Is it the arts? Is it the television? Or is it music? How about all of the above — this week, we bring to you non-stop entertainment, from the best of homegrown theatre, thought provoking movies to the glitzy music of yesteryear.
ART
The Pitch
Pangdemonium, Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) & Wild Rice
Aug 31
As the pandemic ravages theatres around the world, a motley trio of theatre companies — Pangdemonium, Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) and Wild Rice — band together to create an urgent project that is pitch-perfect for these times. But will their noble mission survive cash-flow problems, creative differences and clashing egos? Can they keep the drama off-stage? And do they know what they are doing?
At a time when going to the theatre is strictly off-limits, The Pitch raises the curtain on three theatre companies as they struggle to make art with one another.
Go behind the scenes through acclaimed film-maker Ken Kwek’s subversive lens and see Wild Rice’s artistic director Ivan Heng, SRT artistic director Gaurav Kripalani and Pangdemonium artistic director Adrian Pang as you have never seen them before.
While The Pitch can be enjoyed for free (on their YouTube Channel The Pitch SG), the three theatre companies are asking for help to survive the pandemic, which has devastated the arts industry. Singapore’s theatres have been closed since the start of the year and that means they’ve had no income for more than half the year.
All proceeds will be split equally between the three companies, and will go directly towards supporting the work, education programmes and outreach initiatives for all three companies.
You can donate to them at: https://rayofhope.sg/campaign/the-pitch/
SIFA v2.020: Singular Screens
From Sept 4
Sifa.sg (Tickets priced from $8)
The Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) unveils the full line-up for Singular Screens, now available both on-demand and at Oldham Theatre as part of SIFA v2.020. Curated by the Asian Film Archive (AFA), Singular Screens celebrates diverse and independent visions, now in its third annual edition since 2018.
All seven films for Singular Screens will be screened at Oldham Theatre at the National Archives of Singapore, with social distancing measures in place. These include mandatory temperature taking, SafeEntry log-in and mask wearing as well as a maximum capacity of 33 for each screening and with groups up to three allowed to sit together.
Alternatively, audiences can enjoy the films at home through video-on-demand via Sistic Live Stream. Highlights include:
About Endlessness
Sept 4 and Sept 12
Director Roy Andersson takes you on a deep exploration of existence and human life through a series of stunningly picturesque long-shot vignettes. Simultaneously an ode and a lament, About Endlessness presents a story of the vulnerability of existence in all its beauty and cruelty. This film was awarded ‘Best Director’ at the Venice Film Festival 2019.
Last and First Men
Sept 5 and Sept 11
Icelandic composer and filmmaker Jóhann Jóhannsson filmed this sometimes unsettling film — which straddles both science fiction and documentary — before he passed away in February 2018. Inspired by the 1930 novel by Olaf Stapledon and narrated by actress Tilda Swinton with music composed by Jóhannsson, the 70-minute cine-novella is an allegory of remembrance, ideals and the death of utopia.
For the full screening details, visit https://sifa.sg/programmes/free/singular-screens-sifa-v2020
Silver Arts Festival
Sept 1 – Sept 13
Silver Arts Facebook Page
The annual Silver Arts Festival returns for its ninth edition, and will be presenting its full programming online for the very first time to ensure the safety and well-being of senior citizens during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Presented by the National Arts Council (NAC), Silver Arts is dedicated to celebrating seniors in the arts with opportunities for participants to discover their potential through programmes across various genres such as visual arts, music, dance and film. This year, Silver Arts 2020 will take place across two weeks on the Silver Arts Facebook page.
Seniors can look forward to a total of 15 daily programmes with a diverse line-up of activities in English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and Chinese dialects — all of which can be enjoyed online.
Highlights include:
• Revisit the good old days and listen to catchy Hokkien songs over a cup of kopi with Old Songs of Redhill Market by Toy Factory Productions. The Hokkien production explores the sights and sounds of Redhill, bringing its stories and rich heritage to life.
• Keroncong Asmara by Wadah Seni Entertainment invites all to sing along to the sounds of keroncong (an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of an ukulele-like instrument). At the same time, you can also learn about the history of keroncong together with singers from the Gunong Sayang Association, one of Singapore’s oldest cultural groups.
• With tunes from local dramas to folk songs in different languages, there is something for everyone at the Evergreen Symphonic Jukebox by Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra,a troupe renowned for championing diversity by using stringed instruments from the erhu to the Indian violin. For this performance, the orchestra will fuse the best of Western and ethnic music.
• Catch a tribute to Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng at the A Music Legend of A Billion Applause show by the Ding Yi Music Company. Established in 2007, Ding Yi Music Company is Singapore’s most prodigious Chinese chamber ensemble. Here, they will capture the essence of Teng’s vocals on Chinese classical instruments such as the pipa (a pear-shape lute) and di zi (Chinese flute).
