esplanade what’s on Apr – Jun 2015
THE WEIGHT OF SILK ON SKIN / 18
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA /20 JOHN TAVENER’S FLOOD OF BEAUTY / 25 HOUSE OF RIOT! PRESENTS A TRIPLE BILL
CHARLIE LIM, INCH, THE GREAT SPY EXPERIMENT / 75 ESPLANADE CELEBRATES SG50! The Studios: Fifty Special
PLAY’S THE WORD Esplanade sets the stage with some of Singapore’s much-loved playwrights / 63
ALL THE ‘WRITE’ THINGS Hidden talents, words of wisdom, comfort foods—get to know this season’s playwrights as they share a few things about themselves / 65
About Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Esplanade is Singapore’s national performing arts centre. It presents a year-round line-up of more than 3,000 performances, making the arts accessible for everyone through a diverse calendar of ticketed and non-ticketed programmes featuring dance, music, theatre, the visual arts and more. Esplanade’s programmes include an annual roster of 15 festivals and 19 programme series presented by the centre. The centre works in close partnership with local, regional and international artists to develop artistic capabilities and content, push artistic boundaries and engage audiences. It also develops technical capabilities for the industry nationally. This architectural icon, with its distinctive twin shells, houses world-class performance spaces complemented by a comprehensive range of professional support services. Its two main venues are the 1,600-seat Concert Hall and a Theatre with a capacity of 2,000. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is operated by The Esplanade Co Ltd, which is a not-for-profit organisation, a registered Charity and an Institution of a Public Character. Visit www.esplanade.com for more information.
Board Members Mr Lee Tzu Yang (Chairman) Mr Benson Puah (Chief Executive Officer Dr Beh Swan Gin Mrs Rosa Daniel Dr Jennifer Lee Mr Low Eng Teong
Mrs Christine Ong Mr Ramlee Bin Buang Ms Saw Phaik Hwa Mrs Mildred Tan-Sim Beng Mei Mr Yap Chee Meng Mr Andre Yeap
All information correct at time of print. Design and production: ADtitude Pte Ltd Biz Reg No: 200107009N Printer: KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd The Esplanade Co Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and registered under the Charities Act. Copyright 2015 @ The Esplanade Co Ltd UEN: 199205206G
1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981 Tel: 6828 8222 Fax: 6337 3633 Customer Service Hotline: 6828 8377 SISTIC Hotline: 6348 5555 www.esplanade.com
EsplanadeSG
EsplanadeSingapore #esplanade
CEO’s Message Dear patrons, As we near the mid-year mark, Esplanade continues to commemorate our nation’s 50th birthday by celebrating the multitude of expressions that define our Singapore identity. This quarter, we invite you to understand the world around us through theatre, seek fulfilment through sacred music, gain new perspectives through the zany and the quirky, and find courage to chase your passions. The Studios returns this season with a celebration of Singapore theatre. Presenting 50 local plays from the past to the present, we look back on some of the most memorable stories and characters written by our much-loved playwrights. Explore powerful expressions of faith at A Tapestry of Sacred Music as we look at how people from diverse cultures around the world seek out the divine—some contemplative and intoxicating, others vibrant and exuberant. Flipside 2015 brings hours of fun-filled family-oriented fringe acts to the young and old. Look forward to a kooky line-up of caricature artists, roving circus, dance and theatre performers as they tickle, amaze and show us a lighter, quirkier side of life. Two annual festivals for youths and alternative music lovers return to inspire all to dare and to pursue one’s dreams. Watch exuberant showcases of street dance crews in Yfest’s SixTeen Dance Challenge, and the finalists of Baybeats’ Budding Bands auditions as they embrace a bold spirit to perform in front of the thousands who throng the festivals. This year’s Baybeats also features returning bands who have, through the years, defined the festivals spirit of daring. There is still so much to share with you before the quarter is through, and we hope to continue filling your calendar with new discoveries and programmes that touch your heart in different ways. So come, join us this year as we celebrate our nation’s songs and stories, that encapsulate the values and memories we hold dear.
Benson Puah Chief Executive Office The Esplanade Co Ltd
CONTENTS 3
MONTHLY CALENDARS What’s on from April to June
9
FESTIVAL CALENDARS A Tapestry of Sacred Music 9 The Studios 11
13
PROGRAMMES
63
THE STUDIOS: FIFTY SPECIAL PLAY'S THE WORD 63 Esplanade sets the stage with some of Singapore's much-loved playwrights ALL THE 'WRITE' THINGS 65 This season's playwrights reveal some of their hidden talents, hobbies, and other things that make them tick
82
FESTIVAL FREE PROGRAMMES A Tapestry of Music and Flipside
87 89
VISUAL ARTS
97
ESPLANADE SPONSORS
100
ABOUT ESPLANADE PRESENTS PROGRAMMES
102
VISITOR INFORMATION
ESPLANADE MALL
Esplanade Presents
Flipside
of side the arts
.
29 May – 7 Jun 2015 Fri – Sun Ten days of delightfully quirky, zany and whimsical performances in unexpected forms and spaces!
www.esplanade.com/flipside
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
/ APRIL OVERVIEW
2 Thu
Emily Of Emerald Hill 8pm
3 Fri
4 Sat
Selected Works of Haresh Sharma* 7.30pm
Emily Of Emerald Hill 3pm & 8pm Beginnings – Selected Works from 1960s and 1970s* 6pm
Emily Of Emerald Hill 3pm & 8pm
Gala: Midori 7.30pm
8 Wed
9 Thu
10 Fri
Our Songs, Our Stories 我们的新谣， 我们的故事 2.30pm & 4.30pm
Our Songs, Our Stories 我们的新谣， 我们的故事 2.30pm & 4.30pm
Our Songs, Our Stories 我们的新谣， 我们的故事 2.30pm & 4.30pm
Crescent Girls’ School Symphonic Band 7.30pm
The Weight Of Silk On Skin 8pm
Family Relations in Singapore Plays* 7.30pm
16 Thu
17 Fri
13 Mon
Yao Su Rong Recollections 10.30am, 3pm & 7.30pm
John Tavener’s Flood Of Beauty 7.30pm
Soweto Gospel Choir 8pm
CHIJ Katong Convent Concert Band 7.30pm
22 Wed
KUMAR Stands Up For Singapore 8pm
Balanchine | Millepied 8pm
23 Thu
Fairfield Methodist Secondary School Choir 7.30pm Off Centre 8pm KUMAR Stands Up For Singapore 8pm
25 Sat Off Centre 3pm & 8pm
Reimagining History* 4.30pm
KUMAR Stands Up For Singapore 4pm & 8pm
Gender and Sexuality* 7.30pm
3 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
26 Sun
The World Of Celtic Music 2pm
KUMAR Stands Up For Singapore 4pm & 8pm
Off Centre 3pm
Singapore Through The Glass 7.30pm
5 Sun
6 Mon & 7 Tue
Emily Of Emerald Hill 3pm
Piano Fantasies 7.30pm
Selected Works of Michael Chiang* 6pm
Antar – Yatra: A Hindustani Vocal Recital 7.30pm
The Weight Of Silk On Skin 8pm
Our Songs, Our Stories 我们的新谣， 我们的故事 2.30pm & 4.30pm
11 Sat
12 Sun
New Voices: Selected Works from a New Generation* 6pm
When East Meets West 3pm
The Weight Of Silk On Skin 3pm & 8pm
Rodrigo y Gabriela 7.30pm
The Weight Of Silk On Skin 3pm
Conservatory New Music Ensemble: Tree Line 5pm
18 Sat
19 Sun
La Sylphide 3pm
Don Quixote 3pm
Iwami Kagura 3pm
Pipes In Harmony 3pm
Balanchine | Millepied 8pm
Sacred Songs of Occitan 5pm
Nourredine Kourchid 8pm
24 Fri
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School Band 7.30pm
Off Centre 8pm KUMAR Stands Up For Singapore 8pm
SSO Pops Concert: John Williams Extravaganza 7.30pm
Selected Works of Eleanor Wong* 7pm
Rukmini Devi’s Kannapar Kuravanji: “A Dramatic Tale of Devotion” 8pm
20 Mon
Traditions Contemporised* 7.30pm
29 Wed
Selected Works of Ovidia Yu* 6pm
In Each Hand A Cutlass: The Kraken 9.30pm
30 Thu
Selected Works of Kuo Pao Kun* 7.30pm Steven Isserlis Plays Shostakovich 7.30pm Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral 8pm
* Dramatised Readings as part of The Studios
National Theatre's War Horse 8pm
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 4
/ MAY OVERVIEW
1 Fri
2 Sat
National Theatre's War Horse 3pm
King Lear 3pm Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral 3pm & 8pm
Selected Works of Paul Rae and Kaylene Tan* 7.30pm Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral 8pm
Contemporary & New Wave* 6pm Of Mice and Men 8pm
6 Wed
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
A Streetcar Named Desire 8pm
7 Thu
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate "S" Machine 8pm
Selected works of Chong Tze Chien* 7.30pm
10 Sun
The Magic Treetop 11am, 2pm & 4pm Mother’s Day Special: Songs for Mothers with Love 3pm
12 Tue
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
Mother’s Day Special: Khas Untukmu Ibu 5.30pm The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate "S" Machine 8pm
19 Tue
17 Sun
20 Wed
Meridian Junior College Choir 7.30pm
Secrets To A Storyteller 2pm Le Corsaire 3pm
Heartstrings 7.30pm
Symphony Of Voices 2015 7.30pm
25 Mon & 26 Tue Natya – The Spirit Of Dance 10am & 3pm
27 Wed
Natya – The Spirit Of Dance 10am & 3pm Victoria Junior College Symphonic Band 7.30pm
5 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Q: Protagonists At The Edge 7.30pm
28 Thu
Natya – The Spirit Of Dance 10am
Q: Protagonists At The Edge 7.30pm
Nanyang Girls’ High School Choir 7.30pm
Transcending The Ordinary ~ Late Works Of Schubert 8pm
3 Sun
4 Mon
5 Tue
Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral 3pm
Drama Queens Joyce DiDonato 7.30pm
Take 6 7.30pm
The Magic Treetop 11am, 2pm & 4pm
8 Fri
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
Out Of This World 7.30pm
Selected Works of Tan Tarn How* 7.30pm
The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate "S" Machine 8pm
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
It Could Have Been ____ ! 8pm
13 Wed
14 Thu
Valentina Lisitsa Live In Concert 7.30pm
George And The Music Box 8pm
The Magic Treetop 9.30am & 11am
22 Fri
Lea Salonga in Concert 7.30pm
9 Sat
The Magic Treetop 11am, 2pm & 4pm
The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate "S" Machine 3pm & 8pm
It Could Have Been ____ ! 2pm
Politics and Society* 6pm
15 Fri & 16 Sat
Le Corsaire 8pm
Sides 2015 Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm
Le Corsaire Fri, 8pm Sat 3pm & 8pm
George And The Music Box Sat, 8pm
23 Sat
24 Sun
Lea Salonga in Concert 7.30pm
Take 5 Piano Quintet: Northern Lights 7.30pm
Age of Transition 9.30pm
29 Fri
Q: Protagonists At The Edge 7.30pm Transcending The Ordinary ~ Late Works Of Schubert 8pm
30 Sat
Transcending The Ordinary ~ Concerts For Children 9.30am & 11.30am
Sungha Jung Live in Singapore 2015 7.30pm
Primitive 3pm & 8pm
Q: Protagonists At The Edge 7.30pm
* Dramatised Readings as part of The Studios
31 Sun Primitive 3pm & 8pm
An Evening With Friends 5.30pm
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 6
/ JUNE OVERVIEW
1 Mon
Forever Teresa Teng 永远的邓丽君 3pm
2 Tue
Raffles Girls' School Choir 7.30pm
5 Fri
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 8pm The Boy With Tape On His Face 7.30pm & 10pm
9 Tue – 11 Thu
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 8pm
12 Fri
You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About 7.30pm
13 Sat
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 3pm & 8pm
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 8pm
16 Tue
Sound & Fantasy – A Piano Recital 7.30pm Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 8pm
23 Tue
Clementi Winds 8pm
7 / JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
6 Sat
7 Sun
House of Riot presents a triple bill: Charlie Lim, iNCH, The Great Spy Experiment 7.30pm
Songwriting – Conversations Through Music 2pm
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 3pm & 8pm
Vadym Kholodenko – Singapore Tour 7.30pm
Ticket 3pm & 8pm The Boy With Tape On His Face 3pm & 7.30pm
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 3pm & 8pm Ticket 8pm
14 Sun
Sparks Goes Pop! 3pm Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 3pm & 8pm
17 Wed – 19 Fri
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 8pm
20 Sat
Qin Yuen 29 «Sirius Is Coming II» Harmonica Concert 琴缘29《狼来了II》 口琴演奏会 7.30pm
21 Sun
All Bees Shall Come 3pm & 7.30pm Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 3pm & 8pm
Dim Sum Dollies – The History of Singapore Part I 3pm & 8pm
26 Fri
Songs From The Heart 星心相映 8pm
* Dramatised Readings as part of The Studios
30 Tue
Inspiring Trio 7.30pm
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 8
/ A TAPESTRY OF SACRED MUSIC/ AN INVITATION TO SEEK
A Tapestry of Sacred Music invites you to seek fulfilment through paths illuminated by the sounds and voices of devotion.
16 Thu
17 Fri JOHN TAVENER'S FLOOD OF BEAUTY 7.30pm
Concert Hall
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR 8pm
Theatre
Recital Studio
Various Locations around Esplanade
9 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Festival Calendar (16–19 APR 2015) 18 Sat
19 Sun
NOUREDDINE KHOURCHID & THE WHIRLING DERVISHES OF DAMASCUS 8pm
PIPES IN HARMONY Masato Suzuki 3pm
IWAMI KAGURA – RITUAL THEATRE OF SHIMANE 3pm
SACRED SONGS OF OCCITAN Lo Còr De La Plana 5pm
Enjoy free programmes at the Concourse and Outdoor Theatre, as well as insightful talks and workshops. For more information, visit www.tapestryofsacredmusic.com.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 10
/ THE STUDIOS/ AN INVITATION TO UNDERSTAND The Studios invites you to understand our world, our society, and ourselves in a magical space of imagination and reflection, as we celebrate Singapore’s English language theatre.
Week 1
2–5 Apr, Thu–Sun FULLLENGTH PLAYS
Theatre Studio
Recital Studio
DRAMATISED READINGS
Rehearsal Studio
FORUMS Free
library@ esplanade
11 / APR – MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Week 2
9–12 Apr, Thu–Sun
EMILY OF EMERALD HILL Written by Stella Kon Directed by Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit 2–5 Apr, Thu–Sun Thu, 8pm Fri & Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
THE WEIGHT OF SILK ON SKIN Written by Huzir Sulaiman Directed by Tracie Pang 9–12 Apr, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
SELECTED WORKS OF HARESH SHARMA Directed by Ian Loy 3 Apr, Fri 7.30pm
FAMILY RELATIONS IN SINGAPORE PLAYS Directed by Thong Pei Qin 10 Apr, Fri, 7.30pm
BEGINNINGS – SELECTED WORKS FROM THE 1960S AND 1970S Directed by Tan Shou Chen 4 Apr, Sat 6pm
NEW VOICES – SELECTED WORKS FROM A NEW GENERATION Directed by Tan Liting 11 Apr, Sat 6pm
SELECTED WORKS OF MICHAEL CHIANG Directed by Danny Yeo 5 Apr, Sun 6pm
SELECTED WORKS OF OVIDIA YU Directed by Lok Meng Chue 12 Apr, Sun 6pm
Beginning and Becoming: Identity and language in the theatre, 1960s–1980s Chaired by Clarissa Oon 4 April, Sat 4pm
Singapore Plays and Play Texts as Resources for Learning and Living Chaired by Michele Lim 11 Apr, Sat 4pm
Season Calendar (2 APR–10 MAY 2015) Week 3
Week 4
23–26 Apr, Thu–Sun 29 Apr–3 May, Wed–Sun OFF CENTRE Written by Haresh Sharma Directed by Oliver Chong 23–26 Apr, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
DESCENDANTS OF THE EUNUCH ADMIRAL Written by Kuo Pao Kun Directed by Jeff Chen 30 Apr–3 May, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
GENDER AND SEXUALITY – SELECTED WORKS Directed by Jeremiah Choy 25 Apr, Sat 7.30pm
SELECTED WORKS OF ELEANOR WONG Directed by Samantha Scott-Blackhall 29 Apr, Wed 7pm
Week 5
7–10 May Thu–Sun THE LADY SOUL & HER ULTIMATE 'S' MACHINE Written by Tan Tarn How Directed by Zizi Azah Bte Abdul Majid 7–10 May, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
SELECTED WORKS OF KUO PAO KUN Directed by Claire Wong 30 Apr, Thu 7.30pm TRADITIONS CONTEMPORISED Directed by Zelda Tatiana Ng 24 Apr Fri 7.30pm REIMAGINING HISTORY Directed by Gerald Chew 25 Apr, Sat 4.30pm
SELECTED WORKS OF PAUL RAE AND KAYLENE TAN Directed by Irfan Kasban 1 May, Fri 7.30pm
SELECTED WORKS OF CHONG TZE CHIEN Directed by Huzir Sulaiman 7 May, Thu 7.30pm
CONTEMPORARY & NEW WAVE Directed by Edith Podesta 2 May, Sat 6pm
SELECTED WORKS OF TAN TARN HOW Directed by Goh Boon Teck 8 May, Fri 7.30pm POLITICS AND SOCIETY Directed by Timothy Nga 9 May, Sat 6pm
Plays of Difference: Excavating, Experimenting, Exploring… Chaired by Charlene Rajendran 25 Apr, Sat 2pm
Acting Singaporean: Back Story and Fore Play Chaired by T. Sasitharan 2 May, Sat 4pm
Fear of Writing? The development of political theatre in Singapore Chaired by Janice Koh 9 May, Sat 4pm
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 12
Esplanade Presents
EMILY OF EMERALD HILL Written by Stella Kon Directed by Aidli ‘Alin’ Mosbit
Production images courtesy of Margaret Chan and Jeremiah Choy Photo by Tuckys Photography
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
2–5 Apr, Thu–Sun Thu, 8pm Fri & Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
Born in 1940s Singapore, Emily is an abandoned child left to survive in a man's world. However, by dint of her sharp wit and cunning mind, she becomes the matriarch of a distinguished household, respected and admired by society. Leaping through time and space, the play charts the life of Emily from girlhood to her twilight years.
