this: when
the audience leaves, they can bring
something back with them, they are
moved and inspired in some way.”
CASTOFTHOUSANDS
Sing50
NATIONAL STADIUM
7 AUGUST
T
heatre director Jeremiah
Choy, creative director
Choy
of Si
Sing50 — a concert
celebrating
cel
50 years
of Singapore music —
agrees
agr
with the SEA
Games
Gam team that big
shows
show shouldn’t just be
about
abou extravagance. “I love
big-scale
big-sc
events where I
can dr
dream of big creative
ways of
o fleshing out the
dare-to-dream concepts, but as
a theatre director, I also love the
intimate black-box performances
where I can voice my inner
thoughts. I think the challenges in
creating all shows, big and small, are
the same: what do you ‘say’ in the
short span of time?
“For Sing50, I’m hoping to trigger
curiosity, memory or even
interest, to look up these songs
and their genres, and perhaps
inspire us to continue making
music in Singapore. We want to
showcase the incredible talent
in the local music scene over the
past 50 years, because contrary to
popular belief, Singapore has had
a huge treasure trove of songs and
music since independence. The
more we researched, the more we
discovered.”
Choy says that much of the joy in
putting up a mega-event comes from
the people working on it. “While
there were many difficult issues to
face everyday, the thing I appreciate
most about helming the Sing50
concert is the group of wonderful
creative collaborators and the
very supportive production team,
not to mention the talents we’re
discovering along the way.
“Perhaps with the advent of the
Internet, or parents encouraging
their children to pursue performing
arts, those coming for auditions are
confident and prepared. We had
people from all ages and all walks
of life coming forward — they were
truly amazing.”
National
Day
Parade
2015
For more on Sing50 and ticketing details,
visit www.sing50concert.sg
THE PADANG
9 AUGUST
W
eaved
into the
military
pomp of the NDP
is the creative sidee
of the national celebration
ebration — with
the NDP Show and NDP theme song
being integral elements. In the
past decade or so, the Who’s Who
of the arts community have been
the engine powering the shows.
Through the years, NDP’s creative
directors have included Cultural
Medallion recipients like Dick Lee
and Ivan Heng, as well as the cream
of local talents like Glen Goei,
Goh Boon Teck, Beatrice ChiaRichmond and Selena Tan.
This year, all SG50 celebrations will
invariably culminate in NDP 2015.
Themed ‘Majulah Singapura’, it’s
touted as the grandest show to date.
The scale of the show, the number
of participants and spectators will
likely break all previous records.
Helmed by creative director Dick
Lee, performers will include
The Sam Willows singing their
rendition of Lee’s ‘Home’ and JJ Lin
performing the NDP 2015 theme
song, ‘Our Singapore’.
The NDP Show, which will
narrate our nation’s journey since
independence, sees a record number
of participants this year. Chairman of
the NDP 2015 Executive Committee,
Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong,
reveals, “For the show, we have 7,000
participants this year. On a normal
year, it’s about 5,000 to 5,500. It’s a
good thing, we welcome it, and we
look forward to putting up a good
show with their participation.”
NDP 2015 will be held at the Padang,
but celeb
celebration areas have been
eextended to sites around
M
Marina Bay, including
th
the Floating Platform and
M
Marina Barrage. There will
be two ticketed sites — the
Pad
Padang and Floating Platform
— aand between 200,000 and
300,
300,000 people are expected
in th
the Marina Bay area enjoying
NDP’s aerial displays and
fireworks!
For more on NDP 2015 and ticketing
details, visit www.ndp.org.sg
Making
Music
for the
Masses
MEET THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR STRADDLING
THIS YEAR’S TWO BIGGEST SHOWS.
W
hile everybody is stressed
out over the tasks in their
respective super-scaled
productions, intrepid medical
doctor/musician/composer
Dr Sydney Tan (above) is involved
in not just one, but two of them:
he’s the musical director of the SEA
Games and the NDP.
“NDP and SEA Games present
different challenges,” Dr Tan
explains. “NDP is a national event
and the icons, events, melodies and
words that resonate are well-known.
The challenge is how to keep things
fresh and genuine, and make every
year like the ‘first time’. The SEA
Games is against an international
setting, so the references, imagery
and so on, need to be much more
universal. The big challenge at the
end of the day is finding the right
resonant frequency. Every situation
requires a different strategy.
“But I love doing both, working
with the various music-makers and
using my music to support the
visual spectacles and the moods.
And of course, nothing beats the
collective gasp of 25,000 people in
a stadium becoming as one, when
sharing a moment and resonating
with a thought.
“Of course, the time demands
are pretty incredible, especially
as work on SEA Games began in
2013, followed by NDP 2014 and
NDP 2015, so it’s been something
of a two-and-a-half-year marathon,
probably the longest stretch of such
intensity I have gone through in
my 35-year journey in professional
music. Balancing that with a medical
practice, a seven-year-old daughter
and diminishing energy levels as I hit
the CPF-collection age, and it just got
really crazy. But it was not possible to
say “no” when friends call and when
it’s 50 years of my country.” A
5
Prole
RUBEN PANG
RUBEN
PANG
A SINGA
br PORE
oa AN
d
stroke of
GENIUS
Ruben Pang’s rise in the visual arts scene has
been nothing short of meteoric. BY DAPHNE ONG
PHOTOS Courtesy of Chan Hampe Galleries
6
HE MAY BE JUST 24 YEARS
OLD, but Ruben Pang already
has a following of art collectors
so hungry for his contemporary
statement pieces, his paintings
sell out in a blink. His latest local
exhibition this January saw all
12 of his paintings snapped up on
opening night. This was his fi fth
straight sell-out solo exhibition
in Singapore.
Pang graduated with a Diploma
in Fine Art from LASALLE College
of the Arts in 2010, the same year
he exhibited in five different shows.
Since then, his works have featured
in 14 exhibitions in Singapore,
Turkey, Italy and Switzerland, five
of which were solo shows. The artist
is currently completing a residency
in Israel and has a new body of
work in the pipeline headed for
Jakarta this August.
Interestingly, it was a tattoo
artist from China who inspired
Pang to journey the artistic path.
“I met him seven years ago,”
recalls Pang. “He told me he used
to be a mechanic and advised me,
‘The moment you even think about
your art, drop everything and run
to your work.’ I could see the fire
and conviction in his eyes even
after all those years. I quit my job
the next day.”
Pang is represented by two
galleries, Chan Hampe Galleries in
the Asia Pacific and Primo Marella
Gallery in Europe. Says Benjamin
Hampe, owner of Chan Hampe
Galleries, “All it took was a few
key collectors to be exposed to his
work and his career really took off
from there. It is Ruben’s technical
brilliance and truly unique
perspective that makes him one of
the most exciting contemporary
painters working in Singapore.”
Indeed, Pang’s approach to his
paintings is unusual: he builds layers
of colour, removing parts of the
layers with brush strokes, hands,
palette knives and sandpaper.
The final result? Bursts of visual
energy, that are intense, abstract,
atmospheric and even otherworldly.
Pang describes it as “visual
syncopation, like searching for a
melody in white noise”.
In spite of his breakout
success, Pang maintains his
humility and is more than willing
to help other artists. After all,
his main wish for the scene is for
artists to “cultivate kindness and
encourage each other.” A
To find out more about Pang’s work,
visit Chan Hampe Galleries at Raffles
Hotel Arcade or check out
www.chanhampegalleries.com.
INTERVIEW BY PAMELA
HO
one
small
voice!
What’s the role of the arts reporter in the arts ecosystem?
TODAY newspaper’s Mayo Martin reflects.
AS AN ARTS REVIEWER,
I TRULY BELIEVE NO MATTER
HOW BAD A PRODUCTION IS,
there’s always something
constructive to talk about — like
the issues raised, for instance.
And while I’d like to think there’s
always been recognition of an arts
writer’s role in the ecosystem, I
understand completely the lovehate relationship the arts scene has
with those writing about it.
