Events

Photos by Kiam Marcelo Junio & Kristie Kahns |

aMoratorium

J'Sun Howard (USA)

Asian Premiere Book Now

“... resists essentialist notions of Black masculinity by imagining a world where Black pain... is met with Black tenderness, care, and community.”

Frenzied H(e)avens: African American Post Exilic Realities in J’Sun Howard’s “aMoratorium” by Brianna Alexis Heath

The Art Institute of Chicago asked the artist to make aMoratorium. This work reacts to a display about Charles Wilbert White. White has been a visual artist for over 40 years. In his work, White explains the history of African Americans, their beliefs, and how they grew up.

aMoratorium is about being a Black man. It looks at how seen Black men are, and when this topic is not talked about at all. It also talks about what people do in a Black church when there is a death, and Black people’s beliefs about souls. It is a work that aims to connect with you. It focuses on Black and Brown men, and shows them playing in a giving, kind, and loving way.

This work was put together by J’Sun Howard. He worked with 3 artists: dancers Dedrick “D. Banks” Gray and Timothy “Solomon” Bowser, and DJ Jared Brown. This is a brave dance-theatre show that looks at many issues and how they are linked. It shares how people are treated unfairly based on their race, sexuality or where they were born. It also talks about how the police might use their power to hurt others without reason. This work is made from many parts, such as:

  • Art
  • Fighting for what’s right
  • What we’re taught in school
  • How we talk about the issues around us

There is a post-show talk on 17 January 2024. Speech to text interpretation can be done if needed. If you need this service, email us at info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

People still might not treat someone fairly because of their race, just like 20 years ago. My work is about the problems Black and Brown people face because of their race. People will treat them worse because of their race, sexuality, or the country they are from. The police may also hurt them without any reason, which is unfair.

More people may start to think that there should not be Black and Brown people at all. This affects people like me and others across the world.

“... resists essentialist notions of Black masculinity by imagining a world where Black pain... is met with Black tenderness, care, and community.”

Frenzied H(e)avens: African American Post Exilic Realities in J’Sun Howard’s “aMoratorium” by Brianna Alexis Heath

aMoratorium explores Black male identity, visibility, temporality, and its absence, and further examines death as it relates to the Black church and Black spiritual traditions. It is an intimate performance that expresses generous, compassionate, and loving play between Black and Brown men in our current socio-political climate.

aMoratorium was initially commissioned by the Art Institute of Chicago to respond to its retrospective of Charles Wilbert White, a visual artist who powerfully interpreted African American history, culture, and lives over the course of his four-decade career.

Choreographer J’Sun Howard and his collaborator-performers Dedrick “D. Banks” Gray and Timothy “Solomon” Bowser, and DJ Jared Brown, have created a frank and courageous dance-theatre performance. Standing at the intersection between art, activism, education, and social engagement, aMoratorium challenges racial supremacy, police brutality, global anti-Blackness, homophobia, and xenophobia.

“… dancer Dedrick Gray’s courage and vulnerability infused every shake, pounce and stagger.”

—Wendy Perron, Dance Magazine, 2019

“aMoratorium’s Dedrick Gray and Solomon Bowser are amazing, mesmerizing dancers! They are both so powerful/graceful and precise, but their solos truly showcased the delicious distinctions in their embodied storytelling.”

—Felicia Holman, Performance Response Journal, 2020

With support from Mid Atlantic Arts.

Post-show dialogue on 18 January 2024, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

“To dance is to breathe. As a dancemaker, I organize generous, loving, and compassionate play for Black male-identified individuals. In a society that denies play as a possibility for us and does not permit exploring the unknown—because discovery requires a moment of aimlessness, which is deemed criminal in our country—we must be unapologetic in our Blackness. My work intertwines the undeniable gentleness, loveliness, and pain of our play.”

—J’Sun Howard

Issues of racial inequality are as prevalent today as they were 20 years ago. My work speaks to how Black and Brown people need to navigate and negotiate the realities of white supremacy, police brutality, global anti-Blackness, homophobia, and xenophobia. These issues affect my community and the world at large because they reinforce the ideology that Black and Brown people should not exist.

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Date & Duration
17–18 January 2024, 8pm
50 min with no intermission

Location
Esplanade Theatre Studio

Price
$35 | $28*
*Concession for students, NSF, senior citizens and PWD cardholders

Esplanade&Me Specials (7 Nov - 31 Dec 2023, limited tickets)
Black & White card members enjoy a 10% discount off standard price tickets. Log in to your Esplanade&Me member account to access the promo code.