Theatre Studio $30
Directed by Aidli 'Alin' Mosbit and starring Karen Tan, Stella Kon’s powerful monodrama, Emily of Emerald Hill was a groundbreaking play of its time, steered by one woman’s recollection of her life’s triumphs and regrets.
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Students: $12; NSFs and seniors: $20 Package of 5 full-length plays: 10% off standard ticket
13 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Performed by Karen Tan There will be a dialogue with the artists after Friday evening’s performance.
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
Esplanade Presents
Ian Loy
Tan Shou Chen
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF HARESH SHARMA
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS FROM THE 1960S AND 1970S
3 Apr, Fri 7.30pm
4 Apr, Sat 6pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Recital Studio $5
Rehearsal Studio $5
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
An exemplary trilogy that contains the hallmarks of a playwright, these productions won Best Script at the Life! Theatre Awards for three consecutive years. They marked a return to realist, socially-conscious plays after years of experimentation and exploration.
Pioneer playwrights Lim Chor Pee, Goh Poh Seng and Robert Yeo galvanised the theatre scene with some of our first local English language productions—plays that not only began to shape a Singaporean identity and sensibility, but also responded to the nation’s changing sociopolitical landscape.
In this bold and often darkly humorous story about how a mother and daughter deal with family secrets, Gemuk Girls looks at family politics and the politics of the day. Centred on the relationships between a high-strung doctor, a jaded nurse and a terminally-ill patient, Good People explores social themes, personal choices and the grey area between right and wrong. Fundamentally Happy tackles the subject of paedophilia, and the personal and emotional issues it causes to the victim and immediate family of the perpetrator. Advisory: R18 (contains mature themes, coarse language and issues dealing with paedophilia) This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
Set in the swinging ‘60s, Singapore’s first English language play, Mimi Fan, written by Lim Chor Pee, is a haunting tale about relationships, escapism and broken hearts searching for healing. Goh Poh Seng’s The Moon is Less Bright follows the lives of a farmer and his family before and during the Japanese occupation. Faith is tested when they are joined by relatives from the city. The first of Robert Yeo’s The Singapore Trilogy, Are You There, Singapore? juxtaposes heated debates about Singapore’ state of government with the story of a group of Singaporean students studying overseas. Advisory: This reading contains mature themes. Recommended for patrons ages 16 years and above. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 14
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
GALA: MIDORI
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
4 Apr, Sat 7.30pm (1hr 35mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $25*, $40**, $68, $88, $112, $138
DRAMATISED READING: MICHAEL CHIANG Danny Yeo
5 Apr, Sun 6pm (1hr, no intermission) Rehearsal Studio $5 Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Students, NSFs and seniors: $18*, $30** Okko Kamu, conductor Midori, violin SCHUMANN SHOSTAKOVICH
Violin Concerto in D minor, WoO 23 Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93
Superstar violinist Midori returns for another performance with the SSO playing Schumann’s Violin Concerto, a lesser known work described by the legendary Yehudi Menuhin as "the bridge between the Beethoven and the Brahms concertos". As a composer under the Stalin regime, Shostakovich found himself constantly under scrutiny and attack; the Tenth Symphony was one of the important works he wrote following Stalin’s death in 1953. There will be a pre-concert talk at library@esplanade at 6.30pm
“Midori's playing is imbued not just with a keen beauty but somehow with a thoughtfulness.” —London Sunday Times 15 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
From army boys to lady boys and beauty queens, Michael Chiang’s comic and explosive world of larger-thanlife characters have for three decades moved even his harshest critics. One of Singapore’s most successful playwrights, Chiang’s popular works continue to enjoy restagings and adaptataions. First staged in 1987, Army Daze is a coming-of-age story about five 18-year-olds going through basic military training for the first time. This runaway hit has since enjoyed regular stage revivals, a wildly successful film adaptation, and a musical makeover. Private Parts is Chiang’s acclaimed comedy about transgenders trying to find their place in society. Following a talk-show host who befriends three patients at a sex-change clinic, this bittersweet story touched many audiences and won Chiang multiple accolades, with The Straits Times commenting that it was “a special production that should not close until every person in this country has seen it.” This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
SIFAS Festival 2015:
PIANO FANTASIES Kenneth Hamilton SCOTLAND, UK
5 Apr, Sun 7.30pm
(2hrs 15mins, including 15min intermission)
Recital Studio $32
Students, NSFs and seniors: $22 BEETHOVEN SCHUMANN CHOPIN MENDELSSOHN HANDEL-LISZT VERDI-LISZT
Fantasy Op. 77 Fantasy Op. 17 Polonaise Fantasy Fantasy on the Last Rose of Summer Paraphrase from the opera Almira Rigoletto Fantasy
For the latest in his popular annual concerts at Esplanade, Kenneth Hamilton presents a fascinating programme of romantic fantasies for piano: from Beethoven’s capricious Fantasy Op. 77 to Liszt’s dazzling version of Verdi’s Rigoletto, and much-loved masterpieces by Chopin and Schumann along the way. Brought to you by Cardiff University, UK
“A formidable virtuoso” —Moscow Kommersant Daily
ANTAR – YATRA: JOURNEY WITHIN
A Hindustani Vocal Recital by Pandits Rajan – Sajan Misra INDIA
5 Apr, Sun 7.30pm (2hrs, no intermission) Concert Hall $25, $40, $80 Pandits Rajan-Sajan Misra, two of the foremost exponents of the Banaras Gharana, hail from a family with three generations of Hindustani musicians. Soaked in such a rich culture, their exposition of the raga is an intricate creative process which balances exquisite aesthetic tension with a delicate handling of rhythm and deft command of technique, producing sublime music with an instant appeal with the audience. Pandits Rajan and Sajan Misra have been conferred the Padma Bhushan and Sangeet Natak Academy Awards among others. They have performed extensively all over the world and run a ‘Gurukul’ in Dehradun in the ‘Guru-ShishyaParampara’ (master-disciple) tradition. Brought to you by Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
“Full of energy and wit” —The New York Times
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 16
Esplanade Presents
OUR SONGS, OUR STORIES
我们的新谣，我们的故事 TCR Music Station / 弹唱人制作室
6–10 Apr, Mon–Fri 2.30pm & 4.30pm (1hr, no intermission)
Recital Studio Performed in Mandarin without surtitles $20 (school bookings only) Return to 1980s and 1990s Singapore through xinyao, a genre of Mandarin popular songs composed and sung by Singaporeans. Listen to familiar numbers and sing along with the performers as students learn about Singapore’s music history, and the birth and development of the genre. Some of the songs featured in this performance include 童谣 (tóng yáo), a nursery rhyme about familiar sights and sounds; 细水长流 (xì shuĭ cháng liú), a song about everlasting friendship; and 麻雀衔竹枝 (má què xián zhú zhī), a song about life in Singapore, performed in multiple Chinese dialects. TOTE Board Arts Grant and CPES funding are available for schools. For more information, refer to page 97 or visit www.esplanade.com/fyi.
17 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
CRESCENT GIRLS’ SCHOOL SYMPHONIC BAND 8 Apr, Wed 7.30pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall $13 Crescent Girls’ School Symphonic Band was established in 1967 and first started out as a military band under the baton of pioneer music director, Lee Seck Chiang. Since then, it has evolved to become the symphonic band that it is today. Join the band in its fifth Limelight performance this April, in a night filled with adventure featuring famous movie themes including James Bond and Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
Production images courtesy of WILD RICE, photo by Albert Lim Photo by Tuckys Photography
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
THE WEIGHT OF SILK ON SKIN Written by Huzir Sulaiman Directed by Tracie Pang
9–12 Apr, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 8pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Theatre Studio $30 Students: $12; NSFs and seniors: $20 Package of 5 full-length plays: 10% off standard ticket
Born into an upper middle class family, John Au Yong’s pleasures in life are sex and money. However, he begins to reflect about things that are really important in life when he meets his old college sweetheart, Anna. The impending meeting triggers memories of his past loves and losses, his boxed-in teenage years in Singapore, and his liberating experience in New York, which unlocks an unrestrained monologue about his affluent lifestyle and his fast-paced but empty life. Written by Huzir Sulaiman in 2011, Tracie Pang uncovers the pain and hidden nuances that lie at the heart of a man’s disenchanted soul. Starring Adrian Pang as the forlorn playboy, The Weight of Silk on Skin brings poetic release to one man’s story of love, lust and loss. First staged as part of Man Singapore Theatre Festival 2011, Huzir Sulaiman’s poignant monologue was an instant hit with the audience and critics. It won Best Original Script at the Life! Theatre Awards 2012. Performed by Adrian Pang There will be a dialogue with the artists after Friday evening’s performance. Advisory: R18 (Some sexual references). There will be no latecomer entry for this performance.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 18
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
DRAMATISED READING: FAMILY RELATIONS IN SINGAPORE PLAYS
DRAMATISED READING: NEW VOICES – SELECTED WORKS FROM A NEW GENERATION
10 Apr, Fri 7.30pm
11 Apr, Sat 6pm
Recital Studio $5
Rehearsal Studio $5
Esplanade Presents
Pei Qin
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Tan Liting
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
These award-winning plays show the playwright’s propensity for tackling the emotional terrain of familial relationships and creating intense moments that are both striking and unforgettable.
Four playwrights, each of whom have produced acclaimed works despite their young age, mark a new generation of playwriting in Singapore today.
Everything but the Brain is a tragicomedy revolving around Elaine Lim, a science teacher who devises a plan to turn back time to save her ailing father. In the surreal world of Boom, an elderly woman and her property agent son struggle over the potential en bloc sale of their home. The Car is about the dilemma faced by a young woman over keeping or selling her late father's battered Fiat – a vehicle that transports her back and forth to memories which are both joyful and painful. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
Faith Ng's For Better or for Worse explores the themes of love, relationships and family through the estranged marriage of a middle-aged couple. The Way We Go is a tender piece by Joel Tan, about finding love at a later stage in life Shiv Tandan's humorous coming-of-age story follows the life of Raghav, who moves from India to Singapore. The Good, the Bad and the Sholay captures the joys and sorrows of growing up and the changes that come with each stage of life. Irfan Kasban's Tahan follows police recruit Adil as he meanders through the myths and truths of law enforcement, and learns of the vulnerabilities and weaknesses that officers too can possess Advisory: This reading contains mature themes and some coarse language. Recommended for patrons aged 16 years and above. The plays presented in this reading are excerpts.
19 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA MEXICO
11 Apr, Sat 7.30pm (1hr 15mins, no intermission)
Concert Hall $48*, $68**, $88^ Limited for students, NSFs and seniors: $35*, $55** Mosaic Friends Special Get $10 off the top-priced ticket at $78^ (U.P. $88)
Their appeal is boundless, their scope limitless, and the music timeless. Internationally acclaimed Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela has won the hearts of audiences worldwide with their unique instrumental blend of rumba flamenca, rock, metal, jazz and world music. Get ready for a sizzling night out as the duo rips through the Concert Hall with frenetic energy and rhythmic intensity. Expect an evening of exhilarating interplays between Rodrigo Sanchez’s fiery lead lines and Gabriela Quintero’s phenomenal rhythmic battery, as they weave their unique six-string magic in a one-night only concert. For more information about the artists, visit www.rodgab.com.
“Twenty fingers, 12 strings, two players, one ton of fun”—Q magazine
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 20
Esplanade Presents
WHEN EAST MEETS WEST
Esplanade Presents
Toa Payoh West Community Club Chinese Orchestra
CONSERVATORY NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE: TREE LINE
12 Apr, Sun 3pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall Free
12 Apr, Sun 5pm (1hr, no intermission) Recital Studio $20 Students, NSFs and seniors: $15
Join the Toa Payoh West Community Club Chinese Orchestra in an east-meets-west concert that will delight both Chinese music enthusiasts and Western music lovers. Enjoy an afternoon of lively classics including Romanian Folk Dances, Carmen Overture, Farandole from L'Arlésienne Suite No.2, and more! Established in 2001, the orchestra serves as a platform for young musicians to develop their talents and to explore their passion for music.
21 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Find respite for your weary mind in the colour and slow harmonic rhythm of Toru Takemitsu’s Tree Line. This evening also features Thai composer Narong Prangcharoen’s Echoes of Silence, Singapore composer Chen Zhangyi’s Walks on Water, Conservatory’s faculty member Adeline Wong’s Synclastic Illuminations, and fourth-year student Timothy Tan’s Hypertuba Magna.
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF OVIDIA YU
RUKMINI DEVI’S KANNAPAR KURAVANJI: “A DRAMATIC TALE OF DEVOTION”
12 Apr, Sun 6pm Rehearsal Studio $5
12 Apr, Sun 8pm (2hrs, no intermission) Theatre $25, $40, $80
Esplanade Presents
Lok Meng Chue
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 An award-winning novelist, writer and playwright, Ovidia Yu’s ability to understand human nature and articulate her forthright observations on femininity, gender and the Singapore identity has been critically acclaimed around the world. The Woman in a Tree on a Hill explores love, oppression, violence and freedom through the myths and stories of Noah, the Chinese goddess Nu Wa, and Singapore heartlanders, Nora and Norman. Through a surreal conversation between a woman and her dead ex-lover, a startling history is revealed. Hitting (On) Women is a poignant recollection of one woman’s past and her subsequent coming to terms with her abusive relationship with a woman named Karen.
Kalakshetra Foundation INDIA
Kannapar Kuravanji is the story of a hunter-prince Thinnapar, the son of a hunter king who finds salvation through his faith. Kuravanjis are Tamil dramas composed in traditional style, representing the aspiration of the soul to merge with the divine. All the characters are hunters or gypsies, as is typical of Kuravanji. The story revolves around Thinnapar’s devotion to Lord Shiva which is uplifted through his unswerving devotion. Brought to you by Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
An acerbic and satirical theatrical piece as seen through the lives of different women, Three Fat Virgins redefines the oppressed women as a ‘fat virgin’, vividly dismantling the social stereotypes of Singaporean women. Advisory: This reading contains mature themes. Recommended for patrons aged 16 years and above. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 22
Esplanade Presents
YAO SU RONG RECOLLECTIONS
Esplanade Presents
姚苏蓉难忘经典 Tandy Lim 唐羚
CHIJ KATONG CONVENT CONCERT BAND
13 Apr, Mon 10.30am, 3pm & 7.30pm
13 Apr, Mon 7.30pm
(1hr, no intermission)
Recital Studio $12
Performed in Mandarin Early Bird Special (2–23 Feb 2015): $10 Affectionately known as the “Diva of Tears”, Taiwanese songbird Yao Su Rong rose to fame in 1967 with her interpretation of Beauty of Autumn Water. Her renditions of Heartless Lover, Not Going Home Today and countless other hit songs have touched many audiences over the years. Local singer Tandy Lim, known for having a voice similar to Yao’s, pays tribute to the songstress with a musical journey featuring her evergreen hits. Coffee and tea will be provided before the performance.
23 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
(1hr 40mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $13 Formed in 2010, the CHIJ Katong Convent Concert Band has made outstanding achievements despite its short history; it won Gold Awards at the 2012 and 2014 Singapore International Band Festival (SIBF) and Gold with Distinction Awards at the National Band Competition in 2012 and 2014. Under the baton of Sim Kim Seng, each member is trained to take the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music practical examinations. In their debut Limelight performance, the band performs contemporary compositions for the wind ensemble, including Thunderbolt by Johnnie Vinson and Singapura Suite by Jan Van der Roost, as well as familiar favourites by One Direction, Les Misérables and West Side Story.
Photo by Tony Rudor
Esplanade Presents
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR SOUTH AFRICA
16 Apr, Thu 8pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Theatre $48*, $68*, $88 Students, NSFs and seniors: $38*, $58* Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Tapestry performances. Terms and conditions apply.