Recently, there was a former A*STAR
scholar and dancer, Eng Kai Er,
who received flak online for being
ungrateful because she’d been given
a science scholarship and for one of
her art projects, she criticised the
scholarship system for bonding her.
A newspaper had written a story in
their education section. But I knew of
her first as an artist and had followed
what she did, so I had a context with
which to approach the issue.
There are times
when I feel it (mediabashing) is unfair, but
we aren’t particularly
innocent of the charges
either.
MAYO MARTIN ARTS REPORTER
I’ve attended my fair share
of formal and informal artist
gatherings to discuss issues and
it’s not unusual for people to air
their unhappiness with the media.
There are times when I feel it’s
unfair, but we — the media —
aren’t particularly innocent of the
charges either.
Just think of the role we played
during the early 1990s, with the
sensationalist coverage of Josef
Ng’s protest performance that
involved snipping his pubic hair,
and of The Necessary Stage’s
purported Marxist leanings. These
had serious repercussions on
artists and entire forms — like
performance art and forum theatre
— for years following.
I wrote a mini-commentary on
TODAY ’s art blog, For Art’s Sake, to
explain that you can contextualise
what she did in terms of her practice
as an artist. Later, she was kind
enough to grant me an interview
to explain her side of things. As a
writer, it’s fulfilling to be able to do
these kinds of stories, but it’s more
fulfilling to know you’re doing your
bit to help people understand an
artist better.
Another role I see for arts writers is
‘normalising’ art. I’ve never really
liked it when publications use the “Is
This Art?” headline. It immediately
creates a distance. I’d love for the
arts to be part of our daily discourse.
That means not being shy or
defensive or dumbing things down
when talking about it.
It’s great to be in the midst of rapid
change, but it can be exhausting
trying to keep up with everything.
One huge game-changer is the
Internet and social media, with the
emphasis on speed, connectivity
and free-flowing information. When
I started, I just had to worry about
writing stories for the newspaper.
Then, it was the newspaper and the
blog. Now there’s also Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram. It’s a
reflection of the huge changes taking
place in the world of journalism.
And these changes affect my role in
the ecosystem. The more traditional
function of the journalist/reporter
as information gatekeepers, as the
‘middle-men’ between the public and
the newsmakers, is being challenged.
Having said that, my stories and
reviews may automatically carry
a bit more ‘weight’ by virtue of
my affiliation with an established
newspaper. But I’m not one to dismiss
the impact and contribution of nonmainstream websites or blogs.
At the end of the day, I’m just one
voice in this ecosystem. I just hope I’m
contributing something worthwhile to
the rich and exciting dialogue that’s
taking place in the arts scene. A
MAYO MARTIN is a deputy editor with TODAY newspaper,
covering the arts beat. Prior to joining MediaCorp in 2007, he
was an arts reporter for a Manila newspaper and a writer for
a Singapore men’s magazine. Martin was named ‘Journalist
of the Year’ at the MediaCorp News Awards 2013. He holds a
degree in Comparative Literature from the University of the
Philippines and has published two books of poetry: Babel
(2004), in Tagalog, and Occupational Hazards (2013), in
English, published by Math Paper Press. 7
8
PHOTO iStock
Feature
Why are a cappella groups all
the rage now? Pitch-perfect
professionals in the Singapore
scene share their views.
BY
DAPHNE ONG
T
PITCH-PERFECT PENTATONIX
The
h US group h
has a h
huge ffan
base worldwide (over 900 million
cumulative YouTube views and
counting), and helped raised the
profile of a cappella by winning a
Grammy earlier this year.
here may have
been a time when
a cappella was
considered the
domain of oldfash
fashioned, nerdy choristers.
But with groups like Grammywinning American quintet
wi
Pe
Pentatonix shooting to
ssuperstardom and fi lling
vvenues with sold-out concerts
aroun
around the world, it sounds like
cappella has struck a chord with
a cap
today
today’s mainstream audiences.
Translated from the Italian,
a cappella refers to “the style of
the church/chapel” as this form of
vocal music — sans instrumental
accompaniment — had its origins
in Jewish and Christian sacred
music. Think Gregorian chants.
From its monophonic (singlemelody) beginnings to harmonies
(multiple voices singing different
parts together) to using voices to
emulate instruments, a cappella
has worked its way into many
genres of music. In modern times,
the most recognisable forms of
a cappella are gospel choirs,
doo-wop and barbershop quartets.
Who hasn’t heard the cheerfully
infectious 1950s hit ‘Mr Sandman’
given the a cappella treatment?
Today, pop, jazz and R&B have
all been infused with a cappella
singing, with more adventurous
use of voice such as beatboxing
and vocal percussion layering
the harmonies. Singers are also
experimenting with more sounds
and ways to better emulate the
sound of instruments.
BEYOND THE VOICE
Many of us may sing in the shower
or wow family and friends at
karaoke sessions, but would baulk
at singing in an a cappella group.
And there’s a good reason why. It
takes more than just a good voice
and lack of tone-deafness to form
a credible a cappella choir. Chua
Hui Lian of veteran homegrown a
cappella ensemble Key Elements
elaborates, “It also takes good
hearing and knowledge of keys,
scales and chords, which translates
to the ability to harmonise.” There
can’t be any divas in the group
either. “Another important skill
is the ability to adjust the timbre
of your voice so it blends with the
other members in the ensemble,”
says Chua.
Moreover, other more specialised
skills are called for. “A good
arranger makes a great difference,
and vocal percussion is a whole
different skill set,” says Simone
Khoo of local six-member
a cappella outfit Vocaluptuous.
For the uninitiated, a vocal
percussionist uses his/her voice
to approximate the sounds of a
percussion instrument.
FROM NICHE TO NOW
In Singapore, as in other parts of
the world, there are many collegiate
a cappella groups, but like many
other budding musicians, few make
it to performing professionally after
their student days. The high skillset and time commitment required
for rehearsals are common barriers
to entry.
Difficulties aside, there has been
a steady rise in the popularity of
a cappella groups here. Vocaluptuous
and Key Elements have been
gaining visibility over the years,
so have newcomers, the energetic
MICappella, who have gone fulltime. Typically, a successful
a cappella group in Singapore
will release an album (or albums),
perform to appreciative audiences
at venues like The Esplanade and
Botanic Gardens, and be engaged
for private events like singing at
corporate functions or weddings
and anniversaries.
What has nudged a cappella into
the spotlight? The biggest influence
is the media. The success of
American high-school TV series
Glee has exposed this generation
of audiences to alternatives beyond
the more common pop and rap styles
of vocal performance. Moreover, US
talent show The Sing-Off has helped
to hugely popularise a cappella.
Social media is certainly another
major player. YouTube alone has
made the careers of numerous
artists, including Pentatonix.
The Internet has made a cappella
accessible to an ever-growing
number of people, and with the
jaw-dropping singing chops of
talents visible on cyberspace, it’s
inevitable that fan bases would
grow exponentially.
On their part, the a cappella
groups are also adapting to the
tastes of today’s audiences. Covers
of popular pop and rock songs
range from convincing to clever to
transformational, and audiences
can hear their favourite tunes
reinvented in delightful new ways.
Think you and your harmony-loving
buddies can be the next top voices
in a cappella? Set up that webcam
and get started already! A
Pentatonix perform 1 June at The Star
Theatre. See Listings pg 18 for details.
9
PHOTO S2S Pte Ltd
PHOTO Sung Lingun
A
VOCALUPTUOUS
ORIGINS Formed in 1997
NO. OF MEMBERS Six
BEST-KNOWN FOR Their Singaporean & Asian
repertoire
FREQUENCY OF PERFORMANCES Twice a month,
on average
FAVOURITE SONGS PERFORMED ‘Home’, composed
by Dick Lee, and ‘Someday’ from Disney movie The
Hunchback of Notre Dame.
INTERESTING FACT Vocaluptuous have opened for
Elton John at a private showcase at Marina Bay
Sands and sung for heads of state like Barack
Obama and Hu Jintao.