Accessibility Features
Open captions in English for all shows

Rating
General

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Photos by Loserwithdeadfish |

Here Where You Were

Matter.Less (Singapore)

Asian Premiere Book Now

Content warning: themes of grief, depression, suicide, and thoughts of suicide throughout.

A family reels from the sudden loss of Nenek - is it shame or guilt that keeps their grandmother's death shrouded in mystery? When Fadli's pleas to pursue therapy are rejected by his mother, he finds himself treading along an all too familiar path.

This theatre show is for a small group of audience. It is written by Danial Matin, and directed by Moli Mohter. It is a careful look at mental health, suicide, and grief among Malay Muslims in Singapore. The actors are Suhaila Binte Mohamed Sanif Fadhil Daud, and Chng Xin Xuan.

After watching the show, the audience will be invited to talk about and possibly share their thoughts about the play through interacting with the characters and the situations. This segment will be facilitared by Adib Kosnan and Chng Yi Kai. Join us in this safe space to talk about these issues .

Please note that some audience members will be seated on mats on the floor for this show. Do dress comfortably. There are a few chairs for those who require them. Please let us know at Front of House if you require seating on a chair.

Venue support by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Singapore Sign Language interpretation is available for the 8pm performance on 26 January 2024.

Artist Statement

What can we not talk about in our culture and religion? These can tell us why some people think badly about mental health. How we were brought up affects the way we deal with problems and ask for help.

People who were brought up the same way can have beliefs that help their mental health. The same beliefs can also hurt it.

We do not want to ignore a group’s views and norms, but include them when we talk about mental health. This will be more helpful.

Content warning: themes of grief, depression, suicide, and thoughts of suicide throughout.

A family reels from the sudden loss of Nenek - is it shame or guilt that keeps their grandmother's death shrouded in mystery? When Fadli's pleas to pursue therapy are rejected by his mother, he finds himself treading along an all too familiar path.

This intimate forum theatre work written by Danial Matin and directed by Moli Mohter is a sensitive exploration of mental health, suicide, and grief in the Singapore Malay Muslim community. Join performers Suhaila Binte Mohamed Sanif, Fadhil Daud, and Chng Xin Xuan, and facilitators Adib Kosnan and Chng Yi Kai in this safe exploratory space to navigate these issues together.

Please note that some audience members will be seated on mats on the floor for the duration of the performance. We advise that you dress comfortably for the show. There are a limited number of chairs for those who require them. Please let us know at Front of House if you require seating on a chair.

Powered by the National Youth Council, Youth Action Challenge, and Spark the Next.

Venue support by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (a founding member of the University of the Arts Singapore).

Singapore Sign Language interpretation is available for the 8pm performance on 26 January 2024.

Artist Statement

Cultural and religious taboos are important factors to consider when it comes to understanding the source of mental health stigma. Cultural background and upbringing also inform coping mechanisms and help-seeking behaviour.

Even within the same cultural context, cultural beliefs have the potential to bring both harm and benefits to those facing mental health struggles. As such, we aim not to dismiss cultural views and norms, but to look for the possibilities of how to navigate and integrate them in mental health discourses in a manner that capitalises on their benefits.

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Date & Duration
25–26 January 2024, 8pm
27 January 2024, 3pm & 8pm
90 min with no intermission

Location
NAFA Studio Theatre

Price
$35 | $28*
*Concession for students, NSF, senior citizens and PWD cardholders

Language
In English and Bahasa Melayu

Accessibility Features
Open captions in English for all shows

Rating
Advisory 16 (Some Mature Content)

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Photos by Mish'aal, created with Midjourney |

Motherland

Very Shy Gurl by fendy (Singapore)

Asian Premiere Book Now

“What Noor Effendy manages to do with expert skill is keep the edge of his knife right in that sweet spot between pleasure and pain. It is that slash between human/beast and child/adult. And, implicating the audience, the one between witness/accomplice. That slash that simultaneously means ‘and’ and ‘or’.”

—Nabilah Said, Arts Equator on Cerita Cinta (2018)

Two unknown soldiers are in love. Their countries are at war. They hug tightly near the border. They love each other but are not sure what to do when they are supposed to fight each other.

This work was shown as a work-in-progress at Headlines Act / SIFA-X 2023 Edition. This event was by Centre 42 and Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA).