To watch two-time Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir perform is to watch one’s soul defy gravity, carried away by their powerful expressions of hope and joy. Lauded as one of the most exciting groups to emerge in world music in recent years, their uplifting blend of rich earthy rhythms, glorious harmonies and a cappella numbers—made visually spectacular by a swirling parade of costumes in every imaginable colour and their irresistible stage charisma—has taken the world by storm. It is no wonder that the choir performs to sold-out concerts nearly everywhere they go. Formed in 2002, Soweto Gospel Choir is known for their impressive repertoire of songs that meld African gospel, traditional hymns, Jamaican reggae, soul, American pop, and spiritually themed secular songs. Since the success of their runaway hit debut, Voices from Heaven (2005), the group has toured the world with their explosive brand of vocal fireworks, and has performed and recorded with Bono, Queen, Annie Lennox, Robert Plant, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Gabriel, Fats Domino, Johnny Clegg, Dionne Warwick, Jimmy Cliff, and Celine Dion.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 24
JOHN TAVENER’S FLOOD OF BEAUTY UK, SINGAPORE
17 Apr, Fri 7.30pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Concert Hall $28*, $48**, $68 Students, NSFs and seniors: $18*, $38** Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Tapestry performances. Terms and conditions apply. Performed in Sanskrit with English surtitles
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra Jason Lai, conductor Allison Bell, soprano Marcus Farnsworth, baritone Pei-Sian Ng, cello Adrian Chiang, assistant conductor
Conservatory Chamber Singers ONE Chamber Choir SYC Ensemble Singers The Vocal Consort Jennifer Tham, choral director
A Tapestry of Sacred Music presents renowned British composer Sir John Tavener’s last major work. Spaced around the audience—with Indian instruments completing the ensemble—they set out to achieve Tavener’s intention of creating music that “whirls around the building” in a uniquely immersive musical experience. Based on ninth-century poet-philosopher Sankara’s poem Saundarya Lahari, this work praises the Hindu god Siva’s female consort Devi, who empowers creation, sustenance and guidance of the world. It is a work that is representative of Sir John's perennial theme of the Divine Being. Produced by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in collaboration with Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and SYC Ensemble Singers. Co-commissioned by the Barbican, London and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
25 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Photo by Simone Canetty-Clarke
Esplanade Presents
SERIES
Photo by Agathe Poupeney
SERIES
DANCE ON SCREEN: BALANCHINE | MILLEPIED
DANCE ON SCREEN: LA SYLPHIDE
17 & 18 Apr, Fri & Sat 8pm (2hrs 15mins, including
18 Apr, Sat 3pm (2hrs, including
Theatre Studio $22
Theatre Studio $22
Paris Opera Ballet FRANCE
20min intermission)
Paris Opera Ballet FRANCE
20min intermission)
Limited for students, NSFs and seniors: $18 Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Paris Opera Ballet screening.
Limited for students, NSFs and seniors: $18 Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Paris Opera Ballet screening.
The renowned Paris Opera Ballet perform a double bill by iconic choreographers of the contemporary dance world; dance master George Balanchine and ballet’s latest star Benjamin Millepied. Set to music by French composers Bizet and Ravel, and with gorgeous costumes by Christian Lacroix, this is a French affair not to be missed!
Created in 1832 at the Paris Opera, Philippe Taglioni’s La Sylphide heralded the advent of the Romantic period of ballet.
This double bill is part of a series of Paris Opera Ballet screenings showcasing different ballet styles through the periods. Including: Rehearsal footages and interviews by Brigitte Lefèvre, former Director of Dance, Paris Opera Advisory: NC-16 (Brief Nudity) Jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Golden Village
The work was a critical triumph from the outset, praised in particular by Théophile Gautier, who would later write the libretto for Giselle. It also inspired another version by Danish balletmaster August Bournonville, whose revival piece—choreographed to a different score—remains the most familiar version of La Sylphide. This production is part of a series of Paris Opera Ballet screenings showcasing different ballet styles through the periods. Including: Rehearsal footages and interviews with the dancers by Brigitte Lefèvre, former Director of Dance, Paris Opera Jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Golden Village
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 26
Photo by Valerie Pinard Esplanade Presents
IWAMI KAGURA – RITUAL THEATRE OF SHIMANE
DERVISHES OF DAMASCUS
18 Apr, Sat 3pm (1hr 30mins, no intermission) Recital Studio $30*
18 Apr, Sat 8pm (1hr 30mins, no intermission) Concert Hall $38*, $48
Students, NSFs and seniors: $18* Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Tapestry performances. Terms and conditions apply.
Students, NSFs and senior citizens: $28* Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Tapestry performances. Terms and conditions apply.
The coastal region of Shimane is a land steeped in Shinto mythology and significance, said to be the place where all the gods and deities gathered once a year in conference. It is also the birthplace of one of the most dynamic and vibrant forms of Japanese ritual theatre – Iwami Kagura. Masked dancers in colourful costumes take on the role of Shinto gods, battling eight headed demon snakes and other monsters in Japanese mythology, accompanied by drum beats, clanging symbols and soaring bamboo flutes. For generation upon generation, this folk art is practiced by ordinary townspeople and villagers in the autumn, to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. Infused with riveting drama and rich cultural history, Iwami Kagura takes audiences to a world of legend where gods and monsters walked the earth.
The mystical tales of the Sufi tell of a celestial soul that refused to take a physical form, but was seduced by the voice of an angel into settling inside a body. Trapped, it carried with it a deep sense of nostalgia for its heavenly origins. This is why Sufi poetry overflows with emotions that reflect its yearning and ardent desire to be reunited with its source.
JAPAN
27 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
NOUREDDINE KHOURCHID & THE WHIRLING SYRIA
Go on a journey through divine love and ecstasy as Noureddine Khourchid and his ensemble of musicians perform a repertoire of inshads (sacred songs), accompanied by rousing percussions and the hypnotic whirling dervishes, drums and tambourines.
Photo by Marco Borggreve
SERIES
Esplanade Presents
PIPES IN HARMONY Masato Suzuki JAPAN
19 Apr, Sun 3pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall Free With a history dating back to the medieval times, the pipe organ has been a seminal instrument in the liturgy of the church, where to this day it continues to play a prominent role in worship. Join renowned Japanese conductor and organist Masato Suzuki as he takes audiences on a journey across the centuries, through familiar favourites and hidden gems of the organ repertoire. One of the highlights of the programme will include a selection of organ works based on Buddhist chants that were composed for the first pipe organ that was housed in a Buddhist temple in Japan.
DANCE ON SCREEN: DON QUIXOTE Paris Opera Ballet FRANCE
19 Apr, Sun 3pm (2hrs 30mins, including 20min intermission)
Theatre Studio $22
Limited for students, NSFs and seniors: $18 Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Paris Opera Ballet screening. This magnificent revival of Kirov’s piece from the classical repertoire was choreographed by the legendary Rudolf Nureyev and first performed by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1981. Don Quixote and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, get mixed up in the wild love affair of the stunning Kitri and the seductive Basilio in this richly colourful, humorous and virtuosic ballet. This production is part of a series of Paris Opera Ballet screenings showcasing different ballet styles through the periods. Including: Rehearsal footages and interviews with the dancers by Brigitte Lefèvre, former Director of Dance, Paris Opera Jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Golden Village
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 28
Photo by O. Santi Esplanade Presents
SACRED SONGS OF OCCITAN
Esplanade Presents
Lo Còr de la Plana FRANCE
SINGAPORE CHINESE GIRLS’ SCHOOL BAND
19 Apr, Sun 5pm
20 Apr, Mon 7.30pm
(1hr 15mins, no intermission)
Recital Studio $30* Students, NSFs and seniors: $18* Group Package: 10% savings with 4 or more tickets purchased to any Tapestry performances. Terms and conditions apply. Their music is a raucous ritual of singing, chanting, handclapping, knee-slapping and percussions, brimming with influences from the Mediterranean, Arabia, Africa, and Gregorian chants. Hailing from the Marseille province of Provence, the all-male polyphonic ensemble is known for reinventing the ancient sounds of the Occitan. In Sacred Songs of Occitan, the ensemble returns to their roots with narrative songs from the Early Christian period. With their raw vocals and rousing percussions, Lo Còr de la Plana’s repertoire of songs transcends both performance and ritual to conjure up a world of noisy carousing, imaginary paradises, deafening silence and the chaos of daily life.
29 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
(1hr 40mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $13
Formed in 1970, the Singapore Chinese Girls' School Band is today one of Singapore's most active school music ensembles. Besides holding concerts over the past five years, the band also performs regularly in public, at places such as Orchard Road, Sentosa, and The Singapore Flyer. Under the baton of Mr. Marvin Khoo, the SCGS Band performs music from the operetta, Die Fledermaus, as well as the 2007 Disney movie, Enchanted. Their Limelight appearance this year marks their third performance at Esplanade.
Photo by Dream Academy®
Esplanade Presents
KUMAR STANDS UP FOR SINGAPORE (R18) 22–26 Apr, Wed–Sun Wed–Fri, 8pm Sat & Sun, 4pm & 8pm (1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Theatre $46, $66, $86, $106, $116 Does Singapore have a SUPERHERO standing up for us? You bet your bottom CPF dollar we do! Just like our Singapore flag has 5 Stars, our Singapore Champion's name has 5 letters: K.U.M.A.R!!!! As Uniquely Singapore as Your Singapore can get, KUMAR spends April 2015 being our STB... Singapore's Top Bapok – STANDING UP FOR SINGAPORE! Celebrating Singapore's journey from a swampy island of a few orang lauts to today's bustling metropolis of millions. He'll make you roar with laughter as he tackles the red, the white, the stars and, of course, his Crescent Moon. Come laugh with KUMAR as you discover the true meaning of Mari Kita!
FAIRFIELD METHODIST SECONDARY SCHOOL CHOIR 23 Apr, Thu 7.30pm
(1hr 10mins, no intermission)
Concert Hall $13
The Fairfield Methodist Secondary School Choir started out as an all-girl group under the Music Society in the 1960s. It became a mixed choir in 1987 and has over the years won many accolades, including the Silver award at the 2004 International Choral Festival at Riva Del Garda Italy and the Zlata (Gold) award at the 2006 Festival of Songs, Olomouc, Czech Republic. At the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, the Choir won Gold with Honours in 2005, Gold in 2007 and 2009, Silver in 2012, and a Certificate of Distinction at the SYF Arts Presentation in 2013. Highlights of this Limelight performance include Defying Gravity, For Good and Wade in the Water.
Advisory: R18. Content restricted to audiences aged 18 years and above. Brought to you by Dream Academy®
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 30
Production images courtesy of The Necessary Stage Photo by Tuckys Photography
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
OFF CENTRE Written by Haresh Sharma Directed by Oliver Chong
23–26 Apr, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Theatre Studio $30 Students: $12; NSFs and seniors: $20 Package of 5 full-length plays: 10% off standard ticket
Written by Haresh Sharma, Off Centre focuses on the relationship between two young people with mental illnesses, both of whom face stigma from people in their lives while trying to reintegrate into society. Featuring a strong ensemble including Neo Swee Lin and Siti Khalijah, Oliver Chong helms this production to tell a resonating and personal story of friendship and societal and familial pressures in a Singaporean context. Off Centre is The Necessary Stage’s landmark play. First staged to critical acclaim in 1993, it is best remembered for bringing mental illness and the plight of patients to public and media attention. It has since been adapted into an experimental feature film, a television movie, given a full reading in the UK, studied as an academic text—at tertiary level and as part of the Ministry of Education’s GCE ‘O’ and ‘N’ level literature syllabus—as well as translated and staged as Otak Tak Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Performed by Joshua Lim, Myra Loke, Neo Hai Bin, Neo Swee Lin, Erwin Shah Ismail, Ebi Shankara, Ellison Tan & Siti Khalijah Zainal There will be a dialogue with the artists after Friday evening’s performance. Advisory: This production contains mature themes, coarse language and brief nudity. Recommended for patrons aged 16 years and above.
31 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
DRAMATISED READING: TRADITIONS CONTEMPORISED
SSO POPS CONCERT: JOHN WILLIAMS EXTRAVAGANZA
24 Apr, Fri 7.30pm
24 Apr, Fri 7.30pm
Zelda Tatiana Ng
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Rehearsal Studio $5
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 This reading is an examination of how traditional art forms, especially Chinese street opera, are contemporised and employed, as narrative spine and as dramatic form. Set in the 1940s, Goh Boon Teck’s Titoudao is a playwithin-a-play that charts the ups and downs of a Chinese opera performer’s career. Based on Goh’s mother’s life as a Chinese opera artist, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Singapore’s Chinese opera scene. The title refers to the famous character played by Goh’s mother, the male servant Titoudao. Leow Puay Tin’s Three Children combines poetry, drama, opera and dance elements to weave a tapestry of stories about the urban Chinese poor of Malacca, re-enacted in the child-like games of two little girls and a boy.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
(2hrs, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $20*, $38**, $58, $78 Students, NSFs and Seniors: $15*, $28** Group Package: 20% savings for every 4 Cat 1-3 tickets purchased Jason Lai, conductor John Williams is back! Following the incredible success of our hugely popular concert last season, we bring you more of the best from this famous film composer. At 82, Williams is still composing and thrilling audiences with his brilliant scores for movies for which he has won numerous awards and accolades. This concert will include music from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and much more!
This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 32
Photo by Scott Millard
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents Esplanade Presents
IN EACH HAND A CUTLASS: THE KRAKEN
DRAMATISED READING: REIMAGINING HISTORY Gerald Chew
24 Apr, Fri 9.30pm
25 Apr, Sat 4.30pm
Recital Studio $25
Rehearsal Studio $5
(1hr, no intermission)
Sonic wayfarers In Each Hand A Cutlass are back with yet another epic adventure, their sophomore album, The Kraken. Recorded and produced by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Pete Yorn, Sunny Day Real Estate, Veruca Salt, Touché Amoré), the record is an hour-long homage to the legendary creature of the deep, set on course by a sprawling, epic 20-minute, three-part suite that forms the title track. In pushing the envelope, IEHAC continues to borrow from the vast lexicon of music to create their own unique brand of evocative, cinematic compositions that are far more nuanced and layered than the generic descriptor “post-rock” often implies. Don’t miss your chance to catch the band as they perform the album live for the first time
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 Inspired by significant historical figures and events and the subjectivity of history, the playwrights delve into the world of these characters to re-imagine different and fresh perspectives. Based on one of China’s most notorious political figures, Henry Ong’s Madame Mao’s Memories tells the story of an older Jiang Qing in her prison cell, flashing back on the many and varied scenes in her life, including her trial in the 1970s. Robin Loon’s Watching The Clouds Go By is about an elderly school teacher who reminisces about her time as a youth during China’s Cultural Revolution. Caught between love and ideals, she is forced to make a difficult decision, one that results in the untimely death of her lover. In The Last Temptation of Stamford Raffle , Ng YiSheng paints a poetic, surreal and whimsical portrait of Singapore’s founder through a witty reconstruction of the final hours leading to his death This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
33 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
DRAMATISED READING: GENDER AND SEXUALITY – SELECTED WORKS
SINGAPORE THROUGH THE GLASS
25 Apr, Sat 7.30pm
26 Apr, Sun 7.30pm
Recital Studio $5
Concert Hall $15 (restricted view), $20, $25
Jeremiah Choy
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 Local plays with queer themes first emerged in the late ‘80s. These themes enabled playwrights to explore issues that not only surrounded sexual and identity politics, but also the idea of ‘the other’. Russell Heng’s Lest The Demons Get To Me is an emotional piece about duty and desire. The story follows a male-to-female transsexual who has to dress up as a man to perform funeral rites as her dead father’s only son. In award-winning playwright Chay Yew’s A Language of Their Own, the playwright explores racism, cultural difference, social prejudice and sexual politics in a complex drama about the relationships between four men. Desmond Sim’s critically successful Autumn Tomyam investigates gay relationships, divorce and refugee life through the lives of a divorced couple, the man’s sister, his gay lover, and a refugee.
Foo Say Ming and re:mix
(1hr 10mins, no intermission)
Students, NSFs and Seniors: 20% Savings The Glass is a camera lens through which four film makers from local production house – birdmandog, document the faces, places, the past, and life today in Singapore. Four original art videos will be set to a live performance of Singapore Seasons, a conceptual suite commissioned by re:mix from four local composers, Denise Lee, Derek Lim, Chen Zhangyi and Dr Kelly Tang. The Glass is also Philip Glass, an American composer who wrote another conceptual work, The American Four Seasons. re:mix invites its audience to listen and look through two contrasting lenses for a unique focus on Singapore.
" [re:mix is the] hippest crossover group"—The Straits Times
Advisory: R18 (contains mature themes) This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 34
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
Esplanade Presents
Samantha-Scott Blackhall
Claire Wong
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF ELEANOR WONG
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF KUO PAO KUN
29 Apr, Wed 7pm (3hrs, with breaks) Rehearsal Studio $5
30 Apr, Thu 7.30pm (1hr 30mins, no intermission) Recital Studio $5
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Eleanor Wong’s seminal Invitation to Treat trilogy traces the life of the ambitious lesbian lawyer Ellen Toh across three plays, a rare feat in local theatre. The story, which spans three decades, draws attention to issues of sexuality, family, marriage and gender.
A well respected doyen of Singapore theatre, the late Kuo Pao Kun’s oeuvre spans over four decades of English and Mandarin plays, many of which have been translated into different languages and staged around the world. Kuo is lauded for gifting Singapore theatre with a rich cultural legacy.