MICAPPELLA
ORIGINS Started in 2009
NO. OF MEMBERS: Six
BEST-KNOWN FOR English and Mandarin rock and
pop songs
FREQUENCY OF PERFORMANCES Three to four
overseas tours per year; three to four shows per
month
FAVOURITE SONG PERFORMED ‘Happy’ by Pharrell
Williams
INTERESTING FACT MICappella have showcased
their pipes at the Singapore Youth Olympics and
Taiwan’s Super Idol 5. More recently, they shared
the stage with big-name acts like Girls’ Generation
and British rock band Suede in music events held in
Hong Kong and Chengdu, China.
KEY ELEMENTS
ORIGINS Started in 2001
NO. OF MEMBERS Six
BEST-KNOWN FOR Jazz & pop
FREQUENCY OF PERFORMANCES Full-length concert
every two years
FAVOURITE SONG PERFORMED ‘Spiderman’
INTERESTING FACT The members of Key Elements
have all chalked up musical-performing experiences
when they were part of previous a cappella groups.
PHOTO Jack Tan Photography/
Copyright Key Elements
MEET
THE SING-APOREANS
These local a cappella groups hit all the right notes.
P RAMLEE
S
10
ongwriter, composer, film
actor, director and singer,
P Ramlee was a giant in the
Malay entertainment industries of
Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Born in Penang
in 1929, the star got
his first big break in
music in 1947 when
he won a songwriting
competition run by
Penang Radio. He went
on to perform many of
his own compositions
and was eventually talentspotted by Tamil film director B.S.
Rajhans. P Ramlee was invited to
be a backup singer for the Malay
Films Production studio based in
Singapore and it was here that he
began a career as an actor.
Soon after, he made his
directing debut with Penarek
Becha, in which he also starred.
Directing and starring in his own
movies became a pattern with
him. Among his most successful
and enduring productions are his
comedies, particularly Bujang
Lapok. Over his career, he directed
ed
34 films and appeared in 65; he
wrote over 300 songs across various
us
genres from pop to joget. In 1973,
after several years in Singapore,
he moved to Kuala Lumpur to join
n
Merdeka Film Productions but died
d
that same year of a heart attack.
His influence deeply shaped
the Malay fi lm industry of the
1950s and ’60s, an era that
bears a trademark P Ramlee
vibe: an accomplished merging
of international influences with a
distinct Malayan film and musicmaking style. Today, his work is still
ill
enjoyed on television, and many
lines from his films have become
enduring Malay expressions.
Your Dictionary To The Arts
BY JOEL TAN
THE RAMAYANA
A
long with the Mahabharata,
the Ramayana is considered
one of the two great works
of Indian literature. A Sanskrit epic
poem written by the Hindu sage and
poet Valmiki, it is a sprawling work
of literature that outlines Hindu
religious myth, morality and history.
Through the picaresque journey
of Rama (a human avatar of the
Hindu god Vishnu), it explores broad
humanist and moral themes, and
outlines several values central to the
Hindu tradition. The text has been a profound
influence on the art, architecture and
writing of the Indian subcontinent
and Southeast Asia. It has also been
adapted internationally into several
contemporary forms including film,
television, stage drama, music and
painting.
REDIFFUSION
R
ediffusion
was the first
cable-transmitted
commercial radio station in
Singapore, active from 1949 and
most noted for its hugely-popular
Chinese-language programmes in
the ’60s and ’70s. Rediffusion sets
were a common sight around
Singapore, present
in many homes
and at coffee
shops. A subsidiary of London’s
Broadcast Relay Services,
Rediffusion’s introduction into
Singapore was part of the group’s
expansion into Asia. One of the
main reasons for its success
(the service hit almost 10,000
subscribers on launching) was
its accessibility. Not only was it a
cheaper alternative to transistor
radios, its entertainment-driven
programming provided a more
informal alternative to Radio
Malaya, the predominant radio
station of the time, which was
government-run. Rediffusion is fondly
remembered today for its
storytelling programmes in
various Chinese languages.
Several master storytellers even
developed huge followings. Local
talents who started their careers
at Rediffusion include Xiang Yun,
Mark van Cuylenburg (The
Flying Dutchman)
and Kuo Pao
Kun, who wrote
and performed in
radio plays for the
station. In 1979,
Rediffusion
was forced to stop
all Chinese-dialect
programming by 1982
due to the government’s
Speak Mandarin Campaign.
This caused its subscriptions
to dwindle and the station
suffered a dramatic decline.
In 2012, it was bought over
by former Rediffusion DJ,
Eva Chang Mei Hsiang, and
has slowly begun to re-assert
itself in the Singapore radio
landscape. A
ILLUSTRATION Jimmy Lee
R
ABC
PHOTO Jerome Lim/The Long and
Winding Road
P H OTO
P H OT
O bllique
O Ob
lliq
ue
Feature
NEW HOME
Objectifs new
home in Middle
Road, a former
church, motor
workshop and
art gallery, has
been given a
face-lift as seen
by these artist's
impressions (top).
Main
Objectif
P H OTO
O bject
if s
For many Singaporean
photographers and film-makers,
Objectifs is more than a visual arts
centre. We explore what makes
it special, as it prepares for new
beginnings in a new home. BY PAMELA HO
“I
SCENE & HEARD Film-maker
Royston Tan (centre) with Victric
Thng and Eva Tang at the media
launch of Old Romances, a DVD
compilation of his short films,
distributed by Objectifs Films.
t’s not just a centre to me,”
declares award-winning
Singaporean fi lm-maker,
Royston Tan. “In our earlier
years, we didn’t have an
office, so Objectifs would lend
us their premises for casting and
auditions,
au
and these are part of the
wonderful
wo
memories I have of it.”
selected independent feature fi lms,
compiled Tan’s short fi lms into
DVD box sets — Old Places, Old
Romances and the upcoming Old
Friends — for distribution. “They
also organise many meet-the-fans
sessions, which gives us exposure,”
he adds. “Film-makers aren’t very
good at that kind of thing!”
Tan’s
Ta
works have since been
screened
scr
at international fi lm
festivals
fes
and bagged numerous
awards.
aw
And Objectifs, a visual arts
centre
ce
dedicated to photography
and
an fi lm in Singapore, has been a
pa of his journey from the start.
part
“I remember Royston stopping by
to help us pack fi lm catalogues,
past midnight, without us
asking!” recounts Emmeline Yong,
Objectifs’ co-founder and centre
director, adding that many artists
would drop by to help them with
administrative work or assembling
Ikea tables. “Back then, we had
a staff size of two, no budget and
didn't draw any salaries ourselves
for the fi rst couple of years.”
Their independent fi lm label,
Objectifs Films, which focuses on
Singapore content and represents
award-winning short fi lms and
11
FEMME FACTOR
Objectifs Centre for Photography
and Film was founded in 2003 by
three women, Yuni Hadi, Dawn
Teo and Emmeline Yong (pictured
from left), somewhat of a rarity
in the male-dominated fields of
photography and fi lm in Singapore.
One of Objectif’s key initiatives
is Shooting Home, an annual
photography mentorship
programme. Teo recalls her fi rst
workshop in 2003. “It was the
fi rst time I encountered so many
people who decided to leave their
jobs to pursue photography as a
profession. We’re so glad to be a
small springboard for them to take
their giant leaps of faith.”
Jean Loo, who was from Shooting
Home’s 2008 cohort, says, “That
workshop was the start of all
things for me: pursuing a career
as a freelance photojournalist,
then gradually honing my voice to
focus on social documentary and
advocacy work. With Objectifs,
you never feel alone, and it’s easy
to feel alone when you’re out there
pursuing your passion.”
