Stephanie LauwThe anticipated Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) is back for another amazing celebration of the arts. Over six weekends, SIFA will be hosting 13 acclaimed productions spread across numerous media and art forms. The annual festival is packed with enrapturing theatre productions, multi-disciplinary dance items, award-winning films and even exhibitions to engage the public in the rich and diverse arts culture.
Image credit: Singapore International Festival of Arts
Image credit: Singapore International Festival of Arts
The line-up of this year’s SIFA does not disappoint, with renowned industry names like Robyn Orlin, Dries Verhoeven, and the National Theatre of Korea. We can’t wait for the festival to kickstart on 31 July! Here are our three top picks from the stellar programme:
Step into a dystopian future in Dragonflies
Image credit: Singapore International Festival of Arts
This captivating 2 hour and 15 minute theatre performance is the brainchild of Pangdemonium’s Tracie and Adrian Pang, and playwright Stephanie Street. The play explores the onslaught of (perhaps, all too familiar) crises – wars in the Middle East, Brexit, global warming, and its impact on the protagonist’s return to Singapore after living overseas.
Programme: Dragonflies
Date: 24, 25, 26 Aug 2017
Venue: Victoria Theatre
Watch illustrations come alive at Becoming Graphic
Image credit: Singapore International Festival of Arts
Sonny Liew’s The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye made waves last year when it reached the bestsellers list of The New York Times and Amazon – an unprecedented feat for local literature. The graphic novel traces the quotidian life of the fictional title character living through Singapore’s decolonisation and independence, astutely highlighting the historiography of the era. At SIFA, watch Edith Podesta bring Liew’s art to the stage in an amazing theatrical performance that you won’t forget!
Programme: Becoming Graphic
Date: 17, 18, 19 Aug 2017
Venue: 72-13
Experience old and new cultures in Trojan Women
Image credit: Singapore International Festival of Arts
Trojan Women is a stunning masterpiece re-imagining the popular Greek legend of the Trojan War. Hailing from South Korea, this gripping contemporary Asian musical synthesises heritage and modernity, the old and the new, the Orient and Occident, to create a moving work of art. Limited tickets are on sale for its shows on 7-9 September!
Programme: Trojan Women
Date: 7, 8, 9 Sep 2017
Venue: Victoria Theatre
Apart from the main SIFA programme, the festival’s prequel O.P.E.N runs from 28 June to 2 July. Mark your calendars and book your tickets now; this is an arts extravaganza you don’t want to miss! More information can be found here.