The first part of the trilogy, Mergers and Accusations, chronicles the life of a high-flying sharp-talking lawyer, Ellen Toh, whose marriage of convenience allows her to explore her sexuality with other women. In Wills and Secession, the story takes off years after Ellen has left her husband and is now in a same-sex marriage. Returning from London to take care of her ailing father after her mother’s death, Ellen now has to deal with her family, her ties and duties, and the impending death of her partner, Lesley. Jointly and Severably is set some decades after Lesley’s death. Ellen is in a new relationship with a lecturer, Zee. Her bliss is soon interrupted by an unexpected third party, her daughter’s best friend, Natalie, who happens to be Zee’s student. Advisory: R18 (contains mature themes)
37 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole revolves around a young man and his recurring nightmare when he, the eldest grandchild and surviving male descendant of his family, is tasked to oversee an appropriate burial. A monologue about a man who gets caught up in a battle against bureaucracy over parking summons, No Parking on Odd Days is a tragicomic depiction of Singaporeans and their complaints against the government’s inflexible micromanagement. The Silly Little Girl and the Funny Old Tree follows the strange attachment a girl develops with an old, funnylooking tree in her school. When the tree faces the predicament of being cut down, the little girl finds herself defending her newfound friend against the onslaught of urban redevelopment. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
STEVEN ISSERLIS PLAYS SHOSTAKOVICH Singapore Symphony Orchestra
30 Apr, Thu 7.30pm
(1hr 35mins, no intermission)
Concert Hall $15*, $22*, $32*, $45, $60, $75 Students, NSFs and seniors: 30% savings*
Lan Shui, conductor Steven Isserlis, cello SHOSTAKOVICH TCHAIKOVSKY
Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat majo , Op. 107 Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 Pathetique
Acclaimed cellist Steven Isserlis returns to partner Lan Shui for the First Cello Concerto by Shostakovich, a work which combines dizzying virtuosity with passages of melting pathos and beauty. This all-Russian programme also features Tchaikovsky’s tragic masterpiece, the Pathetique Symphony. There will be a pre-concert talk at library@esplanade at 6.30pm
“The music world—and music itself—is infinitely richer for the presence of Steven Isserlis.” —Gramophone Magazine
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 38
Esplanade Presents
DESCENDANTS OF THE EUNUCH ADMIRAL Written by Kuo Pao Kun Directed by Jeff Chen
30 Apr–3 May, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
(2hrs, no intermission)
Theatre Studio $30 Students: $12; NSFs and seniors: $20 Package of 5 full-length plays: 10% off standard ticket
Production image courtesy of Theatreworks Photo by Tuckys Photography
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
"...the more I discover, the more I am convinced that we were related, that I had to be a descendant of the Eunuch Admiral." A powerful work about castration and politics, Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral recounts the legacy of the man responsible for China’s most extensive maritime expeditions in the 15th century, the legendary eunuch, Admiral Zheng He. Using the metaphor of castration, parallels are drawn between the power struggles of court eunuchs and the displacement of modern beings who make sacrifices in their lives in order to survive in the highly competitive and industrious society. Descendants was written by Singapore theatre doyen Kuo Pao Kun and is widely regarded as one of his finest works. In this bold and radical interpretation, director Jeff Chen challenges the audience to reconsider text and performance through a melange of visual and aural stimulation. Performed by Koh Wan Ching, Jean Ng, Timothy Nga, Nora Samosir & Najib Soiman Advisory: This production contains mature themes. Recommended for patrons 12 years and above. There will be no latecomer entry for this performance. There will be a dialogue with the artists after Friday evening’s performance.
39 / APR 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: NATIONAL THEATRE'S WAR HORSE UK
30 Apr & 1May, Thu & Fri Thu, 8pm Fri, 3pm (2hrs 45mins, including 20min intermission)
Theatre $22*, $27** Students, NSFs and seniors: $18*, $22** Package: Enjoy 10% savings when you purchase Cat 1 tickets to all four of this season’s screenings.
Since its first performance at the National Theatre in 2007, War Horse has become an international smash hit, capturing the imagination of four million people around the world. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel and adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, War Horse takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. Filled with stirring music and songs, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama is phenomenally inventive. At its heart are astonishing life-size puppets by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage. Advisory: PG13 — Some Coarse Language.
“A landmark theatre event. Thrilling!” —Time Magazine
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 40
Esplanade Presents 2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Esplanade Presents
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF PAUL RAE AND KAYLENE TAN Irfan kasban
1 May, Fri 7.30pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Rehearsal Studio $5
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 Paul Rae and Kaylene Tan came into the Singapore theatre scene in the late '90s with their cool detached style of writing that bristled with an urban vibe. Balance was a departure from their earlier works and precursorto their later string of plays—the duet series—which employed a deceptively simple confessional writing style that moved with honesty and subtlety. In Balance, an estranged couple gives themselves a night to get their relationship back on track. As they relive their domestic routines and live out their violent fantasies, they learn that the only way to save what they have is to strike a balance between pretending and being real. Duets explores life and love to the power of two. Interspersed with the sounds and stories of some of pop’s most enduring duets, vignettes within the play chart the ups and downs of two people making a life together. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
1 May, Fri 8pm
(3hrs 45mins, including 20min intermission)
Theatre $22*, $27**
Students, NSFs and seniors: $18*, $22** Package: Enjoy 10% savings when you purchase Cat 1 tickets to all four of this season’s screenings. The fastest-selling production in the Young Vic’s history, Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece receives a ferocious makeover by iconoclastic director Benedict Andrews, and an all-star cast featuring Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, The Fall) as Blanche DuBois, Ben Foster (Lone Survivor, Kill Your Darlings) as Stanley and Vanessa Kirby (BBC’s Great Expectations, Three Sisters at the Young Vic) as Stella. This heart-wrenching tale, set in present day New Orleans and against a backdrop of rock music featuring songs by Chris Isaak and Jimi Hendrix, follows the downward spiral of southern belle Blanche DuBois as she travels from Mississippi to seek solace with her sister. Anderson’s DuBois is as emotionally raw and intense as she is tragically haunting, matched against the explosive and violent nature of her brother-in-law, played by Foster. Advisory: M18 — Some sexual scenes. Age restrictions apply. Please ensure that photo identification is available upon request at entry.
41 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
"A knock out production" —Daily Telegraph
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: KING LEAR
DRAMATISED READING: CONTEMPORARY & NEW WAVE
2 May, Sat 3pm
2 May, Sat 6pm
Esplanade Presents
(3hrs 20mins, including 20min intermission)
Theatre $22*, $27**
Limited for students, NSFs and seniors: $18*, $22** Package: Enjoy 10% savings when you purchase Cat 1 tickets to all four of this season’s screenings. Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) returns to the National Theatre to direct Simon Russell Beale (Timon of Athens, Collaborators) in the title role of Shakespeare’s tragedy. An aged king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, according to which of them is most eloquent in praising him. His favourite, Cordelia, says nothing. Lear’s world descends into chaos. Advisory: M18 — Nudity. Age restrictions apply. Please ensure that photo identification is available upon request at entr .
“ Riveting. Simon Russell Beale is extraordinary”—Daily Express
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Rehearsal Studio $5
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 The playwrights in this reading are not afraid to challenge expectations and conventions. This reading features seminal plays from their body of work that marked a new approach which challenged and subverted dramatic conventions and forms. Natalie Hennedige’s Nothing is a dark but whimsical observation of love and death which is at once epic in its scope and intimate in its portrayal of human relationships. In Temple, Hennedige once again departs from conventional plot structures to delve into human fear and weakness. It sees the invention of a mythological universe where all the quarters of the world are at odds. This multilayered work opens itself to an exploration of the various notions of a “temple”. Veteran playwright Leow Puay Tin's Family traces the life of Tan Neo, a woman who comes to Singapore to start a new life. Becoming the matriarch of a house of widows, Tan Neo begins to realise the pain and sacrifice that forges a strong family. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 42
Esplanade Presents
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE: OF MICE AND MEN 2 May, Sat 8pm
(2hrs 40mins, including 20min intermission)
Theatre $22*, $27**
Limited for students, NSFs and seniors: $18*, $22** Package: Enjoy 10% savings when you purchase Cat 1 tickets to all four of this season’s screenings. Golden Globe® winner and Academy Award® nominee James Franco and Tony Award® nominee Chris O’Dowd star in the hit Broadway production Of Mice And Men, filmed on stage by National Theatre Live. This landmark revival of Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck's play is a powerful portrait of the American spirit and a heartbreaking testament to the bonds of friendship. Directed by Tony Award®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circles award winner Anna D. Shapiro, Of Mice And Men stars Leighton Meester and Tony Award® winner Jim Norton. The production was nominated for two Tony Awards®, including Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Chris O'Dowd. Advisory: PG — Some Coarse Language.
Esplanade Presents
THE MAGIC TREETOP Chow Keat Yeng
3–10, 12 & 13 May, Sun–Sun, Tue & Wed Weekdays: 9.30am & 11am Weekends: 11am, 2pm & 4pm (40mins, no intermission)
Recital Studio $18
Package of 4: $64 Fly up to The Magic Treetop with Mama Robin as she waits excitedly for Baby Robin to hatch. But something is not quite right. The egg is not in its nest! Where could the egg be? Have the squirrels taken it? Is it hidden somewhere on the treetop? Jump straight into the action, push the leaves out of the way and clamber up the branches to help Mama Robin look for her precious egg. Specially designed for 2– 4 year olds, your little ones will discover a world of action words and rhythms through theatre, music and interactive fun in The Magic Treetop. Advisory: Recommended for children aged 2–4. Tickets are required for all patrons (including infants-in-arm). Audience will be seated on the floo . An original production by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
43 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
DRAMA QUEENS Joyce Didonato and Il Pomo d'Oro
4 May, Mon 7.30pm
(1hr 30mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $40*, $80**, $110, $140 Students, NSFs and seniors: $25*, $60**
Winner of the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo, mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato, who has been proclaimed “the most potent female singer of her generation” by The New Yorker, entrances audiences and critics alike across the globe. With a voice “nothing less than 24-carat gold” (The Times), DiDonato has soared to the top as a performer and a fierce arts advocate, gaining international prominence in operas by Rossini, Handel and Mozart, as well as through her wide-ranging, acclaimed discography. Presenting baroque arias spectacularly performed with the Il Pomo d’Oro orchestra and special guest violinist Dmitry Sinkovsky, celebrate the rich dramatic world of a mezzo-soprano with Joyce DiDonato.
“A masterpiece of control, agility and alluring sound throughout her range, with its dusky lows and bright high notes.”—The New York Times
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 44
TAKE 6 USA
5 May, Tue 7.30pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Concert Hall $58, $88, $118, $148 Students, NSFs and seniors: 10% off
The most awarded vocal group in history celebrates their 25th anniversary! A recipient of 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award and more, Take 6 has become the quintessential a cappella group for music lovers worldwide. Six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements, and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop. With praise from luminaries such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston, the multi-platinum selling sextet has toured across the globe and collaborated across genres. Join Take 6 as they celebrate their anniversary in a show where they share memories as well as reveal what the future holds. Presenting Partners: Arte Compass Pte Ltd and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
“[Take 6 are] the baddest vocal cats on the planet!” —Quincy Jones
45 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Production image courtesy of Theatreworks Photo by Tuckys
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
THE LADY OF SOUL & HER ULTIMATE ‘S’ MACHINE Written by Tan Tarn How Directed by Zizi Azah Bte Abdul Majid
7–10 May, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 8pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Theatre Studio $30 Students: $12; NSFs and seniors: $20 Package of 5 full-length plays: 10% off standard ticket
A nation decides it needs more “soul” to become a vibrant place. Charged with this herculean task, a civil servant decides that the best way to achieve this is by doing a “soul search”. Three candidates—a mama-san, a left-wing radical and a representative from the arts—present their ideas on what “soul” is. In her interpretation of Tan Tarn How’s landmark satirical play, Zizi Azah puts together a cast led by Crispian Chan, Prem John, Gene Sha Rudyn, and Rizman Putra as the titular Lady of Soul. Set against the backdrop of a perverse and corrupt society, The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate “S” Machine is brought to life once again to relive its madcap moments and acerbic dialogue. The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate “S” Machine won the Best Script at the 2003 Life! Theatre Awards and was selected by The Straits Times as a Classic Singapore Play in 2014. Performed by Crispian Chan, Dominique De Marco, Shafiqah Effandi, Gene Sha Rudyn, Prem John, Farez Najid, Rizman Putra, Lian Sutton There will be a dialogue with the artists after Friday evening’s performance. Advisory: This production contains mature themes. Recommended for patrons aged 16 years and above.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 46
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
Esplanade Presents
Huzir Sulaiman
Goh Boon Teck
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF CHONG TZE CHIEN
DRAMATISED READING: SELECTED WORKS OF TAN TARN HOW
7 May, Thu 7.30pm
8 May 2015, Fri 7.30pm
Rehearsal Studio $5
Rehearsal Studio $5
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35
Regarded as “one of the most critically lauded and garlanded thespians of his generation”, Chong Tze Chien’s plays are known for their bold and incisive social and political commentary, as well as for their innovative and multiple narrative dramatic structures. His debut as a playwright, Pan Island Expressway (PIE), won the Singapore Dramatist Award in 1998.
Acclaimed as “a playwright of the public life and a raconteur of social history”, Tan Tarn How is known for tackling themes of life and death, sex and love, government, national identity and racism, with wit and candour. His works examines the sociopolitical environment and machinations of the Singapore state.
In Charged, a seemingly senseless double death places Investigating Officer Victor de Souza at the centre of an unspeakable racist sentiment. As he attempts to make sense of what happened, news of it spreads, triggering an eruption of racial tension between the Malay and Chinese communities. Charged won Best Script at the 2011 Life! Theatre Awards. In PIE, a playwright engages actors for his new play. As they go deeper into their roles while filming footage for the play, fiction and reality start to blur. An intense interrogation ensues, leading to a wrongful accusation and the distortion of the truth. Advisory: R18 (contains mature themes and coarse language) The plays in this reading are presented as excerpts.
47 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Machine is a strange tale about two men, Rex and Heng, who turn up at the home of two friends, Lina and Kim, claiming to be appliance repairmen. Love, sex and romance ensue as needs, wants, and desires are pursued. Machine is a chillingly unsentimental exploration of the foursome's strange, out-of-this-world relationships. In Tan’s critically acclaimed Fear of Writing, a playwright struggles with writer’s block. Filled with angst towards writing, theatre and politics, he finds comfort in writing letters to his daughter abroad. Through the playwright’s crisis, Tan raises questions about censorship, freedom and the role of political art. Advisory: Contains mature themes. Recommended for patrons aged 16 and above. This reading features selected excerpts from the plays.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN______! Sin Feng Xiang Sheng Society
8 & 9 May, Fri & Sat Fri, 8pm Sat, 2pm (2hrs 20mins, including 20min intermission)
Theatre
Performed in Mandarin without surtitles
$30*, $50 Students, NSFs and seniors: $21* Package of 4 or more: 10% savings^ ^Limited tickets. not valid for concessions and ticket category marked *
Why is Singapore known as the “Lion City”? Was Raffles the first to discover Singapore? What humour can we unearth in the hard days of the Japanese Occupation? How complicated is our relationship with Malaysia? Just what hilarity and intrigue lie in these unsolved cases of the Lion City? In the first original Singapore crosstalk production to incorporate dramatic elements, Sin Feng Xiang Sheng Society breaks new ground and presents an alternative interpretation of the history of our sunny island, voicing anew the good and the not-so-good times. Written by Cultural Medallion recipient Han Lao Da, who also co-directs with Young Artist Award winner Kok Heng Leun, this presentation features popular Singapore crosstalk artists including Johnny Ng, Yang Shibin, Soo Wee Seng, Sun Ya Huan, Lee Seng Hui and Ma Tian Ling. Brought to you by Sin Feng Xiang Sheng Society in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 48
2 APR – 10 MAY 2015
Esplanade Presents
OUT OF THIS WORLD Singapore Symphony Orchestra
8 May, Fri 7.30pm
(1hr 45mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $15*, $22*, $32*, $45, $60, $75
Students, NSFs and Seniors: 30% savings* Robert Spano, conductor
STRAUSS HOLST
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 The Planets, Op. 32
Robert Spano, the Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony, makes his SSO debut conducting two sonic spectaculars with extra-terrestrial associations. Strauss’ tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra was inspired by Nietzsche’s philosophical novel celebrating human power and energy, and the philosophy of the Superman, but it became massively popular after the use of its opening sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Holst’s great orchestral suite The Planets demands a huge orchestra which includes an organ, two unusual woodwind instruments (the bass flute and bass oboe) and a female chorus. Its seven movements reflect the astrological characters of the seven planets then known (excluding Earth). There will be a pre-concert talk at library@esplanade at 6.30pm.
“A gripping, organic and sensitive performance”—The New York Times 49 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
DRAMATISED READING: POLITICS AND SOCIETY Timothy Nga
9 May, Sat 6pm (1hr 30mins, no intermission) Rehearsal Studio $5 Savings Packages for Dramatised Readings: Any 5: $20; any 10: $35 An examination of methodologies and strategies taken by playwrights of different generations when tackling political issues. Robert Yeo's One Year Back Home tells the story of two friends who enter the political arena as opponents, which tests their friendship, conscience and sense of duty. Chng Suan Tze’s Oh! Singapore is a panoramic portrait of life in Singapore and how modernity has affected its people. Russell Heng's satirical Comrade Mayor follows the story of a female Singapore ambassador embroiled in the political and sexual games of a city's corrupt mayor. Zizi Azah’s How did the cat get so fat? is about a young girl who embarks on a fantastical journey aboard a coin-operated lion and meets characters whose stories capture the frustrations of a repressed country. Advisory: M18 (contains mature themes). Recommended for patrons aged 16 years and above. This reading features selected excerpts of the plays.
Esplanade Presents
MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL: SONGS FOR MOTHER WITH LOVE Hao Hao, Zhen Ni and Chloe Lim
Esplanade Presents
MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL: KHAS UNTUKMU IBU R. Ismail, Eiss and Elfee
10 May, Sun 3pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall Free
10 May, Sun 5.30pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall Free
Performed in Mandarin
Performed in Malay
Come celebrate Mother’s Day at this concert of Chinese evergreen hits! Join popular getai host Hao Hao and singers Zhen Ni and Chloe Lim as they belt out familiar and well-loved melodies in dedication to all mothers. Bring your whole family down and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music and laughter!