12
CRITICAL EXPOSURE
PHOTO Jean Loo
“I remember during one of
our nightly critiques, all the
participants put down their guard
for a frank sharing session and
really rallied to support each
other,” reveals photographer
Bryan van der Beek, who instructs
at Objectifs. “I think everyone
Loo concurs. “Their classes are
never just about shutter speed or
aperture. What draws me back
again and again are the values
they represent. These values of
dedication, hard work, and the
emphasis on a photographer’s
purpose have helped build the
photography community here to
where it is today.”
BETTER TOGETHER
“One of the key things I talk about
very often is the community:
building one, keeping one. At
different phases of an artist’s
career, the artist needs to have
other artists, arts managers or
curators to bounce off ideas,
to give them opportunities, to
meet new people, to embark on
new directions,” explains Hadi,
Objectifs co-founder and artistic
director, who also wears the hat of
executive director of the Singapore
International Film Festival
(SGIFF).
Award-winning Singaporean fi lmmaker, Tan Pin Pin, acknowledges
that support. “Yuni, Emmeline and
the team have been like family to
many of us. They not only helped
distribute my fi lms, they’ve also
been instrumental in organising
the Fly by Night Video Challenge
over the past 10 years,” says Tan of
the initiative she co-created with
Hadi. “To me, Objectifs is an oasis
for fi lm-makers and photographers
to rest and to recharge.”
“It’s a place where you can
fi nd ‘your people’, the kind of
friendship that goes beyond when
you are successful. It’s a support
system,” Hadi affi rms.
YOU’RE NEVER
ALONE
Photographer
Jean Loo with
Objectifs’
co-founder,
Emmeline Yong,
at the opening
of Loo’s solo
exhibition,
Children of
Mekong, which
was held at
Objectifs in 2010.
VIDEO GAGA
Film-maker Tan
Pin Pin (extreme
right) at Fly by
Night Video
Challenge 2008
with co-creator
Yuni Hadi
(centre) and
panel of judges.
PH OTO Ob
jec tif s
PHOTO Ryan Chua
left that night with a better
understanding of how photography
needs to touch people, to tell
stories, and is far more than any
sunset shot.”
NEW BEGINNINGS
GINNINGS
GS
From Liang Seah Street to their
current 3,600-sq-ft shophouse
at Arab Street, Objectifs will
move into 8,000 sq ft of floor
space, spread over two buildings,
come 11 June. Yong recalls with
bemusement, “Back in 2005, Yuni
and I took a walk to what was
then Sculpture Square to recce
for an event, and we had mused
that it would be lovely to screen
local fi lms and present larger
photography shows here!”
Serendipitously, 10 years later, this
particular space, now renamed 155
Middle Road, will be their base.
Through the years, Objectifs has
presented over 165 exhibitions,
150 screenings, and brought its
workshops, school programmes
and outreach efforts to over 23,000
students. With this new space,
what more can we expect?
“The layout, from larger Chapel
Gallery to outdoor courtyard
spaces, allow us to present
different types of shows,” Yong
shares. “And the proximity to arts
institutions like the Singapore Art
Museum and National Museum of
Singapore, and to schools like the
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
and LASALLE College of the Arts,
also presents many collaboration
possibilities.”
“Objectifs started out modestly
and grew organically. We’ve never
been in a hurry to expand,”
stresses Hadi. “Building a solid
foundation and keeping the quality
of our exhibitions, screenings and
workshops have always been most
important. I think the space came
at the right time for us, when we’re
ready for it.” A
Catch opening exhibition Breakfast at 8
Jungle at 9 by photographer Ernest Goh
at Objectifs Gallery, 10 June to 19 July.
Admission is free. For details, visit
www.objectifs.com.sg.
Prole
THE GREAT
THE
GREAT SPY
SPY EXPERIMENT
EXPERIMENT
goodbye,
SPY
Homegrown indie band The Great Spy Experiment
have left their mark on the Singapore music scene.
And now, they must take a bow. BY DAPHNE ONG
TAKE FIVE TALENTED
SINGAPORE MUSICIANS,
ADD EQUAL PORTIONS
INDIE, ROCK AND DANCE
INFLUENCES, put everything
in the creative blender and press
play. The result, is of course, The
Great Spy Experiment, homegrown
heroes in the local music scene.
The quintet emerged on the
scene in 2005 and have released
two albums to date: Flower Show
Riots (2007) and Litmus (2013). A
regular on music and dance festivals
like the Esplanade’s Baybeats as
well as ZoukOut, The Great Spy
Experiment have also showcased
their music in London and New York
City (as part of Singapore Day), and
have performed at the famed South
by Southwest Music Festival in
Austin, Texas.
The group comprises lead
vocalist and guitarist Saiful Idris,
drummer Fandy Razak, bassist
Khairyl Hashim, guitarist Song,
and keyboardist Magdelene Han.
Collectively, they conjure sounds
of rock and dance, with audible
influence from British rock, largely
written and arranged by frontman
Saiful, who is also a mentor with
Noise Singapore, a National Arts
Council initiative that helps young
people discover and nurture their
creative talents.
Performing aside, the band is
driven by higher goals. “We wanted
to do more than play music,” shares
Saiful. “We wanted to change the
face of Singapore music, doing
what has never been done before by
Singapore indie bands. A lot of what
we’ve done is about trailblazing.”
Even during difficult periods,
it was their passion for music and
maintaining the growth of the local
music scene that kept them going.
One of their best-loved memories was
playing at Baybeats 2012, says Saiful.
“This was a time when we were
keeping a low profi le and didn’t play
a lot; the band wasn’t in a good place
— life getting in the way and all
13
that. We took a chance at Baybeats
and played all new, unreleased songs
from our [then] upcoming album.”
The gamble paid off. The crowd loved
the songs, dancing and chanting the
band’s name. “Their response and
connection kept us going.”
Sadly, this June will see the
band play their last show. Changing
life priorities and a dip in creative
productivity in recent years led
to this decision. The Great Spy
Experiment will play their final gig
at the Esplanade Concert Hall as
part of a triple-bill performance also
featuring Charlie Lim and Inch Chua.
As the members prepare to take their
final bow, what are they proudest
of after 10 years in the limelight?
Reflects Saiful, “Seeing how the
scene has grown and knowing we
have played at least a small part in
building that scene.” A
A Triple Bill: Charlie Lim, iNCH, The Great
Spy Experiment take to the stage 6 June.
See Listings pg 19 for details.
PHOTO Pamela Ho
NEWS �
FROM THE ARTS SCENE
BY PAMELA
HO
Sing a Song of
Singapore
What inspired Dick Lee
to write this year’s NDP
2015 theme song?
14
Latest
W
hat is singer-songwriter
Dick Lee’s favourite line
from this year’s National
Day Parade (NDP) theme song?
“ ‘And amazing as it seems, it all
started with a dream’,” declares
Lee, creative director of NDP 2015
and composer of its theme song,
‘Our Singapore’.
“I wrote four different songs
before this one appeared. I was
looking at all the SG50 plans and
I realised there was a lot of focus
on the past and not enough about
the future. So I thought, why don’t I
write a song about the next step and
what’s to come? The lyrics are about
the Singapore we built, and how it all
started with a dream,” he explains.
How worried is he about
Singaporeans’ reaction to the
song? “I’m terrified!” he admits.
“This year especially, it’s a big deal
because I have a feeling people may
see this as a representative SG50
song. I want to stress that this is an
NDP 2015 theme song, but I can’t
help it if people want to look at it as
the song for SG50. I’d be honoured
if they did.”
FAN THE
FLAME
Art and sports
orts
meet with the
creation of
30 public art
installations for
the SEA Games.
I
n addition to the creative
team behind the 28th
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
(which boasts the Who’s Who of
Singapore’s creative community),
visual artists and sculptors have also
entered the arena where sports and
art collide.
As part of the Torch Up!
Programme, 30 art installations have
been unveiled at different public spaces
in Singapore in the lead-up to the
eventual torch ceremony and launch
of the SEA Games on 5 June. Called
The Living! Project, it is conceived
by Allan Lim and Kenny Eng together
with Singapore sculptor, Sun Yu-Li.