Motherland looks at love in a world with many violent conflicts. How do you choose between loyalty to your country and the one you love? Who do you choose to betray?

fendy wrote and directed the work. The performers are Bada Jabari, Irfan Kasban, and Mish'aal, with vocals by Rosemainy Buang and music by Isyraf.

There is a post-show talk on 19 January 2024. Speech to text interpretation can be done if needed. If you need this service, email us at info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

Motherland is about the sexual tension between two men of different races. They share a tough history. We can’t tell just yet, but issues may come up as we go along.

Effendy studies the bodies of people who are from smaller groups in society. They are called minority groups. They are likely shut out or looked down on by others. This makes it easy for others to hurt them sexually or in religion. It is easy for those in power to control them.

Effendy wants people to think harder and talk honestly about their bodies. How do we interact with the performers, who are from the minority? He also designs the space to help us think about this.

“What Noor Effendy manages to do with expert skill is keep the edge of his knife right in that sweet spot between pleasure and pain. It is that slash between human/beast and child/adult. And, implicating the audience, the one between witness/accomplice. That slash that simultaneously means ‘and’ and ‘or’.”

—Nabilah Said, Arts Equator on Cerita Cinta (2018)

In a tight embrace above the line that divides the land, two unknown soldiers—deeply in love and with different loyalties—contemplate the inevitable as the night sky above Motherland starts to burn red. When Motherland eventually bleeds and pleads for vengeance, how should the soldier love?

First presented as a work-in-progress at Headlines Act / SIFA-X 2023 Edition by Centre 42 and Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), Motherland examines notions of love as framed between the extremes of loyalty and betrayal. It is a poignant yet searing response to the remembered, forgotten, neglected, and celebrated violent conflicts around the world that continue to develop, evolve, and erupt to this day.

Written and directed by fendy, Motherland is performed by Bada Jabari, Irfan Kasban, Mish'aal, with vocals by Rosemainy Buang and music by Isyraf.

Please note that some audience members will be seated on mats on the floor for the duration of the performance. We advise that you dress comfortably for the show. There are a limited number of chairs for those who require them. Please let us know at Front of House if you require seating on a chair.

Post-show dialogue on 19 January 2024, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

Motherland aims to pursue the examination of the erotic tension felt within tender interracial conversations between two different male bodies connected by inherent and latent, yet tumultuous, shared political memory. This work adds to Effendy’s evolving research examining the sexual, religious, and political vulnerability of the minority body in the contemporary site for performance. The examination aims to contribute to more critical and sincere creation and rehearsal processes to achieve a hyper-realistic conversation between the performance of the minority body and the gaze (of the audience/spectator) in the performance site, contextualized by the architectural and spatial design of the performance space.

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Date & Duration
18–20 January 2024, 8pm
60 min with no intermission

Location
Practice Space, The Theatre Practice

Price
$35 | $28*
*Concession for students, NSF, senior citizens and PWD cardholders

Accessibility Features
TBC

Rating
R18 (Mature Content)

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Photos by Tuckys Photography |

Oo-woo

The Necessary Stage (Singapore)

World Premiere Book Now

“… Oo-Woo follows in the footsteps of Raimi’s earlier work Rindu Di Bulan and captures the complexities of family, particularly the bond between parents and children.”

—Bakchormeeboy on an earlier iteration of Oo-woo at Playwrights’ Cove 2022

Oo-Woo is a loving story about taking care of a person with dementia in a family. We find out secrets and hidden wishes that strain the family. When the pet bird goes missing, the family finds out about upsetting things. They question what they know about duty and love.

The show is written by Raimi Safari and directed by Mohd Fared Jainal. The four actors are Dalifah Shahril, Farah Lola, Isabella Chiam, and Yazid Jalil. It talks about dementia. It is unclear what is real or fake in the show. The bird in the story makes us think about what we will give up and choose when life is uncertain.

Oo-Woo was developed at The Necessary Stage’s Playwrights’ Cove 2022. The mentor was Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma.

There is a post-show talk on 25 January 2024. Speech to text interpretation can be done if needed. If you need this service, email us at info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

“I believe that theatre can create change. Looking after the elderly in a family is a personal story. Through the show, we are able to share why it is hard and what we have given up for them.

“Oo-woo talks about the struggle between doing what you want and helping your family. Oo-Woo tells a story about caring for the elderly with dementia to make us think about three things:

  • Why family is important
  • What we would give up for loved ones
  • How we can support caregivers

“We hope that this play will make people talk and think more about this topic. We hope they will care for others and want to do something for their community. Together, we can build a society where people support each other. We help our elderly and people who care for them. Oo-woo wants more to know and care about those who have to look after elderly family members.”