Celebrate Mother’s Day with us and join the talented Ismail family, R. Ismail, Eiss and Elfee, as they entertain you with evergreen favourites and today’s hits. Hosted by popular radio personality Hafeez Glamour, this special concert dedicated to mothers is definitely one not to be missed.
SPONSOR
Launched in 2005, the SPH Gift of Music series celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Sponsored by media group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the popular free concert series has brought music to the community in various locations such as the heartlands, parks, shopping malls, and the Esplanade. SPH Gift of Music pays tribute to Singapore's musical talents by showcasing musicians from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, The Philharmonic Winds, Singapore Lyric Opera as well as other local music groups.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 50
Photo by Gilbert Francois
HITS OF THE CROONERS Ernesto Valerio
VALENTINA LISITSA LIVE IN CONCERT
11 May, Mon 10.30am & 3pm
13 May, Wed 7.30pm
Esplanade Presents
(1hr, no intermission)
Recital Studio $12
Early Bird Special (2–23 Mar): $10 After making a huge impact at A Date With Friends 2014 at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, local singer Ernesto Valerio returns to perform renditions of timeless hits by popular crooners such as Frank Sinatra, Johnny Matis, Burt Bacharach, and many more. Coffee and tea will be provided before each performance.
(2hrs, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $38, $68, $98, $128*, $168*, $218 Early Bird Special: Enjoy 20% savings when you purchase Cat 2 or 3 tickets* With over 80 million views and 160K subscribers, Valentina Lisitsa is one of the most watched classical musicians on YouTube, using digital innovation to champion classical music and performance. With her multi-faceted playing described as “dazzling”, Valentina Lisitsa is at ease in a vast repertoire ranging from Bach and Mozart to Shostakovich and Bernstein; her orchestral repertoire alone includes more than 40 concertos. She has a special affinity for the music of Rachmaninov and Beethoven, and has performed at leading international venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Vienna Musikverein, as well as the 2013 BBC Proms. Brought to you by Allegro Live! LP
51 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
GEORGE AND THE MUSIC BOX Bellepoque
14–16 May, Thu–Sat 8pm (1hr 30mins, including 20min intermission)
Recital Studio $49 Students, NSFs and seniors: $40
SIDES 2015 Frontier Danceland
15 & 16 May 2015, Fri & Sat Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm (1hr 20mins, including 15mins intermission)
Theatre Studio $20 (matinee), $25 Students, NSFs and seniors: $15 (matinee), $20
Emily Fontaine, a descendant of the famous French poet Jean de La Fontaine, is having difficulty convincing her son of the merits of his ancestor’s famous fables. For how can innocent stories and moral teachings from four hundred years ago possibly be interesting today? Join us for a hilarious, energetic and not-so-childish romp through La Fontaine’s tales, spiced up with the musical genius and entertaining comedy of Jacques Offenbach. Stage Director Sharon Frese Music Director Dr Robert Casteels
SIDES is an annual mid-year production by Frontier Danceland that presents a variety of contemporary dance works created by both international and local choreographers. SIDES 2015 will bring you an eye feast of an assortment of contemporary dance. Look out for a brand new work by Gabrielle Nankivell and Luke Smiles (Australia), a unique collaborative creation by Frontier Danceland’s company artists, as well as a re-staging of Christina Chan's work, Between, which was first presented at Sprouts All Stars 2012, and subsequently at SIDES 2013 and various local studio showcases. There will be a pre-performance talk at library@esplanade on 25 Apr, 4.30pm.
Cast Angela Cortez Daniel Ho Jeremy Koh Leslie Tay Sabrina Zuber
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 52
Esplanade Presents
LE CORSAIRE English National Ballet UK
53 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
14–17 May, Thu–Sun Thu & Fri, 8pm Sat, 3pm & 8pm Sun, 3pm
SERIES
(2hr 30mins, including two 20min intermissions)
Theatre $60*, $100**, $140, $180^, $220^ Students: $$30*, $50** NSFs and seniors: $42*, $70**
Le Corsaire follows the adventure of a dashing pirate, Conrad, who journeys across the high seas to save his beautiful harem girl, Medora. In this swashbuckling fantasy tale of captive maidens and cutthroats, love and betrayal, and deception and conspiracy, witness the sheer energy and athleticism of the English National Ballet as they bring to life one of ballet's most exhilarating stories.
LIFESTYLE SPONSOR
Photos by Ash
Set to a rousing score by nine composers and featuring extravagant sets and costumes designed by Hollywood film designer Bob Ringwood (Batman, Alien 3, Star Trek Nemesis, A.I. and Troy), hold on to your breath as this thrilling adventure culminates in one of the most visually arresting spectacles in ballet.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 54
SYMPHONY OF VOICES 2015 Victoria Junior College Choir
17 May, Sun 7.30pm
(2hrs 30mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $20, $30, $40
Under the guidance of choral director, Mr Nelson Kwei, the Victoria Junior College Choir has grown from strength to strength since its humble beginnings in 1985. A choir recognised both locally and internationally for its mastery of choral music, the VJC Choir once again presents its annual concert Symphony of Voices. This promises to be an evening of spectacular music, where the choir will showcase its musicality and versatility with a variety of songs ranging from sacred music of the Latin tradition to contemporary Asian and Western compositions.
Esplanade Presents
MERIDIAN JUNIOR COLLEGE CHOIR 19 May, Tue 7.30pm Concert Hall $13 Established in 2003, the Meridian Junior College (MJC) Choir has been active in the local music scene, taking part in functions within the college, choral workshops, festivals and competitions. Under the leadership of their directors, Nelson Kwei and Foong Hak Luen, the Choir strives to impress the audience with its vibrant choral tone and interpretative skills. In addition, they perform challenging works of choral music, with a wide repertoire that ranges from classical to modern pieces.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 56
HEARTSTRINGS
Abigail Sin, Loh Jun Hong, Elizabeth Tan
20 May, Wed 7.30pm
(1hr 30mins, including 15min intermission)
Recital Studio $30 Students: $20
More than Music kicks off the 2015 season with a programme of Romantic favourites, featuring the music of Mendelssohn, Brahms and Dvorak. Join Abigail, Jun Hong and cellist Elizabeth Tan for an evening of dynamic music-making and lively conversations. Experience world-class performances up close and personal, the More than Music way!
"Many performers are capable of breaking down the barrier between stage and audience; these musicians make you wonder if that barrier exists at all.�—The Music Wire
57 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
AGE OF TRANSITION Paul Danial
22 May, Fri 9.30pm
(1hr 30mins, no intermission)
Recital Studio $25
Torrents of emotion and a wealth of life lessons are the ingredients that make the songs of Paul Danial. Based on the trials and tribulations in his life, and his observations on society, his album Age of Transition offers a personal and intimate glimpse into his story. Paul Danial is a versatile guitarist whose style revolves around a variety of blues, rock, country, funk, metal, and everything in between. He is a member of local band Ministry of Rock, and has performed with Singapore and regional musicians including Ramli Sarip, Amy (Search), and artists from Mongolia, Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Japan.
Photo by Raymund Isaac
Columbia Threadneedle Investments Presents
LEA SALONGA IN CONCERT 22 & 23 May, Fri & Sat 7.30pm
Lea Salonga returns to Singapore with well-loved favourites from Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and Frozen.
Concert Hall $48*, $68**, $98, $128, $158
Acclaimed across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch, Salonga is a singer and actress who is best known for her Tony Awardwinning role in Miss Saigon.
Students, NSFs and seniors: $38*, $58**
She also had a star turn as the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway and returned to the beloved show as Fantine in the 2006 revival.
(2hrs, including 30min intermission)
Fans of all ages also recognise Salonga as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, Fa Mulan in Mulan and its sequel. She has since been honoured as a “Disney Legend” by The Walt Disney Company. Brought to you by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
“Ms. Salonga is the vocal personification of what might be called the Broadway and Hollywood international style.”—Stephen Holden, NY Times
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 58
Esplanade Presents
TAKE 5 PIANO QUINTET NORTHERN LIGHTS 24 May, Sun 7.30pm (1hr 30mins, with 15min intermission)
Recital Studio $25 Students, NSFs and seniors: $18 Explore the mystical lands of Scandinavia in Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Piano Quintet in G Minor and Norwegian composer Christian Sinding’s Piano Quintet in E Minor. At once grand, intimate and emotional, these pieces evoke the majestically bleak landscapes of the region. Take 5 is a chamber music series initiated in 2007 by five prominent Singapore musicians to showcase masterpieces from the quintet chamber repertoire. Since its debut, the ensemble has featured and premiered piano quintets by Bloch, Bartok, Chausson, Brahms, Schumann, Dvořak, Kelly Tang, Franck, Elgar, Shostakovich and Joyce Koh to critical acclaim. In collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
NATYA – THE SPIRIT OF DANCE
Apsara Asia featuring Maya Dance Theatre
25–28 May, Mon–Thu Mon–Wed, 10am & 3pm Thu, 10am (1hr 15mins, no intermission)
Theatre Studio $20 (school bookings only) A restaging of the 2014 F.Y.I production, Natya – The Spirit of Dance is a dance performance which explores the origins of bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form. Watch how music and movement come together and see how elements of bharatanatyam are used in popular Bollywood dance sequences. With the help of the dancers, learn different terms such as hastas (hand gestures), abhinaya (facial expressions) and thaala (rhythms), and join them on stage to attempt the different hand gestures and leg movements. Natya – The Spirit of Dance will help students learn more about the elements and history of bharatanatyam as well as the Indian culture and heritage. TOTE Board Arts Grant available for schools. For more information, refer to page 97 or visit www.esplanade.com/fyi.
59 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE SYMPHONIC BAND 27 May, Wed 7.30pm
(1hr 50mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $13
Join Victoria Junior College Symphonic Band as they bring you a night of captivating music. Under the baton of Maestro Adrian Chiang, the band presents works such as Jupiter (from Gustav Holst's Planets), enriching tunes from the works of Joe Hisaishi that will bring your favourite anime characters to life, and Bela Bartok's dissonant one-act pantomime ballet, The Miraculous Mandarin.
Intercultural Theatre Institute presents
Q: PROTAGONISTS AT THE EDGE 27–30 May, Wed–Sat 7.30pm
(1hr 20mins, no intermission)
Recital Studio $25
Limited for students, NSFs, seniors: $20 3 actors in rehearsal 1 Singapore River 50 years of theatre past and present In Q:, veteran director Ang Gey Pin examines, together with the graduating cohort of Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI), renowned Singapore works and the responses they engender today. Taking off from the plays of Kuo Pao Kun (The Silly Little Girl And The Funny Old Tree; The Eagles And The Cat) and Lim Jen Erh (Three – originally a traditional Hokkien opera), the ensemble questions, confronts and investigates their own responses, finally presenting it to the audience – who witness it as a stripped back, bare bones and truthful theatre experience. A new work directed by Ang Gey Pin Devised with ITI 2015 graduating cohort Al-Matin Yatim, Chang Ting Wei, Yazid Jalil In collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 60
TRANSCENDING THE ORDINARY ~ LATE WORKS OF SCHUBERT Colin Carr, Mariko Hara, Sam Haywood, Olivia Jeremias, Yuki Kasae, Tee Khoon Tang UK, JAPAN, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, SINGAPORE
Esplanade Presents
NANYANG GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR 28 May, Thu 8pm
28 & 29 May, Thu & Fri 8pm
Concert Hall $13
Thu: $32, $42, $52, $62 Fri: $42, $62, $82, $102
(1hr 30mins, including 20min intermission)
Established in 1967, the Nanyang Girls' High School Choir has, for over 40 years, contributed significantly to the musical culture of its school. Under the baton of conductor Lim Ai Hooi, the choir has performed consistently well, achieving excellent results at the Singapore Youth Festival. The choir received a Certificate of Distinction in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation in 2013, adding to 5 consecutive Gold with Honours awards and 4 Gold awards the choir was previously awarded in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging. As one of the top performing choirs in Singapore, the group has won top awards in international choral competitions in countries including Malaysia, Czech Republic, Austria and Latvia.
(1hr 45mins, including 15min intermission)
(Friday's tickets applicable for pre-concert talk and post-concert chat with artists) Students, NSFs and seniors: 10% savings Package: 10% savings for equal number of tickets purchased to both nights Travel on a journey through the late years of Viennese composer Franz Schubert with these internationally renowned artists and homegrown solo violinist, Tee Khoon Tang. On this journey, our first night brings us his personal and intimate Arpeggione Sonata, the bravura of his Fantasy for Violin and Piano, and the darkly dramatic Death and the Maiden string quartet. Completing the experience, the second night features Schubert’s last Piano Sonata and his String Quintet, arguably the most monumental cornerstone of all chamber music literature. On 29 May, there will be a 20-min pre-concert talk about Schubert and his life at 7pm, and a 20-min post-concert chat with the artists.
61 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Tou c
rts fA
s with the G e v i L ift g n o i h
“The beneficiaries discovered themselves and found the session A Community Engagementbetter Programme to be a therapeutic experience.” – A VWO facilitator on a creative workshop. “It was a new experience and wonderful evening that was simply perfect. We will remember this for a long time.”– On being hosted at a performance at Esplanade Concert Hall.
You can help make a difference. Your generous donations will help in creating incredible arts experiences for more. For more information, please contact us at 6828 8321 or donations@esplanade.com. A Community Engagement Programme by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981 Tel: 6828 8222 Fax: 6337 3633 Customer Service Hotline: 6828 8377 SISTIC Hotline: 6348 5555
THE STUDIOS: FIFTY HUZIR SULAIMAN
DESMOND SIM
VERENA TAY
MICHAEL CHIANG
ELEANOR WONG
NG YI-SHENG
OVIDIA YU
NATALIE HENNEDIGE
STELLA KON
CHONG TZE CHIEN
CHNG SUAN TZE
Absent: Chay Yew, Henry Ong, Goh Poh Seng, Kaylene Tan, Kuo Pao Kun, Leow Puay Tin, Lim Chor Pee, Paul Rae, Robin Loon
63 / www.esplanade.com
They are witty, they are passionate, and they see the world a little differently from us. Singapore’s playwrights have for the past few decades enriched our lives with stories that capture the broad spectrum of life in our island city—some outrageous and downright hilarious, others thought-provoking and emotionally heart-wrenching. Just who are these raconteurs and what goes on behind the scenes as they go about creating their dramatic universe? The Studios this season revisits 50 plays that not only moved, stirred and excited the local audience, but also contributed to a multitude of expressions that define our Singapore identity. Here are some of the names and faces of the playwrights who created them.
HARESH SHARMA
GOH BOON TECK
ROBERT YEO
TAN TARN HOW
RUSSELL HENG
FAITH NG
JOEL TAN
SHIV TANDAN
JEAN TAY
ZIZI AZAH
IRFAN KASBAN
play’s THE WORD Setting the stage with some of Singapore’s much-loved playwrights
www.esplanade.com / 64
ALL THE WRITE THINGS We got some of this season’s playwrights to share a thing or two about themselves that only few know. From their secret talents and hobbies, to the kind of music that best gets them in the mood to write, find out what makes them tick and gain some insight into the inner-workings of a playwright. Visit www.thestudios.com.sg for more information about them and their works. All show times are listed in the monthly and season calendars and individual listings featured in this guide.
STELLA KON
HARESH SHARMA
Not many people know this but I first appeared on stage as the old woman who lived in a shoe in my kindergarten play. Because I wore specs.
Not many people know this but I love Reality TV.
Of my plays, I identify with Doris from Emily of Emerald Hill the most because I was the girl who was reading instead of learning how to be a good wife and mother. -------------------Watch Emily of Emerald Hill 2–5 Apr, Thu–Sun Theatre Studio
Reality is stranger than fiction because you can’t rewrite the ending. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of Fundamentally Happy, Good People and Gemuk Girls 3 Apr, Fri Recital Studio Off Centre 23–26 Apr, Thu–Sun Theatre Studio
ROBERT YEO
MICHAEL CHIANG
VERENA TAY
OVIDIA YU
If I weren’t a playwright, I probably would have been a a jazz saxophonist. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of: Are You There, Singapore? as part of Beginnings 4 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
You have to be silly yourself to be able to laugh at others.
Not many people know this but I like to free dance to music that I like.
I write best when I listen to the clicks on my KanbanFlow timer.
Of my plays, I identify with Mirabella from Private Parts the most because she says all the stuff I daren’t. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of Army Daze and Private Parts 5 Apr, Sun Rehearsal Studio
Reality is stranger than fiction because things happen that you can’t always predict or control. -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of The Car as part of Family Relations in Singapore Plays 10 Apr, Fri Recital Studio
My comfort food is granola with soy milk. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of The Woman in a Tree on the Hill, Three Fat Virgins, and Hitting (on) Women 12 Apr, Sun Rehearsal Studio
One Year Back Home as part of Politics and Society 9 May, Sat Rehearsal Studio 65 / www.esplanade.com
GOH BOON TECK
LEOW PUAY TIN
CHAY YEW
HENRY ONG
If I weren’t a playwright, I probably would have been a tenor or a visual artist.
If I weren’t a playwright, I probably would have been a psychotherapist. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of: Three Children as part of Traditions Contemporised 24 Apr, Fri Rehearsal Studio
Not many people know this but I channel Diana Ross when I’m in rehearsals.
If I weren’t a playwright, I probably would have been a recluse.