Known as Community Torches,
these installations, the creations of
visual artists such as Sun I-Yu, Karen
Mitchell, Nic Ong, Amanda Lim and
Tay Swee Song, can be viewed along
Orchard Road (outside ION Orchard,
Wisma Atria, Takashimaya), Bras
Basah (at Cathay Green and outside
Singapore Art Museum), as well as
Sports Hub and Marina Bay from
mid-May. A
To find out more about the SEA Games Torch
Up! Programme, visit https://torchup.tly.sg.
STAY SOCIAL
& WIN!
Here’s your chance to score a pair of passes
to catch Grammy-winning, instrument-free
group PENTATONIX ‘live’ in Singapore. Stay
tuned to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
pages for more details.
Follow us for updates, news and other surprises!
TheAListSG, AListSG and alistsg
PHOTOS Richard Koh for The Living! Project
Z
LISTINGS
YOUR 14-DAY GUIDE TO WHAT’S AHEAD
29 MAY TO 11 JUN 2015
Because
I'm Happy
1
Laugh stories
PHOTO iStock
And you thought Asians were reserved? See what 30 Asian stand-up comedians
have to say about that at the Singapore Comedy Fringe (p22)
2
3
Kid yourself
The tree tenors
It's Children's Season at the museums,
but what's stopping you from
joining them for a spot of fun? (p17)
Grab a mat and head to the Botanic Gardens
for the Singapore Lyric Opera's
trilling outdoor concert (p19)
15
+
PH OTO
Matthew
G . Johnso
n
DANCE
Siile
Silences
lences
len
nc We Are
Familiar With
T.H.E DANCE COMPANY
In this all-encompassing piece of art,
sound artist Bani Haykal accompanies
the powerful choreography of lithe
dancers contemplating life, death, love
and everything in between, with a live,
visceral soundscape of vocals and
instruments, and even evocative poetry.
VENUE SOTA Drama Theatre
ADMISSION PRICE $28, $38
DATE Till 30 May
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
16
Swan Lake
BASE ENTERTAINMENT
The world’s most famous ballet
comes to town, performed by one
of the world’s most famous ballet
troupes: the St Petersburg Ballet.
Witness the tragedy of Odette,
a young woman transformed into
a white swan, and her possible
Dance India Asia
Pacific Showcase
— Fire & Ash by
Sheejith Krishna &
Anjana Anand
salvation courtesy of the young Prince
Siegfried.
VENUE Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands
ADMISSION PRICE $55, $95, $135, $175
DATE Till 1 Jun
TIME Thu & Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2pm & 7.30pm,
Sun & Mon 1pm & 6pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
FAMILY
THE ESPLANADE CO LTD
Adapted from an ancient myth about
the deity Siva, Fire and Ash is a
multi-genre dance theatre piece that
blends bharatanatyam with Indian
classical and folk music, theatre and
poetry.
Jason’s A to Z of
Classical Music
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Let charming SSO associate conductor
Jason Lai take kiddies through the
depth and breadth of classical music
in a lively, fun fashion with selections
from some of the best-loved pieces in
history.
VENUE Victoria Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $25, $30
DATE 1 Jun
TIME 11am, 2pm & 4pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
of established Singapore family theatre
company Players Theatre.
VENUE Ulu Pandan CC Theatrette
VENUE Esplanade Recital Studio
ADMISSION PRICE $28
DATE 11 Jun
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Roald Dahl’s The BFG
ADMISSION PRICE $30
DATE Till 31 May
PLAYERS THEATRE
TIME Various times
See Roald Dahl’s tale of the gentle
giant come to life with puppets, props
and general exuberance in the hands
or email [email protected] for
weekday tickets
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg; call 6446-4430
The Gingerbread Man
I THEATRE
This family fable, about an insufferable
biscuit who comes to life and torments
his old creators as well as various
hungry animals, gets a stage adaptation
complete with masks, puppets and
songs, plus some mandatory morals.
and drama activities, enlivened with
audience participation. Let your little
one experience the most unusual
princess birthday party ever at this allin-one tot-targeted art exhibition, show
and drama workshop complete with
visual-arts activities.
VENUE ION Art Gallery, ION Orchard
VENUE Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel
ADMISSION PRICE $35
ADMISSION PRICE $32
DATE 30 May-9 Jun
DATE Till 7 Jun
TIME 10.30am, 3.30pm
TIME Tue & Wed 10am & 2.30pm, Thu & Fri
WEBSITE www.act3international.com.sg 10am, Sat & Sun 10.30am, 2.30pm & 5pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Jelly, Wobble!
ACT 3 INTERNATIONAL
When 89-year-old Princess Lolly is
presented with a jelly that refuses to
wobble on her birthday, the stereotypedefying royal and jelly, in a bid to find
their happy ending, must go through
certain challenges in the form of art
Imaginarium: A
Voyage of Big Ideas
SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM
This annual contemporary art exhibition
for children returns, this time, themed ‘A
Voyage of Big Ideas’ in tribute to our little
nation’s ability to dream and think large.
In this spirit of imagination, emerging and
established artists from Singapore and
the region present seven new large-
scale artworks, ranging from installations
requiring viewer contribution, to entire
worlds in which to dream and discover.
VENUE Singapore Art Museum, SAM@8Q
(8 Queen Street)
ADMISSION PRICE Usual museum admission
charges of $5, $10. Free admission for
Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and
all children under the age of six. Conditions
apply.
DATE Till 19 Jul
TIME Sat-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-9pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Counting Sheep,
Dreaming Goats
SINGAPORE PHILATELIC MUSEUM
’Tis the year for sheep and goats, so get
your children into the spirit of things with
this exhibition that focuses on famous
hooved heroes from stories and cultures.
Visitors can also examine gorgeous goatthemed stamps from around the world.
VENUE Singapore Philatelic Museum
ADMISSION PRICE Usual museum admission
Pray Tell, How Old?
charges of $4, $6. Free admission for
Singaporeans & Permanent Residents.
DATE Till 27 Sep
TIME Mon 1pm-7pm, Tue-Sun 9.30am-7pm
WEBSITE www.spm.org.sg
A look at some of our oldest places of worship.
TEXT Ki’ern Tan
PH OTO
Pioneer
THIA
THIAN HOCK KENG
TEM
TEMPLE
WHERE
W
HE
Telok Ayer
Str
Street, where it
us
used to face the
se
sea before the
shoreline was reclaimed
reclaimed. HISTORY Built
in 1839 with the support of prominent
members of the Hokkien community,
such as philanthropist Tan Tock Seng.
FOR THE RECORD The gazetted national
Children’s Season 2015
VARIOUS MUSEUMS IN SINGAPORE
PHOTO Pioneer
SRI VEERAMAKALIAMMAN TEMPLE
WHERE In the heart of Little India on
Serangoon Road. HISTORY One of
the oldest temples in Singapore, this
160-year-old grand dame was built by
Indian pioneers in 1855. FOR THE RECORD
During World War II, the temple escaped
bombings and air raids unscathed.
REBIRTH A major face-lift in the 1980s
added a gate-tower, eight main domes
and several other minor ones to the
facade.
monument, built according to Chinese
temple architectural traditions, is the
most traditionally authentic Chinese
temple in Singapore. Not a single nail was
used in the original construction. REBIRTH
Over 70 Fujian craftsmen were brought in
to restore the temple between 1998 and
2000 to the tune of $3.5 million. ST ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL
WHERE Singapore’s largest cathedral sits
above City Hall MRT station. HISTORY
Gazetted as a national monument in
1973, the oldest Anglican house of
worship was designed by LieutenantColonel Ronald MacPherson and erected
by Indian convict labourers in 1856.
FOR THE RECORD The cathedral served
as an emergency hospital in 1942 before
the Japanese Occupation. REBIRTH
St Andrew’s Cathedral is actually the
second church building on this site. The
original church was torn down in 1852
after being struck by lightning. Twice.
