Educational Kit: Sun & Sea by Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė & Lina Lapelytė (LT)

30 MAY – 1 JUN

Supported

EDUCATIONAL KIT SUN & SEA

SUN & SEA

Sun & Sea takes place on an artificial beach crafted through light, architecture and music. Vacationers in colourful bathing suits are lying next to each other on sandy ground, while the audience observes them from above, as though from the point of view of the sun.

In the heat of a summer day, characters begin telling their stories. Frivolous microstories slowly give rise to broader, more serious subjects and grow into a global symphony, a universal human choir addressing planetary-scale climate breakdown. In the work, the physical finitude and fatigue of the human body becomes a stand-in for an exhausted Earth.

The setting, a crowded beach, instinctively evokes laziness and a breezy holiday mood. In this context, the message follows suit: serious topics unfold easily, softlylike a pop song on the very last day on Earth.

An ecological work at its very core, Sun & Sea is concerned with the way in which we-our human species consistently fails to recognise those planetary-scale threats and urgencies we ourselves are the cumulative cause of.

Supported by Embassy of Lithuania in Singapore.

HOW TO USE THIS KIT

This kit is designed for deeper engagement and discussion with the SIFA programme. For younger audience members, this kit is communicated through the educators and parents’ perspectives. Divided into 4 sections, it comes with guiding questions, suggested activities and links for further exploration on the subject and themes presented in the show:

Before The Show

Pre-show preparation to understand the context

After The Show

During The Show Questions to think about while watching the show

A reflective exercise to jot down thoughts

Post-show Activity

For further exploration on the subject, topic or themes

LET’S GO TO THE BEACH!

A) When was the last time you went to the beach? What do you normally see at the beach? Circle the things you should NOT see at the beach.

B) What would you normally do at the beach? Circle the words below.

Build Sandcastles

Beach Volleyball

Treasure Hunt

Picking Up Seashells

Having A Picnic

Fly A Kite

Make Sand Angels

Play Frisbee

C) List some of the activities that you would not do at the beach?

Fishing

Watch The Sunset

Camp Out

Swimming

D) Describe and draw your ideal beach day.

E) How would you prepare for the beach trip? Make a list of the things that you would do to prepare for a trip to the beach.

F) YOU ARE TASKED TO PREPARE A PICNIC BASKET. WHAT WOULD YOU BRING IN YOUR PICNIC BASKET?

DRAW PICTURES OF THE

ITEMS

(SUCH AS FOOD, CUTLERIES, GAMES, ETC.)

Highlight the wasteful resources or materials you might have in your basket. What will you throw away eventually?

G) COMB THE BEACH

WHAT CAN YOU FILL IN YOUR PLASTIC JARS IF YOU WERE TO WALK DOWN THE BEACH TODAY?

Are there any items that you would have collected that do not belong at the beach? Do you think you will find the following items in your jar?

Plastic Bottles Straws Plastic Utensils

Plastic Packaging Materials

Glass Bottles or Shards

Bottle Caps

Balloons or Balloon Fragment

Cigarette Butts

Styrofoam Pieces

Plastic Bags Food Wrappers Rubber Bands

Fishing Nets or Lines

Aluminum Cans

Plastic Toys

These items represent the pervasive problem of marine debris and pollution, which can have devastating effects on marine life, ecosystems, and the health of our oceans.

By collecting and examining items like these, you can gain a better understanding of the human impact on the environment and the importance of responsible waste management and conservation efforts.

CONNECTING IDEAS 2

Various themes are being explored in Sun & Sea, making it widely celebrated as one of the most compelling works to address the tension between a global leisure economy and ecological malaise, complicated now by the exigencies of a pandemic.

“For all of its subtle, emotional, environmental anxiety, Sun & Sea carries its characters’ foolish optimism in the face of overwhelming evidence not with judgement but with relative care, with something akin to self-recognition.”

-

Lucia Pietroiusti

Source: https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/414983/rugil-barzdiukait-vaiva-grainyt-and-lina-lapelytsun-sea/

Create a mind-map of the following concepts and expand your understanding of each of them.

PLANETARY-SCALE THREATS SUSTAINABILITY

ECOSYSTEM CARBON FOOTPRINT CONSUMERISM

READ THESE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY

1

before the performance starts, remember to pay close attention while you are engaging in the performance, so you do not miss out on any details:

What do you see at this beach?

What do you notice about the artificial beach as set design and how does it affect the staging of the performance?

How does the setting of the beach

2 serve as a metaphor for larger societal or environmental concerns?

Who are the characters

3 in the performance, and what do you think motivates them? Who are they singing to? Are the performers aware that you are there?

How do the performers

4 use their bodies and voices to convey meaning? How do the characters’ actions and interactions contribute to the overall narrative?

If you were one of the beachgoers,

5 which one would you be? Do you relate to any of the characters or their experiences? Why or why not?

What emotions or messages

6 do you think the creators are trying to communicate through the performance?

Do you think the performance

7 effectively conveys its intended message or themes? Why or why not?

NOW THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS OVER,

Write down what you have noticed to answer the questions above, or a simple reflection of your thoughts about the performance:

GUIDED REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS:

(A) How does the performance make you feel? What emotions does it evoke?

(B) How might the performance inspire action or change in the audience?

(C)

What questions or discussion would you like to explore further after watching the performance?