I write best when I listen to electronica. -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of A Language of Their Own as part of Gender and Sexuality 25 Apr, Sat Recital Studio
You have to be gutsy to be successful. -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Madame Mao’s Memories as part of Reimagining History 25 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
Of my plays, I identify with Aman from Prism the most because I am a fighter and a prisoner in my own society. -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Titoudao as part of Traditions Contemporised 24 Apr, Fri Rehearsal Studio
Family as part of Contemporary & New Wave 2 May, Sat Rehearsal Studio
ELEANOR WONG
NATALIE HENNEDIGE
CHONG TZE CHIEN
ZIZI AZAH
Not many people know this but my car radio default station is Capital 958.
Not many people know this but I have seen every episode of the past 25 seasons of The Simpsons.
If I weren’t a playwright, I probably would have been a greeting card writer.
My comfort food is instant noodles with luncheon meat. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of Mergers and Accusations, Wills and Secession, and Jointly and Severably 29 Apr, Wed Recital Studio
If I weren’t a playwright, I probably would have been a runaway. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of Temple and Nothing as part of Contemporary & New Wave 2 May, Sat Rehearsal Studio
Not many people know this but I can only write in Times New Roman, and sometimes Arial, if I want to live life on the edge. I write best when I listen to Philip Glass on repeat. -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of PIE and Charged 7 May, Thu Rehearsal Studio
Of my plays, I identify with Alice from Bleeding Grace the most because she is trapped between two realities. -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of How did the cat get so fat? as part of Politics and Society 9 May, Sat Rehearsal Studio www.esplanade.com / 66
The late LIM CHOR PEE -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Mimi Fan as part of Beginnings 4 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
JEAN TAY -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of Everything But The Brain and Boom as part of Family Relations in Singapore Plays 10 Apr, Fri Recital Studio
SHIV TANDAN -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of The Good, The Bad and The Sholay as part of New Voices 11 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
67 / www.esplanade.com
The late GOH POH SENG -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of The Moon is Less Bright as part of Beginnings 4 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
HUZIR SULAIMAN -------------------Watch The Weight of Silk on Skin 9–12 Apr, Thu–Sun Theatre Studio
RUSSELL HENG -------------------Watch Dramatised readings of: Lest the Demons Get to Me as part of Gender and Sexuality 25 Apr, Sat Recital Studio Comrade Mayor as part of Politics and Society 9 May, Sat Rehearsal Studio
FAITH NG -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of For Better or For Worse as part of New Voices 11 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
JOEL TAN -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of The Way We Go as part of New Voices 11 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
IRFAN KASBAN -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Tahan as part of New Voices 11 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
PAUL RAE & KAYLENE TAN -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Balance and Duets 1 May, Fri Rehearsal Studio
DESMOND SIM -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Autumn Tomyam as part of Gender and Sexuality 25 Apr, Sat Recital Studio
NG YI-SHENG -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of The Last Temptation of Stamford Raffles as part of Reimagining History 25 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
The late KUO PAO KUN -------------------Watch Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral 30 Apr–3 May, Thu–Sun Theatre Studio Dramatised readings of The Coffin is Too Big for The Hole and No Parking On Odd Days 30 Apr, Thu Recital Studio
ROBIN LOON -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Watching The Clouds Go By as part of Reimagining History 25 Apr, Sat Rehearsal Studio
TAN TARN HOW -------------------Watch The Lady of Soul and Her Ultimate ‘S’ Machine 7–10 May, Thu–Sun Theatre Studio Dramatised readings of Machine and Fear of Writing 8 May, Fri Rehearsal Studio
Visit www.thestudios.com.sg for more information about these playwrights and their works. All show times are listed in the monthly and season calendars and individual listings featured in this guide.
CHNG SUAN TZE -------------------Watch Dramatised reading of Oh! Singapore as part of Politics and Society 9 May, Sat Rehearsal Studio
www.esplanade.com / 68
Esplanade Presents
The Studios
forums
Be kept abreast of the hottest topics and latest issues in the Singapore theatre scene. Join practitioners, academics and other industry players as they discuss the growth and development of local theatre in these free forums for the public. For more information, visit www.thestudios.com.sg.
Beginning and Becoming: Identity and language in the theatre, 1960s–1980s Chaired by Clarissa Oon
4 April, Sat, 4pm (1hr 30mins) library@esplanade, Open Stage
Singapore Plays and Play Texts as Resources for Learning and Living
An interactive workshop followed by a panel discussion Chaired by Michele Lim 11 Apr, Sat, 4pm (1hr 30mins) library@esplanade, Dance Village
Plays of Difference: Excavating, Experimenting, Exploring‌ Chaired by Charlene Rajendran
25 Apr, Sat, 2pm (1hr 30mins) library@esplanade, Open Stage
Acting Singaporean: Back Story and Fore Play Chaired by T. Sasitharan
2 May, Sat, 4pm (1hr 30mins) library@esplanade, Open Stage
Fear of Writing? The development of political theatre in Singapore Chaired by Janice Koh
9 May, Sat, 4pm (1hr 30mins) library@esplanade, Open Stage
The Studios invites you to understand our world, our society, and ourselves in a magical space of imagination and reflection, as we celebrate Singapore English-language theatre.
www.thestudios.com.sg
EsplanadeTheStudios
esplanadethestudios #thestudios
Photo by Panos Damaskinidis
TRANSCENDING THE ORDINARY ~ CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN
Mariko Hara, Sam Haywood, Olivia Jeremias, Tee Khoon Tang and friends JAPAN, UK, GERMANY, SINGAPORE
SUNGHA JUNG LIVE IN SINGAPORE 2015
30 May, Sat 9.30am & 11.30am
30 May, Sat 7.30pm
(50mins, no intermission)
(1hr 30mins, including 20min intermission)
Recital Studio $32
Tickets can be purchased at www.teekhoontanggrandseries.com. Send your young ones off for a session of fun and learning with international artists, local musicians and a great facilitator. Here, they will hear about Viennese composer, Franz Schubert and experience his music. Accompanied by beautifully crafted programme booklets featuring musical games and digestible facts about composer, music and musicians, your young ones will go home with a new love for classical music! 9:30am – For ages 6 and under Learn about the four-string instruments through Schubert’s popular Trout Quintet and the Arpeggione Sonata. 11:30am – For ages 6-12 Experience how Schubert set a poem to music, turn it into a work for strings and piano, and try your hand at writing poetry in groups!
SOUTH KOREA
Concert Hall $98*, $88, $68, $48 *Top-up $15 to receive a Sungha Jung album and a complimentary photo session Sungha Jung is the world’s number one teenage fingerstyle guitar virtuoso. Combining spell-binding technique with artistic wizardry, his guitar renditions of contemporary, jazz and classical tunes have gone viral on YouTube, having been viewed over 400 million times around the globe. Sungha will be back in Singapore this May, to promote his newest album. Fans can look forward to masterful arrangements of hit songs from USA, Korea and around the world, as well as some Sungha Jung originals. To top it off, Sungha will be celebrating the nation’s 50th birthday with a couple of tunes by well-known local artists Kit Chan and JJ Lin. This is a groundbreaking show you do not want to miss! Brought to you by Sprout Entertainment
Admission is only for children aged 12 and under. Parents will not be admitted, unless accompanying a child aged 4 and under. Only one parent may accompany each child. Brought to you by Tee Khoon Tang Grand Series
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 70
PRIMITIVE
AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS
30 & 31 May, Sat & Sun 3pm & 8pm (1hr, no intermission) Theatre Studio $35
31 May, Sun 5.30pm (2hrs, no intermission) Concert Hall $19, $22, $26
Students, NSFs and seniors: $28
For tickets, please email aewf2015@gmail.com.
Enra is a visual dance performance troupe from Japan that performs stunningly unique animation-based digital performances that combine modern animation, projection mapping, dance, music to create an immersive and magical motion art experience.
Since its inception in the Ministry of Education’s Choral Excellence Programme in 1988, the Anglo-Chinese Junior College & Alumni Choirs have received high praise as Singapore’s most forward-looking and accomplished Youth Choirs at home and abroad. Each batch of ACJC Choir members play a small part in contributing to the nation’s rich choral heritage, alongside many other equally passionate choristers.
Esplanade Presents
Enra JAPAN
Led by visual artist Nobuyuki Hanabusa, the group’s members come from backgrounds as diverse as ballet, martial arts, street dance, rhythmic gymnastics, visual arts and more, pushing themselves to take dance entertainment and digital projection to new levels. Be treated to a series of spectacularly choreographed dance pieces that are nothing short of spellbinding.
Anglo-Chinese Junior College & Alumni Choirs
The choirs warmly invite all well-wishers and choral music enthusiasts to its annual An Evening with Friends concert. The evening features a varied repertoire of Western and Eastern traditions, as well as works by Singapore composers. Join them as they celebrate the gift of music and the joy of music-making, during Singapore’s golden jubilee!
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
71 / MAY 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
FOREVER TERESA TENG
Esplanade Presents
永远的邓丽君 Yuan Jin
RAFFLES GIRLS’ SCHOOL CHOIR
1 Jun, Mon 3pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall $12
2 Jun, Tue 7.30pm (1hr 30mins, no intermission) Concert Hall $13
Early Bird Special (13 Apr–4 May): $10 Performed in Mandarin Celebrate heartwarming memories of Teresa Teng in this concert that marks the 20th year of her passing. Join Singapore’s “Little Teresa Teng", Yuan Jin, as she pays tribute to the late legendary singer with evergreen hits such as Moon Represents My Heart, I Only Care About You and When Will You Return. Coffee and tea will be provided before the performance.
The Raffles Girls’ School Choir has gained much recognition for its choral excellence, having clinched distinction and gold awards in local and international competitions throughout the choir’s long and illustrious history. In 2013, it was awarded Distinction at the Singapore Youth Celebrations (SYC) Central Judging for Choirs. The choir is active in serving the community and staging public concerts annually. The choristers’ passion for singing is evident in their frequent engagements in busking activities. Under the dedicated guidance of its resident conductor, Anna Loo, the choir continues to maintain its tradition of excellence.
SPONSOR
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 72
DIM SUM DOLLIES® – THE HISTORY OF SINGAPORE PART I Dream Academy®
5–21 Jun, Fri–Sun Tue–Fri, 8pm Sat & Sun, 3pm & 8pm
(approx. 2hrs, including 20min intermission)
Theatre $48, $68, $88, $128, $148
Fresh from their daringly hilarious romp through Singapore’s last 50 years, the Dim Sum Dollies travel EVEN FURTHER BACK IN TIME—to when it all began. Join icons of the real Pioneer(ing) Generation! Sang Nila and his quest for real estate, Diva-licious Samsui Women, the Sin City Hustle of opium dens and brothels, and prematurely ejected Kamikaze Pilots. From DVD Pirates and Missionary Nuns to pre-1965 Separation anxiety, the Dollies and their Chopstick will tease, sing and dance their way through more than 700 years of island history, in a whirlwind of sequins, feathers and three-inch heels! If you missed the first SOLD-OUT run in 2007, make sure you catch this new and improved Cabaret Comedy of Epic Proportions! Starring Selena Tan, Pam Oei, Denise Tan and Hossan Leong. Directed by Glen Goei. Brought to you by Dream Academy®
“The History Of Singapore is quite possibly going to be remembered as a landmark production for Singapore comedy.”—The Straits Times, Life! 73 / JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
THE BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS FACE Sam Wills NEW ZEALAND
5 & 6 Jun, Fri & Sat Fri, 7.30pm & 10pm Sat, 3pm & 7.30pm
With a sold-out season in London’s West End and a performance at the Royal Variety Show, The Boy With Tape on His Face has won standing ovations across the globe. Now, the unique silent comedy phenomenon makes it way to Singapore for four very special shows.
Recital Studio $35*
Mime with noise, stand-up with no talking, drama with no acting. The Boy has got to be seen to be believed. Each carefully prepared scene climbs in suspense towards a hilarious and unpredictable climax, and sometimes with the help of audience volunteers! Combine the sheer, childlike absurdity of Vic Reeves with the deft, physical intonation of Hugh Laurie and the genius of Charlie Chaplin and you get Sam Wills, The Boy with Tape on His Face.
(1hr, no intermission)
Students, NSFs and seniors: $28* *House of Fun Special: 10% savings for three or more tickets purchased to any Flipside show
Photo by Mat Ricardo
Esplanade Presents
“A deliciously skilful hour, some of the set pieces are simply joyous, sometimes mesmerising” —The Times
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 74
House of Riot presents a triple bill:
CHARLIE LIM, INCH, THE GREAT SPY EXPERIMENT
75 / JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
6 Jun, Sat 7.30pm Concert Hall $50*, $55 (at the door) Limited for students & NSFs: $40*
This June, come celebrate made-in-Singapore independent music at the first ever House of Riot concert. House of Riot! and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay present a not-to-be-missed triple-bill featuring Singapore’s stellar acts, Charlie Lim, iNCH and The Great Spy Experiment, performing songs off their upcoming releases as well as their much-loved hits. Whether in the lush delicateness and soulful nuances of Charlie, the rock jams of iNCH or the feverish dance anthems of Great Spy, ready yourself for a night to remember as you hear some of their new songs before everyone else.
PRESENTING PARTNER Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 76
Clownic SPAIN
VADYM KHOLODENKO – SINGAPORE TOUR
7 Jun, Sun 7.30pm
7 Jun, Sun 7.30pm
(1hr 55mins, including 20min intermission)
(1hr 55mins, including 20min intermission)
Concert Hall $28, $38, $48, $68, $88, $108, $128
Concert Hall $28, $38, $48, $68, $88, $108, $128
Journey through the best moments of comic cinema as seen through the raving eyes of Clownic!
Winner of the coveted gold medal at the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2013, Vadym Kholodenko captured the attention of jury, audience, and critics alike for powerful, exhilarating performances that “showed the guts of a true super artist” (San Francisco Classical Voice).
Esplanade Presents
TICKET
World-famous comic scenes starring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers, Rowan Atkinson, the Monty Python Flying Circus and more are brought to theatrical life in a series of manic sketches. Comic cinema and theatre meld together to accomplish just one goal: make the audience laugh every 10 seconds! After 14 years of enthusiastically performing Tricicle’s shows, including Manicomic, Slastic, Exit, Tricicle 20 and 100% Tricicle, all over the world, Clownic takes on a new challenge with their original creation Ticket, a brand new gestural theatre show.
77 / JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
UKRAINE
Mr. Kholodenko has performed across the globe in Austria, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United States. There will be a post-concert autograph-signing session. Brought to you by MW Events Management
SPARKS GOES POP!
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT
14 Jun, Sun 3pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall Free
12 Jun, Fri 7.30pm (1hr, no intermission) Concert Hall $41
Esplanade Presents
SparksWinds
Ronny Chieng MALAYSIA
Students: $35 A regular favourite of the Beautiful Sunday series, SparksWinds comprises former members from Yuhua Concert Band, River Valley Concert Band and Pioneer Junior College Symphonic Band. Spend a lively afternoon with SparksWinds and their conductor Chan Peck Suan as they entertain you and your family with symphonic pop pieces such as Godzilla Eats Las Vegas, Do Enka and AKB48 medleys.
As seen on Comedy Central Asia & The Melbourne International Comedy Gala. After appearances on The Kings and Queens of Asia & The Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow, Malaysian born, Singapore raised comedian Ronny Chieng made his Singapore debut in 2014 selling out The Drama Centre Theatre. 2015 sees Ronny returns with his new show “You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About”. Arguably Asia’s biggest comedy export, don’t miss your chance to catch Ronny this year. WINNER 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Directors’ Choice WINNER 2014 Sydney Comedy Festival Best Of The Festival WINNER 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best New-comer Advisory: M16 (Coarse Language and Adult Themes) Brought to you by Comedy Central Asia & Century Entertainment
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 78
Photo by Eric Oliveira
QIN YUEN 29 «SIRIUS IS COMING II» HARMONICA CONCERT 琴缘29《狼来了II》 口琴演奏会 Sirius Harmonica Ensemble, Hainan Hwee Kuan Harmonica Orchestra SINGAPORE, TAIWAN
SOUND & FANTASY – A PIANO RECITAL See Ning Hui
16 Jun, Tue 7.30pm
20 Jun, Sat 7.30pm
(1hr 45mins, including 15min intermission)
(1hr 30mins, including 15min intermission)
Students: $15, NSFs: $20
For tickets, please contact Mr Lee at 9848 8583
Award-winning young pianist, See Ning Hui, returns to the Esplanade after her debut in 2013, with the generous support of the National Arts Council and Arts Fund. A Gylla Godwin Scholar at London’s Royal College of Music, she has performed widely in Singapore and has given recitals at Steinway Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Pallant House Gallery in the UK. Notable successes include The Grand Prize at the Steinway Youth Piano Competition and having her performance broadcast as a 2014 BBC Young Musician of the Year keyboard finalist.
Sirius Harmonica Ensemble was founded in 2001. Over the decade, the group has been invited to perform in various countries including Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Korean and China. It is currently one of the most well-known harmonica groups in Asia. In October 2013, they were honoured with an invitation to perform in the gala concert, to hold a workshop, and to be part of the jury in the World Harmonica Festival (WHF 2013).
Recital Studio $25
This recital will showcase Ning’s interpretations of mature works by Bach, Beethoven and Schumann, with a particular focus on the elements of ‘sound’ and ‘fantasy’.