Museums in Singapore ramp up
the kid-friendliness this month with
dedicated children’s exhibitions; tottargeted trails to learn about traditional
eateries and local delicacies; mailboxmaking at the Singapore Philatelic
Museum; and painting with light at the
ArtScience Museum, among others.
VENUE Various museums including National
Heritage Board Museums and ArtScience
Museum.
ADMISSION PRICE Various prices
DATE 30 May-28 Jun
TIME Various times
WEBSITE www.nhb.gov.sg
17
+
Forever
Teresa
Teng LITERARY
Asian Festival of
Children’s Content
NBDCS THE BOOK COUNCIL
Featuring public activities for kids,
professional conferences, masterclasses
and workshops, a rights fair and media
mart, this annual festival is for everyone
involved in the growing industry of
children’s literature. Writers, illustrators,
editors, publishers, agents, distributors,
THE ESPLANADE CO
LTD, COFFEE MORNING
AFTERNOON TEA
parents, children, teachers and librarians
will all find their niche here.
VENUE Various venues in the National
Library Building
ADMISSION PRICE Free, with certain ticketed
programmes at various prices.
DATE 30 May-6 Jun
TIME Various times
WEBSITE www.afcc.com.sg
Goddess of
Mandarin
music, the late
legendary
Teresa Teng, has spawned a
plethora of tribute acts worldwide. See
Singapore’s very own ‘Little Teresa Teng’
Yuan Jin in action, as she croons some
of Teng’s best-loved tunes.
VENUE Esplanade Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $12
DATE 1 Jun
TIME 3pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
MUSIC
Pentatonix ‘The On
My Way Home Tour’
MIDAS PROMOTIONS PTE LTD
118
8
Rachael Yamagata —
Live!
GREENHORN PRODUCTIONS
American songstress and pianist Rachael
Yamagata sings on our shores for onenight only. While she’s been dubbed
‘troubadour of heartbreak’, don’t expect
her tunes to come across tearfully
pining: Yamagata’s music is known for
its intelligence and attitude.
VENUE Esplanade Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $48, $68, $88, $98
DATE 29 May
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
La Vie En Rose
SING’THEATRE LTD
To commemorate the centenary of
enigmatic French songstress Edith
Piaf, seven stellar Singapore-based
singers pay tribute to the sassy
superstar by reinterpreting her classic
songs, layered with their own life
experiences. Expect all-new renditions
ranging from jazz and pop to
classic, rock and Latin, by the likes
of Broadway Beng Sebastian Tan,
Lim Kay Siu and Rani Singam, just to
name a few.
Arguably a cappella music’s hottest
stars, Grammy-Award winners and
recipients of over 200 million YouTube
hits, Pentatonix are in town to sell out
more shows after their successful visit to
Singapore just last year.
VENUE Victoria Theatre
DATE 1 Jun
ADMISSION PRICE $45, $50, $55, $60, $65,
TIME 7.30pm
$70, $75, $80
DATE Till 30 May
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Tee Khoon Tang
Grand Series
TEE KHOON TANG GRAND SERIES
A salute to Schubert, this series
of concerts features different
masterpieces by the maestro,
including sonatas, quintets and even
poems. The range of performances
includes concerts for adults as well
as dedicated, interactive ones for
kids, all brought to life by homegrown
violinist extraordinaire Tee Khoon
Tang, plus a bevy of international
musicians such as Sam Haywood and
Mariko Hara.
VENUE Esplanade Recital Studio
ADMISSION PRICE $32, $42, $52, $62
DATE Till 30 May
TIME Various times
WEBSITE teekhoontanggrandseries.com
VENUE The Star Theatre
ADMISSION PRICE $88, $108, $128, $148
Limelight 2015 —
Raffles Girls’ School
Choir
THE ESPLANADE CO LTD
One of Singapore’s top girls’ schools
academically, its students evidently don’t
just have book smarts, but enviable lung
power, too. Enjoy tunes from its active
and acclaimed choir at this concert.
VENUE Esplanade Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $13
DATE 2 Jun
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Give Me Wings SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Be uplifted by the little lilting voices of
the Singapore Symphony Children’s
Choir, as they warble their way through
a repertoire of inspiring pieces, such
as Humperdinck’s ‘Evening Prayer’,
Debussy’s ‘Nuit D’Etoile’ and Rutter’s
‘Give Me Wings’.
Opera in the Park
SINGAPORE LYRIC OPERA
VENUE Victoria Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $15, $20
Get ready for sonic trills in this edition
of Opera in the Park. Powerful vocalists
will perform opera favourites from films,
such as Superman Returns and Life Is
Beautiful, along with classic selections
from Mickey Mouse and Tom & Jerry
cartoons, as well as popular musicals.
VENUE Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage,
Singapore Botanic Gardens
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE 6 Jun
TIME 6pm
WEBSITE www.singaporeopera.com.sg
DATE 5 Jun
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
A Triple Bill: Charlie
Lim, iNCH, The Great
Spy Experiment
HOUSE OF RIOT
This concert features a clutch of
Singapore’s best-loved indie musicians
who have played sold-out shows across
the world. Don’t miss the soulful Charlie
Lim, the gorgeous Inch Chua and
The Great Spy Experiment in this rare
combined outing.
The Show’s Over
A tribute to cinemas that no longer stand.
After almost two decades, the iconic art deco-inspired Capitol Theatre finally gets a
new lease of life when it reopens this month. Originally built in 1929, the refurbished
cinema, affectionately called The Grande Dame, screened its last movie in 1998.
Which other old cinemas do you remember?
ODEON THEATRE NORTH BRIDGE ROAD
(1953-1984) The 1,500-seat fully-air-
VENUE Esplanade Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $50
DATE 6 Jun
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Vadym Kholodenko —
Destination Singapore
MW EVENTS MANAGEMENT LLP
Award-winning international pianist
Vadym Kholodenko makes his virgin visit
to Singapore in this one-night-only recital.
VENUE Esplanade Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $25, $35, $55, $85, $105,
$125
DATE 7 Jun
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
19
ALHAMBRA THEATRE BEACH ROAD
D
(1907-1960s) Patrons watching
movies at Alhambra Theatre could
often hear waves crashing
against the walls of the
cinema during high tide!
That was because the
cinema was built near the
sea at the junction of Beach
Road and Middle Road,
long before the days of land
reclamation. It also became Singapore’s
first fully air-conditioned cinema when
it was bought over by Shaw Brothers in
the 1930s.
conditioned cinema, owned by Cathay
con
Organisation, was considered
a modern
th
theatre
back then,
w its basement
with
ca park and rooms
car
fo parents to escape
for
to with their crying
infa
infants.
It eventually
clos in 1984, after
closed
three decades.
ROX CINEMA
ROXY
EAS COAST ROAD
EAST
((1930s-1978)
19
It was
the first cinema in
th
the eastern part
of Singapore.
Located opposite the famo
famous Red House
Bakery, the landmark institution screened
Chinese, English, Malay and Hindi movies
and was such an icon in Katong that the
term “The Roxy area” was coined for it.
TEXT Ki’ern Tan PHOTOS http://picas.nhb.gov.sg
TIME 7.30pm
+
VISUAL
Donna Wilson
K+ CURATORIAL SPACE
Who knew art could be so cuddly?
Award-winning UK artist Donna Wilson
has been expanding her menagerie
of odd knitted creatures since 2003,
along with other creations from
handcrafted techniques like felting,
sewing, knitting and wrapping that
remind her of home.
Homecoming SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA
The Singapore Chinese Orchestra
celebrates our island’s big 50th with
a concert rounding up locally-born
musicians who have made a name
for themselves overseas. Hear the
world-class virtuosity of violinist Kam
Ning, plus Kwok Chin-Chye on wind
instruments the suona, saxophone and
ya-mu flute, just to name a few.