1 RESPONDING TO THE SONGS

Recall the performance. Do you remember what the songs were about? What were the characters lamenting about?

“Wealthy Mommy’s Song”

He has already visited two of the world’s great oceans, And we’ll visit the remaining ones this year!

“Workaholic Song”

I really don’t feel that i can let myself slow down, Because my colleagues will look down on me.

“Song of Complaint”

What’s wrong with people – they come here with their dogs, Who leave shit on the beach, fleas on the sand!

“3D Sisters’ Song”

I cried so much when I learnt that corals will be gone. And together with the Great Barrier Reef the fish would go extinct –From sharks to the smallest fry.

Create an artistic response to any of the characters in the performance. You may respond with a poem, song, or visual artwork. Draw inspiration from the lyrics, themes and imagery of the performance.

2 TAKE ACTION!

A) Research Project:

Research about the Environmental Conservation of the Beaches in Singapore. Present your findings to your class or friends.

DID YOU KNOW?

Plastic, plastic, everywhere: The world’s oceans are full of discarded trash that degrades and sinks, or drifts ashore at places like Turneffe Atoll in Belize.

PHOTOGRAPH BY WATERFRAME, ALAMY

LET’S READ A LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT HERE:

Ocean Trash: 5.25 Trillion Pieces and Counting, but Big Questions Remain

Do you know the many beaches in Singapore?

EAST COAST PARK BEACH

PUNGGOL BEACH

PALAWAN BEACH

PASIR RIS PARK BEACH

SEMBAWANG BEACH

TANJONG BEACH

CHANGI BEACH PARK

SILOSO BEACH

LAZARUS ISLAND

B) Community Engagement

Organize a community event or service project related to the themes of Sun & Sea, such as a beach clean-up day or a fundraiser for an environmental organization. Invite your peers to participate and reflect on the connections between their actions and the messages of the performance.

You can also take part in a beach or park clean-up. It is one way to keep the beaches, parks and the environment healthy for everyone to enjoy.

To promote Values In Action for students to care for the beaches, the Seashore Life Programme has been revamped to the Clean Singapore Learning Trail (Beaches and Parks) to encourage students to:

understand the importance of taking ownership of our beaches and parks,

reflect on how their own habits and actions affect Singapore’s cleanliness, and inspire participants to take responsibility by keeping the environment clean and green for all to enjoy.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT HERE:

Clean Singapore Learning Trail Beaches and Parks

C) Environmental Action Plan

YOU CAN SIGN UP HERE:

Cleanup Signup

Develop an action plan for addressing environmental issues in your own school and communities. Brainstorm practical steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and promote sustainability.

FOR FURTHER

As Singapore’s annual pinnacle performing arts festival, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) presents captivating and diverse works across theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts. First launched as the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1977, the festival has gone through several evolutions and inspired generations of arts lovers and practitioners.

Under the helm of Festival Director Natalie Hennedige from 2022 to 2024, SIFA will focus on performance and creation in the physical and online space, around the theme The Anatomy of Performance.

Today, the highly anticipated festival is a high point on Singapore’s arts and cultural calendar. SIFA continues its festival mission to champion the creation and presentation of Singaporean and international works.

#SIFA2024

We can’t wait to welcome you at SIFA. Share with the world (and us!) what you are most excited to see at this year’s festival, or your photos and videos of your favourite SIFA festival moment.

Arts House Limited (AHL)

Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to inspiring and enriching lives through the transformative power of the arts.

We proudly organise two flagship national festivals: the Singapore International Festival of Arts, a celebration of the local and international performing arts, and the Singapore Writers Festival, a multilingual festival presenting the world’s leading literary talents.

sifa.sg sifa.sg

sifa_sg sifa_sg artshouselimited artshouselimited

At the heart of AHL’s mission are six arts spaces designed to support our vibrant arts sector and forge connections within communities. It includes two national monuments—The Arts House, multidisciplinary arts centre, and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

AHL also runs the Drama Centre, a dedicated performing arts space, as well as three creative enclaves for arts groups and innovative enterprises: the Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre, and Stamford Arts Centre.

Established in 2002 as The Old Parliament House Limited, AHL transitioned to its current identity as Arts House Limited in 2014. As a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council, we remain steadfast in our mission to champion the arts as a powerful force for positive change.

For more information, visit https://artshouselimited.sg/.

TICKETING INFO FOR SCHOOL BOOKINGS

Engage your students in the arts at SIFA with our special deals for schools.

CONCESSIONS

SIFA offers 15%* off ticket purchases to local and international students. *Applicable to selected ticket categories and Programmes

TOTE BOARD ARTS GRANT

For selected programmes, government schools may enjoy subsidies up to 50% of the ticket price. Applicable for Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, Centralised Institute and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) levels.

Special Education Schools may use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 70% of the programme cost. For more details on school bookings or Tote Board Arts Grant, please email sifatickets@artshouse.sg

CONTACT US

For every 20 students tickets purchased, 1x complimentary ticket provided for the teacher.

For further enquiries on programmes or education kits, please contact meganlee@artshouse.sg

For group bookings, please contact sifatickets@artshouse.sg

To read more about the Tote Board Arts Grant, visit https://tinyurl.com/Tote-Board-Arts-Grant

For more information on the festival, visit sifa.sg