Recital Studio $20
Hainan Hwee Kuan Harmonica Orchestra was formed in 1984. Currently, the Orchestra has around 30 members led by Mr. Tay Boon Seng. The HNHK Orchestra is consistently active with many public performances. The Orchestra is famous for popularising the Classical, Western and Eastern music and making them more attractive to the general audiences. Brought to you by Harmonica Aficionados Societ
79 / JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
SONGBIRDS SERIES 1 – ALL BEES SHALL COME The Vocal Associates Artistes
21 Jun, Sun 3pm & 7.30pm (1hr 15mins, no intermission)
Recital Studio $25
Package of 5: $100 As with the songs of each bird sharing the message of hope and love to all around, let The Vocal Associates Artistes take you on a discovery of life through the sharing of songs close to the heart. Featuring songs from the Renaissance and the Baroque, including favourites by Dowland and Vivaldi, to contemporary songs by Takemitsu, Whitacre and the Carpenters. Brought to you by The Vocal Associates
Esplanade Presents
CLEMENTI WINDS 23 Jun, Tue 8pm Concert Hall $13 Clementi Winds started in the 1980s from humble beginnings, and has since grown to its current 75-member strong status. Over the years, the band has performed in festivals and events in Singapore and overseas, and has won many awards. Most recently, it was awarded Distinction at the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation. In 2012, the band won Gold at the 3rd Singapore International Band Festival, followed by a performance at the Awards Presentation Ceremony. In 2011, they won Gold at the Singapore Youth Festival, and made their debut appearance at Limelight.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 80
SONGS FROM THE HEART 星心相映
INSPIRING TRIO
Fang Qiong (方琼), Chang Shilei (常石磊) CHINA
Pung Rae Yue, Ong Yi Ting & Corey Koh Yung Chien
26 Jun, Fri 8pm
30 Jun, Tue 7.30pm
(2hrs 20mins, including 20min intermission)
(2hrs, including 15min intermission)
Theatre $38, $48, $68, $88, $108, $138
Recital Studio $20
Performed in Mandarin This charity concert for the Medical Fund of Singapore Buddhist Free Clinic brings to our shores Fang Qiong (方 琼), an accomplished singer from Shanghai; and Chang Shilei (常石磊) a prodigious and talented musician from Beijing, making his first appearance in Singapore Together, they present an entertaining repertoire of evergreen and nostalgic Shanghainese melodies and folk songs. Fang will present, in her distinctive, crystal clear and expressive voice, a very special repertoire of golden melodies such as 《真善美》, 《天涯歌女》,《梦 中人》, 《花儿为什么这样红》 and 《山歌好 比春江水》, while 常石磊 performs his innovative renditions of classics like 《茉莉花》, 《鸿雁》, 《在那遥遠的地方》, and his own compositions, 《我和你》, 《山楂樹》. Charity never sounded so good.
81 / JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
The Inspiring Trio features three young Singaporean music prodigies, aged 11 and 12, who are international award winners. This evening features music the baroque to contemporary eras, with pianist Pung Rae Yue performing music by Bach, Chopin and Debussy, flautist Ong Yi Ting performing pieces as diverse as La Traviata and Czardas, and vocalist Corey Koh Yung Chien singing the music of Handel as well as from Les Miserables. In celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday, look forward to the premiere of two special arrangements of popular local pieces, Singapura and Rasa Sayang, commissioned for the three young musicians by Singaporean composer Phoon Yew Tien.
/ FREE PROGRAMMES
Esplanade Presents
A Tapestry of Sacred Music 16—19 Apr 2015
Explore the divine and the spiritual as we journey into intimate forms of sacred music at the Esplanade Concourse, Courtyard Green and Outdoor Theatre at A Tapestry of Sacred Music 2015. For more information on free programmes, visit www.tapestryofsacredmusic.com
Esplanade Presents
Flipside Ten days of delightfully quirky, zany and whimsical performances in unexpected forms and spaces!
of side the arts
.
Concourse 29 May—7 Jun, Fri—Sun Various times Come and celebrate the lighter side of the arts with caricature workshops, mime, music and other unconventional acts.
Outdoor Theatre 29 May—1 Jun, Fri—Mon 5—7 Jun, Fri—Sun Various times Come out and play with our fun and light-hearted acts over at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre and roving all along the waterfront. Stay tuned for updates at www.esplanade.com/flipside
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 82
Esplanade Presents
Yfest
Chase your passions. One weekend of unbridled youthful energy awaits! 19–21 Jun 2015
YFest invites you to dare to chase your passions to where you have never ventured.
www.yfest.com
yfestesplanade #yfest
yfest
Esplanade_Yfest
yfestsingapore
Esplanade Presents
Esplanade Presents
Sharon Dunleavy
Kamini Ramachandran
THE WORLD OF CELTIC MUSIC
SECRETS TO A STORYTELLER
26 Apr, Sun 2pm (2hrs, no break) Rehearsal Studio $15
17 May, Sun 2pm (2hrs, no break) Rehearsal Studio $15
Explore the world of Celtic music with Sharon Dunleavy and discover the origins and development of this traditional music form. Darragh Dunleavy, two-time winner of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an all-Ireland traditional Irish music competition, will also perform a range of Celtic music on his banjo, mandolin and tenor guitar, accompanied by James Chan, an accomplished player of the traditional Irish flute and tin whistle.
Discover the secrets to good storytelling with master storyteller, Kamini Ramachandran. Understand the power of the voice, body and breath in this interactive workshop and learn practical techniques, fundamental skills, and various non-verbal communication techniques that will enhance storytelling. Find out what is in a storyteller’s secret bag of tricks, as well as how to give memorable performances and engage your audiences.
Sharon has been a vocalist with Cór Mhaigheo, a mixed voice choir of traditional Irish singers and musicians, for 18 years. The choir performs extensively throughout Europe and Ireland.
Kamini is the founding member, former President (2008– 2012) and current Vice President of the Storytelling Association (Singapore). She is also Artistic Director of the Singapore International Storytelling Festival. Kamini is a featured storyteller at international festivals in Scotland, England, Rome, Chennai, Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Belgium.
BOOK TICKETS / www.esplanade.com / 84
GET ESPLANADE WHAT’S ON DELIVERED TO YOU! Want to be up-to-date on whatever’s new, in and around Esplanade? Subscribe to Esplanade’s calendar of events and you will have information on all the shows, events and exhibitions happening here, right at your fingertips
Esplanade Presents
SONGWRITING – CONVERSATIONS THROUGH MUSIC Saiful Idris
7 June, Sun 2pm (2hrs, no break) Rehearsal Studio $15
Saiful Idris is a singer, guitarist and songwriter for the Great Spy Experiment, one of the leading bands in the Singapore independent music scene. To date, the band has released two albums, both of which were wellreceived by local and overseas listeners. Saiful writes and produces electronic dance music, and is currently producing the debut album of fellow indie band, Stopgap. He is also a mentor in the National Arts Council's Noise Music Mentorship Programme.
Yes! I would like to subscribe to Esplanade What’s On 1-year subscription (4 issues) at $12 (incl.7% GST) 2-year subscription (8 issues) at $24 (incl.7% GST) PAYMENT DETAILS Bank/Cheque no. for S$
(made payable to ‘The Esplanade Co Ltd’)
SUBSCRIBER’S DETAILS Ms/Miss/Mrs/Mr NRIC/Passport No. Address Postal Code
Contact Number
Email Mail this subscription form with your enclosed cheque to: Marketing Communications Department c/o The Esplanade Co Ltd 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038381 You will receive an acknowledgement via email. Subscription is open to Singapore addresses only. Payment is non-refundable. Subscription will begin with the next quarter’s issue after receipt and processing of payment by Esplanade. For more information please contact 6828 8377
85 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Co.Reg.No. 199205206G Information correct at time of print.
Join musician Saiful Idris as he takes you through his process of songwriting and shares some of the principles that guide his practice. Get useful tips and engage in hands-on activities that will help you through writing your first song
Esplanade Presents
Baybeats
Title
Univers 75 Black from 60pt Tracking: -50
Chase your passions. One weekend of alternative music mayhem awaits!
Performer 26–28 Jun 2015
Univers 65 Bold 40pt to 48pt
Date, Time, Venue
Univers 65 Bold 24pt to 30pt
Univers 67 Bold Condensed 36pt to 42pt
$30, $50, $70
Univers 67 Bold Condensed 24pt to 30pt
Book Now!
Univers 55 Bold 12pt to 18pt
SISTIC Hotline: 6319 3299 Tickets available at Esplanade Box Office and SISTIC website. Terms and Conditions apply.
Baybeats invites you to dare to chase your passions to where you have never ventured.
www.baybeats.com
baybeats #baybeats
baybeats
baybeats
baybeatsfestival
/ VISUAL ARTS – AN INVITATION TO BE HERE Celebrating Singapore’s 50th birthday, Esplanade Visual Arts invites one and all to be here—to be present and to be in the moment. As we gather local artists from different disciplines to share and reflect with us, we invite you to also contribute to the multiplicity of interpretations—to stand before each artwork and engage your mind and spirit...to put it simply, to be here.
Esplanade Presents
Making Working Time Izziyana Suhaimi 10 Apr–24 May Community Wall
Embroidery—incorporating motifs from traditional and contemporary embroidery—is the medium through which the artist expresses and visualises time as a thing that can be physically handled. Each stitch represents a moment passed, an instant filled with sentiment. The building of stitches becomes a representation of time passing, a recording of the maker’s thoughts and emotions. The final work is a physical manifestation of time—a time object. Like a diary, it documents a period in the maker’s history, a story shared and yet withheld.
Esplanade Presents
MEMORIES Chua Chye Teck 16 Apr–19 Jul Tunnel
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose* As Chua wanders around on his daily outings, he picks up objects of interesting shapes and sizes that catch his attention. Many have turned out to be materials left from construction projects. Similar to how modern, high-rise buildings are realised from simple, unassuming construction materials, these discarded objects are transformed through photography into works of art. The subtleties in Chua’s photography echo the development of Singapore; its ability to shift our perception mimics the constant changing of our landscape and the cloaking of the essentials by ever-shifting façades. *”The more things change, the more they stay the same”—Jean-Baptiste Alphonse KARR, 1849
87 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Esplanade Presents
ART PLACES
Koh Nguang How 1 May–19 Jul Jendela (Visual Arts Spaces) Art Places recalls some places in Singapore where art brewed. Presented in this exhibition are over 90 photographs, shot by Koh Nguang How, an arts researcher and photographer known for his extensive photo-documentation of local art happenings including art performances, exhibitions and events. They also cast new light on spaces that were not necessarily built as art places but nonetheless functioned as art sites and acting as strong witnesses to the possibility of art taking place anywhere beyond conventional art spaces, thus encapsulating the spirit of art-making. The exhibition also recounts strong bonds and lively exchange of ideas between artists in Singapore and other countries. The photographs show art as engagement and process: through audience interaction during the happenings, and through friendship with fellow artists in the international community.
www.esplanade.com / 88
/ ESPLANADE MALL
library@esplanade Books & Media #03–01, Tel: 6332 3255 Daily: 11am–9pm except PH
Singapore’s first public library devoted to the performing arts, library@esplanade chronicles the field in all its manifestations, offering print, visual and aural materials of a broad-ranging nature.
ARCH
Souvenir #02–07, Tel: 6338 0161 Daily: 10.30am–9.30pm
Celebrate heritage with ARCH with a wide range of heritage gifts and collectibles that are uniquely designed with high quality craftsmanship in a class of its own.
The Band World Music #02–08, Tel: 6651 2163 Daily: 11.30am–8.30pm
Serving Singapore’s community of wind instrumentalists for the past two decades, The Band World offers the best and widest selections of wind instruments and accessories.
Csar Luxe
Lifestyle #02–11, Tel: 6336 8786 Daily: 12pm–9pm
A galleria that epitomises the finest and most exquisite intricacies of French living, Csar Luxe brings the ultimate in design creativity and craftsmanship. 89 / MAY – JUL 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Goodgoods
Lifestyle #02–13, Tel: 9320 0033/ 9750 4920 Daily: 12pm–8.30pm
Founded in 2010 with a strong belief that the best products come from exquisite workmanship and design, Goodgoods houses uniquely fine labels of men’s leather products. For more details, visit www.goodgoods.com.sg.
GroomWerkz Car Grooming Autocare B2 Carpark, Tel: 6227 7238 Mon–Fri: 7.30am–4.45pm
Automobile paint protection and detailing professionals endorsed by car enthusiasts, GroomWerkz’s team of meticulous professionals ensures top-notch finishing and genuine customer service.
Kenko Reflexology & Spa Wellness #02–19, Tel: 6363 0303 Daily: 10.30am–9pm
Pamper yourself with a soothing, relaxing massage at Kenko’s Reflexology & Spa. Single and double treatment rooms in the spa offer you the privacy you need.
Kenko Wellness Spa Wellness #02–21, Tel: 6363 0303 Daily: 10.30am–9pm
Step into an oasis of serenity and de-stress with a variety of invigorating body scrubs, revitalising massages and therapeutic hydrotherapy treatments.
/ ESPLANADE MALL
Maestro Guitars & Ukuleles Music #02–02, Tel: 6333 3238 Daily: 12.30pm–10pm
The only brand in Singapore that makes its own instruments, each Maestro guitar is delicately built to ensure responsiveness, richness in tonal colour, exceptional performance and outstanding workmanship.
Poster Hub
Gifts & Memorabilia #02–17, Tel: 6333 5623 Daily: 12pm–9.30pm
Specialising in premier lifestyle prints, original movie posters and memorabilia, Poster Hub scours the globe for the best collector and niche decorative items.
Studio Haroobee Mocha
Fashion #02–10, Tel: 6336 0775 Sun–Thu: 12pm–9.30pm Fri & Sat: 12pm–10.30pm
From an eclectic ensemble of stylish apparel and accessories sourced globally and made in-house, find off-season indie brands and fashion forward pieces. New items added weekly.
Nambé
Kitchen & Decor #02–05, Tel: 6338 5372 Daily: 12pm–9pm
Nambé’s passion for exceptional design began in 1951 with a focus on creating dining collections that transcend trends and generations, and enhance lives through designs that emotionally connect and quality that inspires.
The Naturalist Grandeur Wellness #02–09, Tel: 6339 9981 Daily: 1pm–10pm
Singapore’s leading aromatherapy boutique well known for its commitment to true authenticity and quality of their vast collection of fine perfumery absolutes and premium essential oils. SHOPS
CAFÉS, BARS & RESTAURANTS
Learning Centre #02–20, Tel: 6336 9611 Tue & Wed: 10am–7.30pm Fri–Sun: 10am–6pm Closed on Mon & Thu
An art studio for everyone, Studio Haroobee offers quality art classes that encourage self-expression and creativity. Students’ works are regularly exhibited to the public at selected galleries. For more details, visit www.studioharoobee.edu.sg.
Tong Ming Xi Gallery
Music #02–06, Tel: 6238 8750 Daily: 11.30am–8.30pm
Tong Ming Xi offers comprehensive repair, restoration and maintenance services for string instruments, and stocks a wide range of quality contemporary and antique violins, violas, cellos, bows and accessories.
Barossa
Australian cuisine #01–11, Tel: 6534 5188 Mon–Thu: 12–3pm; 6pm–1am Fri: 12–3pm; 6pm–2am Sat: 12pm–2am Sun: 12pm–1am
Dine at Barossa where ‘outback meets chic’ and enjoy hearty Australian-inspired cuisine and a wide selection of Australian boutique wines, Aussie draught beers and cocktails at the Esplanade waterfront.
www.esplanade.com / 90
Books & Cranny Western cuisine library@esplanade #03-02, Tel: 6337 0704 Daily, 11am–9pm Closed on PH
Book in a hand, a quiet corner for another, a flavourfu beverage some may seek, or a simple meal so one may rest thy weary feet. Books and Cranny is the place to meet.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Cafe #01–02/04, Tel: 6337 4326 Sun–Thu: 8am–11pm Fri–Sat: 8am–12am
Brewed in Southern California since 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is the oldest and largest specialty coffee and tea retailer in the USA, known for sourcing and providing the finest ingredients and flavours fro around the world.
Grand Pavilion Cafe Chinese and local cuisine #02–25, Tel: 6337 6720 Mon–Fri: 12pm–3pm; 6pm–10.30pm Sat & Sun: 12pm–3pm; 5pm–10.30pm
Indulge in an array of sumptuous local delights of signature dishes and complete your dining experience with a selection of hot and cold desserts.
Grand Pavilion Restaurant
Cantonese cuisine #02–27/29, Tel: 6337 6720 Daily: 12pm–3pm; 6pm– 10.30pm
Serving dim sum during lunch hour, a full a la carte menu for lunch and dinner, and specialty set menus that feature Master Chef Chan Tak Ming’s signature dishes.
Häagen-Dazs Chocz.
Dessert #02–15, Tel: 6238 0803 Daily: 11am–11pm
A gift of pure indulgence and a pleasure for the palate.
Gajalee Indian Seafood Restaurant Indian cuisine #01–13C, Tel: 6733 3278 Daily: 11.30am–3.30pm; 6.30pm–10.30pm
Synonymous with seafood delicacies, the award-winning Gajalee serves a wide choice of traditional, authentic cuisine from western coastal region of India.
91 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Dessert #02–01/03, Tel: 6336 4022 Sun–Thu: 11am–10.30pm Fri & Sat: 11am–12am
When it comes to the finest in super premium ice cream, Häagen-Dazs is renowned for those meltin-the-mouth moments of pleasure, an ultimate indulgence in luxury ice-cream.