VENUE SCO Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $30, $45, $60, $70
20
DATE 5 & 6 Jun
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
The Ultimate Tribute
to Michael Jackson
BASE ENTERTAINMENT
Take a trip through the chart-topping life
of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
This concert experience traces all the
megastar’s greatest hits, from his childcrooner days as a member of the Jackson
5, to his mind-blowing theatrics in the
’80s, and further evolution in the 21st
century. Expect a live international band,
fully-choreographed dancing, authentic
costumes and extravagant effects.
VENUE Grand Theatre, Marina Bay Sands
ADMISSION PRICE $55, $75, $95, $115, $300
(box seats for four) $460 (VIP box for four
seats)
DATE 5 & 6 Jun
TIME Fri 8pm, Sat 3pm & 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
VENUE K+, Scotts Square, #03-14/15
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE Till 31 May
TIME 12pm-8pm
WEBSITE kplus.sg
The Sew-Out Show
KEVIN OU, THE GENERAL COMPANY
Accessorise with art at the second
edition of The Sew-Out Show, where
celebrated Singapore artists have their
works adapted into bow ties, tote bags
and the like for public purchase. This
time, the artist in question is photographer
Kevin Ou, best known for his psychedelic
images of coloured lights.
VENUE The Connoisseur Concerto ‘The
Gallery’ 51 Circular Road
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE Till 8 Jun
TIME Sun-Thu 11am-midnight; Fri, Sat & eve
of public holidays 11am-2am
WEBSITE www.theconnoisseurconcerto.com
Wong Keen: The
Substation’s
Fundraising Exhibition
THE SUBSTATION
Valuable works by renowned Singapore
abstract painter, Wong Keen, will be
exhibited at The Substation Gallery to
raise funds for The Substation. Expect
cross-cultural confluences, inspired by
the elegance and expressiveness of
Chinese ink painting and calligraphy,
as well as the artist’s fascination with the
Abstract Expressionist style.
Ab
VENUE The Substation Gallery
VE
ADMISSION PRICE Free
AD
DATE Till 13 Jun
DA
TIME 12pm-8pm
TIM
WEBSITE www.substation.org
WE
Edge of the World
REDSEA GALLERY
In this exhibition, Russian contemporary
artist Anna Berezovskaya presents
works inspired by her daily life and
Russian culture, which somehow also
extends into a whimsical world of
enchantment and gaiety.
VENUE REDSEA Gallery, Block 9 Dempsey
Road, #01-10
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE Till 14 Jun
TIME Mon–Sat 9.30am–9pm, Sun & public
holidays 10.30am–9pm
WEBSITE www.redseagallery.com
Prudential Eye Zone
PRUDENTIAL, ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
This exhibition is a charming
complement to the Prudential
Singapore Eye, one of the largest
surveys of Singapore’s contemporary
art scene. In Prudential Eye Zone,
contemplate more modern art with
the works of 17 artists from Indonesia,
Japan, Korea, Malaysia and
Singapore, all co-curated by Korean
pop sensation T.O.P, no less.
VENUE ArtScience Museum
ADMISSION PRICE $5.50, $8, $9, $12, $13
DATE Till 28 Jun
TIME 10am-7pm
WEBSITE www.marinabaysands.com
Chun Kwang Young:
New Dreams
ART PLURAL GALLERY
This exhibition showcases a happy
evolution in the worldview of
septuagenarian artist Chun Kwang
+
Young. The Korea-born Chun has
always let his struggle to find a style
native to him show in his work, but this
exhibition, boasting a bold palette of
bright pinks, deep oranges, warming
yellows and evocative blues, reveals a
new and blissful reverie.
THEATRE
VENUE Art Plural Gallery, 38 Armenian
Street
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE 29 May-20 Jul
TIME Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, closed on Sun &
public holidays
WEBSITE www.artpluralgallery.com
Macpherdoodle
All the world’s a stage, and for the
Band of Doodlers, every wall’s a
canvas. This collective, dedicated
to turning white walls into arresting
doodle surfaces, is collaborating with
hawker-stall owners to turn the Circuit
Road Hawker Centre wall into a mural
that pays tribute to the heritage and
culture of a beloved food hangout.
VENUE Circuit Road Food Centre, Block 80
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE Till Jul
TIME All day
WEBSITE bandofdoodlers.com
Seventy Shades of
Play
THE STAGE CLUB
Singapore’s longest-running theatre
company, The Stage Club, has staged
70 years’ worth of productions since
its colonial origins. For this anniversary,
its alumni as well as new performers
VENUE DBS Arts Centre
Mera Woh Matlab
Nahi Tha
Q: Protagonists at
the Edge
TEAMWORK PRODUCTIONS PTE LTD
THE ESPLANADE
CO LTD
This Hindi play (We Never Say What
We Mean is its English title) tells of
one-time high-school sweethearts who
meet again in the autumn of their lives
to solve the mystery of why it never
worked out between them.
Art Places
THE ESPLANADE CO LTD
Think Singapore is devoid of art? Koh
Nguang How has photographic
proof otherwise. See this arts
researcher and photographer’s
beautiful images of diverse art events
in Singapore’s past.
VENUE Jendela Visual Art Space, The
Esplanade
ADMISSION PRICE Free
DATE Till 19 Jul
TIME Mon-Fri 11am-8.30pm, Sat & Sun
10am-8.30pm
WEBSITE www.esplanadesingapore.com
come together to perform various
scenes from plays past.
VENUE Esplanade Theatre
ADMISSION PRICE $60, $100, $140, $180, $220
DATE 29 May
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
ADMISSION PRICE $37
DATE Till 30 May
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
You’ve enjoyed
watching
actors perform
plays. Now,
watch a
performance of
actors enjoying
(or not enjoying)
plays, instead.
Three actors,
the graduating cohort of Intercultural
Theatre Institute, examine their
responses to classic Singapore plays
by Kuo Pao Kun and Lim Jen Erh, then
replay these responses to the audience
as a theatre experience. Directed by
Ang Gey Pin.
VENUE Esplanade Rehearsal Studio
ADMISSION PRICE $25
DATE Till 30 May
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
21
+
Live Spectacle Naruto
IMPERIAL ARTISTE MANAGEMENT
This live-action adaptation of one of
Japan’s most popular anime series
comes to Singapore! Expect epic
drama and gorgeous effects as the
tale about a young ninja with a fox
demon trapped in his body comes to
spectacular 3D life.
VENUE Resorts World Theatre, Resorts
World Sentosa
ADMISSION PRICE $58, $78, $108, $138, $168
DATE 6 & 7 Jun
TIME 1.30pm & 7pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
The History of
Singapore Part I
DREAM ACADEMY
The Dim Sum Dollies, terrible trio of
local comedy, returns with their 2007
critically-acclaimed hit The History of
Singapore Part I. Get set for a madcap
ride as the Dollies take you through
the early days of Singapore, with
appearances by Sang Nila Utama
and his quest for real estate, divalicious Samsui women, the Sin City
hustle of opium dens and brothels, and
prematurely-ejected kamikaze pilots.
VENUE Esplanade Theatre
ADMISSION PRICE $48, $68, $88, $128, $148
Tribes (Advisory 16:
Coarse Language)
DATE 5-21 Jun
TIME Tue-Fri 8pm, Sat 3pm & 8pm, Sun 3pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
This award-winning Singapore theatre
company returns with a play that proves
actions speak louder than words. Quiet,
deaf protagonist Billy struggles to be
heard among the clamour of his brilliant
but eccentric family.
OTHERS
ADMISSION PRICE $30, $40, $50, $60, $70
DATE Till 7 Jun
Love, Just For You
SINGAPORE I-LIEN DRAMA SOCIETY
DATE 8 & 9 Jun
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
progra
programmes
DATE 29 Ma
May-7
7 Jun
TIME Variou
Various times
WEBSITE www.esplanade.com.sg/fl
www esplanade.com g/flipside
Sink your teeth into Singapore and
its past at this series of arty events.