Harry’s @ Esplanade
Bar #01–05/07, Tel: 6334 0132 Sun–Thu: 12pm–1am Fri & Sat: 12pm–2am
Pay a visit to Harry’s @ Esplanade, whether it’s to unwind after a day’s work, hang out with a few friends, or just for an enjoyable night out!
/ ESPLANADE MALL
Jang Shou Korean Charcoal B.B.Q. Korean cuisine #01–13A/B, Tel: 6337 8880 Mon–Sat: 11.30am–3pm; 5pm–10.30pm Sun: 5pm–10.30pm
Serving food that is characteristic of Korean culture and generations of culinary tradition.
Makansutra Gluttons Bay
Local cuisine #01–15, Tel: 6438 4038 Mon–Thu: 5pm–2am Fri–Sat: 5pm–3am Sun: 4pm–1am
This is one of the best places for dinner and supper in Singapore. Tuck into Satay, BBQ Chicken Wings, Chilli Crab, Oyster Omelette and Fried Carrot Cake under the moonlight and by the bay.
Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
Dessert #01–06/08, Tel: 6235 9556 Sun–Thu: 12pm–11pm Fri & Sat: 12pm–12am
Home to a chocolate culture embodying every fantasy and childhood dream of chocolate, where patrons can try new products at the bar as well as the best cup of hot chocolate.
Mirchi – Taste of India Indian cuisine #02–23, Tel: 6334 5590 Daily: 12pm–2.30pm; 6pm–11pm
Famous for its tender, delicious kebabs and mouthwatering curries, Mirchi – Taste of India cooks up refreshing treats for the palate. For more information, please visit www.mirchi.com.sg.
SHOPS
CAFÉS, BARS & RESTAURANTS
Mischief
American Street Food and Bar #01–10/12, Tel: 6532 0481 Mon–Thu: 5pm–1am Fri & Sat: 5pm–3am Sun: 11am–11pm
Mischief is all about incredibly delicious American street food that you can find in food trucks across America. Fearless playful drinks in a chilled out funky atmosphere. A place full of mischief for the naughty at heart.
Molly Roffey’s Irish Pub
Pub #01–13E, Tel: 6238 1875 Sun–Thu: 3pm–1am Fri & Sat: 3pm–2am
An authentic Irish pub experience for Singapore diners and the night crowd, serving bites and pints and featuring live screening of sports matches with the stunning Marina Bay as its backdrop.
No Signboard Seafood Restaurant
Chinese cuisine #01–14/16, Tel: 6336 9959 Daily: 11am–11pm
One of Singapore’s long-established family-run companies offering a plethora of seafood cuisine that stays true to its roots.
Orgo
Bar Roof Terrace, Tel: 6336 9366 Daily: 6pm–2am
Led by renowned Japanese mixologist, Tomoyuki Kitazoe, Orgo uses the finest and freshest natural ingredients in its modern French food menu and extensive list of original mixology and classic drinks. www.esplanade.com / 92
Past 2 Present
International Tel: 6334 1386 #02–14 Sun–Thu: 11.30am–11pm Fri & Sat: 11.30am–2am
Fuss-free casual dining serving locally crafted beers to match its seasonal international menu.
ThaiExpress
Thai cuisine #01–13D, Tel: 6533 6766 Daily: 11.30am to 10.30pm (Last Order: 9.45pm)
Offering authentic Thai cuisine cooked and prepared by a team of Thai chefs, ThaiExpress serves dishes that are made fresh and full of exotic flavours
QUEEN
Concert style night entertainment 6pm–4.30am Queen, 8.30pm–5.30am
Featuring multiple performance oriented productions, state of the art LED lighting, sound and an amazing video installation, QUEEN is the latest and largest live band, concert style party club in Singapore.
Simply Peranakan Cuisine Peranakan cuisine #02–12, Tel: 6333 9382 Daily: 12pm–9pm
Serving authentic home-cooked Nonya food, Simply Peranakan Cuisine uses only the freshest ingredients and a select choice of spices to preserve the original taste of Peranakan cuisine.
Supply & Demand Italian Southeast Asian Bistro & Rooftop Bar
Italian & Southeast Asian cuisine #01–13, Tel: 6336 0588 Mon–Thu: 11.30am–10.30pm Fri & Sat: 6pm–3am Sun: 12pm–10.30pm
Treat yourself to delicious yet affordable Italian signature dishes, flavourful Southeast Asian specialties and zest cocktails. For reservations: esp@cre8group.com.sg
93 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Toast Box
Cafe #01–01/03, Tel: 6338 6854 Sun–Thurs: 7.30am–10.30pm Fri & Sat: 7.30am–11pm
Step into the store and be greeted by aroma of freshly brewed Nanyang Coffee, the prominent butter mountain, the smell of freshly toasted bread, and sights of coffee or tea pulling. Savour the local dishes and drinks while you enjoy the relaxing ambience at Toast Box.
Tomo Izakaya
Japanese cuisine #01–09, Tel: 6333 0012 Sun–Thu: 12pm–3pm; 5pm–11pm Fri & Sat: 12pm–3pm; 5pm–1am
Enjoy the conviviality of sharing small dishes of food such as robatayaki, yakitori, sushi, ramen, soba, and karaage, paired with sake, shochu, beer, wine or spirits, at Tomo Izakaya.
Empowering lives. Nurturing communities.
We believe in building a sustainable future with the community – wherever we operate. In more than 30 countries, we reach out and give back through lending a hand to the needy and under-privileged, promoting education, caring for the environment as well as cultivating appreciation of the arts. We make it a part of our business to lay the foundation for a brighter future, one upon which successive generations will thrive.
Keppel Corporation Limited 1 HarbourFront Avenue #18-01 Keppel Bay Tower Singapore 098632 I www.kepcorp.com
/ ESPLANADE SPONSORS Esplanade extends our deepest gratitude to our partners and sponsors whose generosity and support for the arts have enabled us to touch more lives.
LIFESTYLE SPONSOR
Product of Viz Branz Pte. Ltd.
PROGRAMME SPONSORS
Keppel Corporation Limited
Field Catering & Supplies Pte Ltd
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
97 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
PROGRAMME SPONSORS
Tai Sun (Lim Kee) Food Industries Pte Ltd
Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited
VICOM Ltd
CORPORATE PATRON
L.C.H. (S) Pte Ltd
ESPLANADE DONOR Singapore Telecommunications Limited
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Making everyday better means getting everything you love, at twice the speed. With the fastest 4G network in town, enjoy more of the things you love at twice the current 4G speed. Find out more at www.singtel.com/4Gplus
/ ABOUT ESPLANADE PRESENTS PROGRAMMES As one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, Esplanade’s vision is to bring the arts to everyone and to enrich the lives of its community. The centre’s programming is guided by its mission—to entertain, engage, educate and inspire. Esplanade’s year-long calendar features a rich and diverse range of ticketed and non-ticketed programmes spanning different cultures and genres across music, theatre, dance and the visual arts that cater to the interests of a multicultural audience. The centre works in close partnership with local, regional and international artists to develop artistic capabilities, push artistic boundaries and engage audiences. More than 70% of the 3,000 shows that take place each year at the centre are free.
Cultural Festivals & Series
Celebrating contemporary Chinese arts in the Lunar New Year
Celebrating Malay arts during the Hari Raya Puasa period
Celebrating traditional and contemporary Indian arts during Deepavali
Intimate explorations of Chinese classical music
A showcase of Indian performing arts throughout the year
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with a range of Chinese folk arts performances and activities for all the family
A variety of Malay programmes throughout the year
Genre Festivals & Series SERIES
Three days of indie rock and alternative music on the bay
The best of Western classical music performed by the world’s best orchestras and musicians
A celebration of dance and the joy of movement
Dance presentations by the world’s best dance companies throughout the year
Esplanade Presents
An unexpected turn with the fun and the offbeat
Contemporary classical chamber music from the 20th century and beyond
Monthly intimate music sessions with homegrown talents
A selection of contemporary and experimental works that seeks to bring inspiration
Showcasing the best of school choirs and concert bands at Esplanade Concert Hall
Music from various genres by stellar artists from around the world
Celebrating the joy of ensemble singing
www.esplanade.com / 100
Community Festivals / Programmes / Special Events
Presenting the diverse sounds, colours and moods of sacred music from around the world
Free indoor performances at Esplanade Concourseevery evening
Melodic Sunday treats every month at Esplanade Concert Hall
Weekend arts workshops and talks for everyone
A month full of festivities with fireworks to end the year and welcome the new
English and Chinese evergreens every first Monday of the month
A four-day gathering of Asian artists and industry peers
Interactive arts education programmes for students
Celebrating our nation’s birthday
A burst of fun for children 12 years and under in celebration of Children’s Day
Interactive plays for 2-4 year olds
A curatorial showcase of exhibitions by Asian artists througout the year
A celebration of youth culture through a brilliant mesh of music, dance, visual arts and lifestyle activities
Good times and sentimental favourites for our seniors
ESPLANADE FESTIVALS IN 2015 JAN FEB
Huayi
MAR APR
A Tapestry of Sacred Music
MAY
Flipside
JUN
Yfest
With an annual roster of 15 festivals and 19 programme series, and with a special focus on Asian culture, Esplanade caters to diverse audiences in Singapore with a thoughtful curation of programmes spanning different cultures, languages and genres. Cultural
Baybeats
Music
JUL AUG
National Day
SEP
Moonfest
OCT
Octoburst
NOV
Kalaa Utsavam
DEC
Voices
Pesta Raya
Dance Children
da:ns A Date with Friends Celebrate December
101 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Free outdoor performances at Esplanade Waterfront - every Friday to Sunday evening, and on the eve of and on public holidays
Family Community
/ VISITOR INFORMATION
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay 1 Esplanade Drive Singapore 038981
Cultural Performance Exposure Scheme (CPES) Fund u Applicable to Primary/ Secondary/ Tertiary schools for use on eligible productions performed in Mandarin.
Customer Service hotline
F.Y.I productions All F.Y.I productions are applicable for the TOTE Board Arts Grant subsidy. Bookings via www.esplanade.com/fyi.
Box Office
u Primary/ Secondary/ Tertiary schools receive one complimentary ticket for every 20 tickets purchased or 10 complimentary tickets for every 100 tickets purchased per production.#
6828 8377
Mezzanine level Opening hours: 12–8.30pm
Book online
www.sistic.com.sg 6348 5555
Ticketing Information All tickets are subject to prevailing SISTIC booking fee: $20 and below: $1 $20.01–$40: $3 above $40: $4 Concession and Special Packages u For most events, concessions are available for full-time students, senior citizens (aged 60 and above) and NSFs. Please provide valid identity passes with tickets upon entry. For school, group and corporate bookings, customised experiences and services, please contact 6828 8389 or email boxoffice@esplanade.co u
Funds & Subsidies for Schools TOTE Board Arts Grant u Primary/Secondary/ Tertiary schools enjoy a subsidy of up to 50% (excluding GST) of ticket price. u SPED schools enjoy a subsidy of up to 70% (excluding GST) of ticket price.
u SPED schools receive two complimentary tickets for every 10 tickets purchased per production.#
#Complimentary offer only available for single transactions for the same show.
Things to Note: u Lost tickets will be replaced only once and at the cost of $5. Only tickets for reserved seating events can be replaced. You must be able to verify your transaction details in order to get the replacement tickets. Events are subject to changes and cancellations. Refunds will be granted for cancelled performances subject to return of tickets and authentication of purchase. u
u All patrons (including children) must have tickets for admission to ticketed events. u Latecomers will only be admitted at appropriate pauses in the programme or during intermission, if any. u Patrons who buy restricted view seats will have less favourable sightlines, which vary according to each event’s set-up. u Infants-in-arm and children aged below six years will not be admitted to ticketed events unless otherwise stated.
Security u Bag Checks For safety reasons, all bags and items brought in to performing venues are subject to security checks. Bulky items and plastic carriers must be deposited at baggage carts outside the venue. u Flowers and Gifts for Artists For safety and security reasons, these are not accepted in the Theatre or Concert Hall. In the Studio spaces, presentation of flowers and gifts i subject to the artist’s consent. The same security checks as above apply.
Photography and Filming Visitors are allowed to photograph, film or take videos of the public area only for personal use. Commercial use and public exhibition of the footage or materials without prior written consent is prohibited. Photography, videography or any form of recording (including that of mobile phones) is strictly prohibited within our performance venues at all times. Esplanade reserves the right to refuse admission to patrons entering with recording devices. Self-service lockers for cameras and video cameras are available for use outside the venues. For editorial or commercial photography or videography requests, please contact corporate@esplanade. com or call 6828 8305 on weekdays 8.30am to 6pm. Please note that photographs and videos of patrons may be may be taken at events for use in our archival and publicity material.
Accessibility We recommend that all patrons with special requirements state their needs at the time of booking tickets or call the Esplanade Customer Service hotline prior to attendance. www.esplanade.com / 102
On-Site Amenities
Getting Here
Cloakroom for bags and other personal items u Located at Mezzanine level u Only open during ticketed performances within the Concert Hall & Theatre u Esplanade will not be held liable for damage or loss of items deposited
u By Car Basement car park: An 808-lot carpark below the centre can be accessed from both sides of Esplanade Drive.
As the car park can become very busy, we recommend arriving early to park your car and have a meal or drink at Esplanade Mall before the performance. Alternatively, should the car park already be full, there is ample parking at Marina Square.
Food & Beverages u A variety of food and beverages is available at the Esplanade Mall and the Concert Hall and Theatre foyer bars u Eating and drinking are permitted in the foyer areas only Lost and Found To report or retrieve lost and found items, please go to Esplanade Information Counter by the Concert Hall foyer entrance (open 10am – 9pm daily) or call our Customer Service hotline at 6828 8377. Nursing Room Available 10am – 9pm daily at Mezzanine Level
Daily 6am – 6pm 6pm – 10pm 10pm – 6am
$2 per hour or part thereof $6 per entry $2 per entry
Waterfront carpark: A 27-lot carpark located before the Power Station can be accessed from Raffles venue. Daily charges are $1.50 per 1/2hr or part thereof. Payment by cashcard at carpark entry and exit.
u By Bus Bus Stop No. 02061 Buses stop outside Esplanade Mall entrance along Raffles venue. Bus service numbers 36, 56, 70, 70M, 75, 77, 97, 97E, 106, 111, 133, 162M, 171, 195, 531, 700A, 857, 960, 961, 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N, , NR1, NR2, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8.
Bus Stop No. 02111 Buses stop along Esplanade Drive. Bus service numbers 10, 57, 70, 128, 162, 196, 700, 128, 196e, 850E, 868, 951E, 971E. u By MRT The nearest MRT stations are City Hall and Esplanade station. u By Motorcycle Free parking is subject to availability. u By Taxi There is a taxi stand located at Esplanade Mall entrance.
All information correct at time of print. Design and production: ADtitude Pte Ltd Biz Reg No: 200107009N Printer: KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd The Esplanade Co Ltd is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and registered under the Charities Act. Copyright 2015 @ The Esplanade Co Ltd UEN: 199205206G Esplanade is a proud member of
Advisory: Forecourt will be closed and inaccessible to public till 31 Jul 2015.
103 / APR – JUN 2015 / www.esplanade.com
Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centre www.aappac.net
/ VISITOR INFORMATION Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is located on six hectares of prime waterfront land by the Marina Bay, which is part of Singapore’s civic distrct that comprises heritage, arts and entertainment facilities.
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Theatre with a capacity of 2,000 designed in an intimate horseshoe shape. It houses Singapore’s largest performing stage and easily adapts to performances of different scales.
Concert Hall seats 1,600 with another 200 seats in the Gallery. Designed with the best acoustics in mind, it hosts a diverse range of music performances.
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Recital Studio (245 seats) provide flexibl spaces for small scale performances and rehearsals.
Theatre
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Theatre Studio
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Concourse
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Recital Studio
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Concert Hall
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Outdoor Theatre
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Jendela
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Passages – The Esplanade Story
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Tribute.sg
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Esplanade Mall
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Jendela (Visual Arts Space) showcases a range of visual artworks.
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Theatre Studio (220 seats) provides flexible spaces fo small scale performances and rehearsals.
Esplanade Mall offers over 8,000sqm of exciting retail, food and entertainment outlets and library@esplanade, Singapore’s first performing arts librar .
Outdoor spaces include the circular-shaped Outdoor Theatre, two open-air facilities, The Edge and Stage@Powerhouse, the 300m Waterfront, the Forecourt at Esplanade’s main entrance, the Courtyard and a landscaped Roof Terrace.
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Passages – The Esplanade Story at the Upper Concourse enables visitors to find ou more about the centre’s history, usage and place in the development of the arts in Singapore.
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The Tribute.sg exhibition space honours Singapore arts pioneers who have contributed significantly t the development of the arts in Singapore.
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www.esplanade.com / 104
Esplanade Presents
To
Mum with Love
A Family Weekend at Esplanade 8 - 10 May 2015 Fri - Sun
Make Mum feel special and appreciated this Mother’s Day with music performances and activities at Esplanade. Join our homegrown artists as they bring you timeless songs from across the decades
SPONSOR
www.esplanade.com
EsplanadeSG
Launched in 2005, the SPH Gift of Music series celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Sponsored by media group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the popular free concert series has brought music to the community in various locations such as the heartlands, parks, shopping malls, and the Esplanade. SPH Gift of Music pays tribute to Singapore’s musical talents by showcasing musicians from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, The Philharmonic Winds, Singapore Lyric Opera as well as other local music groups.
EsplanadeSingapore #esplanade
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay 1 Esplanade Drive S038981 Customer Service Hotline: 6828 8377 SISTIC Hotline: 6348 5555