Highlights include videos and
photographs of Singapore’s offshore
islets; an installation that lets you walk
in the shoes of Singapore’s visuallyimpaired; woven quilts incorporating
tales of our island’s taxi drivers,
immigrants and farmers; screenings
highlighting Singlish; an exhibition of the
he
coolies’ unique porcelain currencyy and
more.
much mo
3pm, with extra 8pm show on Sun 7 Jun
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
ADMISSION PRICE $25, $35
VENUE Various venues in The Esplanade
SINGAPORE MEMORY PROJECT
TIME Tue-Fri 8pm, Sat 3pm & 8pm, Sun
VENUE Victoria Theatre
If you feel art can be heavy-going,
get some respite with the light, bright
offerings at this
annual festival.
Programmes span
the spectrum of
theatre, music
and dance, but all
share a common
denominator of
being fun and
offbeat. Even if youu
don’t make it into the
he
various theatre venues,
ues,
uld
casual visitors should
bushed by roving acts.
prepare to be ambushed
Singapore Memory
Project at the
National Library
VENUE Drama Centre Theatre
This Mandarin play is a fictional
tale set amid Singapore’s historical
events, with the Maria Hertogh
riot, the Japanese invasion and the
Spyros accident framing the tale of a
nightclub singer. Also expect to hear
popular Mandarin oldies from the
1950s to the ’80s.
THE ESPLANADE CO LTD
ADMISSION PRICE Various prices, includes free
PANGDEMONIUM THEATRE COMPANY
22
Flipside
Singapore Comedy
Fringe 2015
THE COMEDY CLUB PTE LTD
Stand-up comedy in Asia, and
especially Singapore, has experienced
a phenomenal growth spurt over the
past few years, with more and better
acts coming on the scene. But don’t just
take our word for it. See living proof at
this series of shows featuring more than
30 Asian comedians sending audiences
into stitches over the course of five days.
VENUE DBS Arts Centre
ADMISSION PRICE $38
DATE 9-13 Jun
TIME 7.30pm & 9.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
VENUE Vario
Variouss venues in the National
National
Bu ding
Library Building
ADMISSION PRICEE Free
ADMISSIO
DATE Till Aug
TIME Various times
WEBSITE www.nlb.gov.sg
HAVE AN ART AFFAIR YOU’D LIKE
TO INCLUDE IN OUR LISTINGS?
Simply send us details of the event at
least 6 weeks before it takes place, at
a-list.sg/submit-an-event. (Listings
are free but not guaranteed.) We’ll
help you get this arty started.
*All information is correct at press time
but may be subject to change.
Coming up!
Ronny Chieng
— You Don’t Know
What You’re
Talking About
Loh Jun Hong
& Abigail Sin
The Wind in
the Willows
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
SSO@VCH
ABA PRODUCTIONS PTE LTD
The idyllic children’s classic comes
to life with this magical show
courtesy of Talking Scarlet, an
innovative production company
from the United Kingdom. Mole,
Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad embark
on a leisurely exploration of the
River Bank, only to find they must
fight to save not only Toad Hall, but
their very way of life.
Often teaming up are Singapore’s
young violinist and pianist
extraordinaire, Loh Jun Hong and
Abigail Sin respectively. Here, they
join forces once again to play a
repertoire of chamber music from
Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky
and Brahms.
CENTURY ENTERTAINMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Malaysian-born, Singapore-raised
and now internationally acclaimed,
this spunky comedian with a
string of Australian awards under
his belt returns to Singapore to
spread laughs among his friends
and family.
VENUE SOTA Drama Theatre
Kit Chan
Spellbound
Concert 2015
MEDIACORP VIZPRO INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
VENUE Esplanade Concert Hall
VENUE Victoria Concert Hall
ADMISSION PRICE $41
ADMISSION PRICE $18
DATE 12 Jun
DATE 12 Jun
TIME 7.30pm
TIME 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Smurfs Live On
Stage — Smurfs
Save Spring
Ballet Under
The Stars
MEDIACORP VIZPRO INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
They may look blue through and
through, but the merry miniscule
Smurfs will make tots, and children
of the ’80s, feel anything but sad.
In this stage escapade, the Smurfs
must save the Spring Parade from
the plotting Gargamel.
SINGAPORE DANCE THEATRE
ADMISSION PRICE $58, $88, $118,
VENUE Fort Canning Green
THE ESPLANADE CO LTD
DATE 12-21 Jun
TIME Fri-Sun, 7.30pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
DATE 12-14 Jun
TIME Various times
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
The O.P.E.N
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF
THE ARTS
This branch of the annual Singapore
International Festival of the Arts
seeks to encourage audience
ownership of ideas, rather than just
have them watch, go and forget.
VENUE The Star Theatre
People can build spectacular sets,
but sometimes there’s no prettier
backdrop for a dance performance
than the night sky. In this year’s
edition of Ballet Under the Stars, the
talented dancers of Singapore Dance
Theatre will perform international
choreographic masterpieces by
George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli
and Singapore’s Goh Choo-San.
ADMISSION PRICE $27
VENUE Resorts World Theatre,
Resorts World Sentosa
AMISSION PRICE $45, $65, $75,
$95, $120, $130
DATE 12-14 Jun
TIME Fri 3pm & 7pm, Sat & Sun
11am, 3pm & 7pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
After taking her craft around
the world, Kit Chan, arguably
still Singapore’s most famous
chanteuse, returns to sing on home
stage in a full-length concert.
Expect remakes of familiar tunes,
as well as renditions of her classics
including ‘Heartache’, ‘Loving You’,
‘Tempting Heart’ and many more.
ADMISSION PRICE $42, $52, $62
$148, $178
DATE 12 & 13 Jun
TIME 8pm
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
Dance India Asia
Pacific Showcase:
Defining Moments
by Priyadarsini
Govind
Accompanied by international
musicians, legendary dancer
Priyadarsini Govind weaves
together compositions that
contemplate life-changing
moments of faith, love or despair,
ranging from the 15th-century
devotional music of Saint
Purandara Dasa to the works of
the Tanjore Quartet from the
19th century.
Expect offerings that will leave a
lasting impression and even inspire
you to action, such as stark images
of China’s people paying the price
of rapid industrialisation; a play
imagining what Chile would be like
if the pre-dictatorship regime had
hired spin doctors for president
Salvador Allende, or dances inspired
by sadomasochistic role-playing
rituals.
VENUE Esplanade Recital Studio
VENUE Various venues
ADMISSION PRICE $28
ADMISSION PRICE Various prices
DATE 12 Jun
DATE 16 Jun-4 Jul
TIME 7.30pm
TIME Various times
WEBSITE www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE sifa.sg/theopen
23
EPILOGUE
BECAUSE
ART IS LONG & LIFE IS SHORT
B
OR
ORT
RT
T
BY PAMELA
HO
Barf Out Loud
24
4
“I
Med ia.
Media.
Medi
a “M
““Making
a k ing a B
Barf
arrff B
Ba
Bagg M
Mons
Monster
onster
er
is one such outcome of frivolous
experimentation with the limited
material (and legroom) I had on
the plane.”
Over a period of four years, Aida
has created over 20 Barf Bag
Monsters — a visual record of her
tra
travel
ave
vell adventures
adve
ad
entur
en
tures
ess and
an
nd
d a doc
d
document
occume
o
u me
mentt
of her growth as an artist through
time. “People love to keep
snapshots of their travels. I guess
this is my own flappy-mouthed
version of that!” she chuckles.
“I truly believe that creativity is
seeing magic in the most everyday
things.” A
ILLUSTRATIONS Nur Aida Sa’ad
lo
lov
llove
ove plane
plan
plan
an
ne rides!
r ide
iid
de s!
de
s! To
To me,
me,, it
it
spells freedom to fi ll the
hours doing absolutely
anything you want — idle
doodles, drawings and other
silly things,” declares Nur Aida
Sa’ad, a graphic designer with
a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
from NTU School of Art, Design &
To find out more about Aida’s work, visit www.yellowmushmellow.com or follow her on Instagram at @yellowmushmellow.
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