—Raimi Safari, Playwright

“… Oo-Woo follows in the footsteps of Raimi’s earlier work Rindu Di Bulan and captures the complexities of family, particularly the bond between parents and children.”

—Bakchormeeboy on an earlier iteration of Oo-woo at Playwrights’ Cove 2022

Through tender storytelling, Oo-woo unravels the intricate web of caring for an elderly family member with dementia. As the story unfolds, deep secrets and hidden desires come to light, casting doubt on the strength of familial bonds. When their cherished family bird mysteriously disappears, a journey of unsettling discoveries begins, challenging the characters' understanding of duty and love.

Written by Raimi Safari, directed by Mohd Fared Jainal, and starring Dalifah Shahril, Farah Lola, Isabella Chiam and Yazid Jalil, Oo-woo delves into the haunting realm of dementia, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. A single bird brings into question the sacrifices and choices we make when faced with the unknown.

Oo-woo was developed at The Necessary Stage’s Playwrights’ Cove 2022 under the mentorship of Resident Playwright Haresh Sharma.

Post-show dialogue on 25 January 2024, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

“I believe that theatre has the power to create meaningful and transformative experiences within a community. By exploring the theme of taking care of the elderly in a Singaporean context, we shed light on the challenges and sacrifices involved in this deeply personal journey.

Oo-woo delves into the internal struggles between personal aspirations and familial obligations, resonating with many individuals who face similar dilemmas. By addressing the poignant topic of caring for the elderly with dementia in Singapore, Oo-woo prompts the community to reflect on the importance of familial bonds, the sacrifices we make for our loved ones, and the need for support and compassion in navigating such situations.

“We hope that this play will initiate conversations, spark empathy, and encourage action within the local community. Through collective reflection, we can build a more inclusive and supportive society, where the needs of our elderly are acknowledged, and the challenges faced by caregivers are understood and addressed. Oo-woo aspires to foster greater awareness and compassion for those caring for their elderly family members.”

—Raimi Safari, Playwright

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Date & Duration
24–27 January 2024, 8pm
27–28 January 2024, 3pm
75 min with no intermission

Location
Esplanade Theatre Studio

Price
$35 | $28*
*Concession for students, NSF, senior citizens and PWD cardholders

Esplanade&Me Specials (7 Nov - 31 Dec 2023, limited tickets)
Black & White card members enjoy a 10% discount off standard price tickets. Log in to your Esplanade&Me member account to access the promo code.

Language
In English and Bahasa Melayu

Accessibility Features
Open captions in English for all shows

Rating
Advisory (Some Mature Content and Coarse Language)

︎ Facebook
@TheNecessaryStage

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@tns_sg

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@TheNecessaryStage

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Photos by Jan Skalican & Vojtěch Brtnický |

SAME SAME

Dame de Pic/Cie Karine Ponties & Temporary Collective (Belgium & Czech Republic)

Asian Premiere Book Now

“It doesn’t happen too often that you leave the theatre slightly confused, but with a relaxed smile on the lips and feeling refreshed. Watching someone act foolishly [in SAME SAME] is therapeutic; it helps you not to take yourself so seriously and let some absurdity into your life. Boredom can kill even the most meaningful work.”

—Lucie Kocourková, Taneční aktuality (translated from Czech)

There are some actions we do everyday. Doing them makes life feel normal. When a strange thing happens, it makes us think more about these “normal” actions, and if we can try something new. We meet two women who almost look like each other. They are tired and stressed. They get lost and allow themselves to feel wild.

Three people created this work. They are Belgian choreographer Karine Ponties, leading Czech creative dancer Tereza Ondrová and theatre director Petra Tejnorová. The humour in this work can remind you of silent film actor Buster Keaton. He was famous for doing big tricks to make people laugh. He keeps a neutral face when doing silly things. Like him, this work tries to make us laugh but also makes us feel things. It also tries to be funny in a way we don't expect.

SAME SAME has won two awards at the Czech Dance Platform: Best Dancer of the Year and Special Mention by the Jury.

There is a post-show talk on 20 January 2024. Speech to text interpretation can be done if needed. If you need this service, email us at info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

SAME SAME looks at issues we face at work and our lives. These include being bored, tired, stressed, and aimless. It shows us how strange it is that we repeat actions, both to people we are close and not so close to. Humans and how we connect with other people are complex.

This work also talks about:

  • How things look like, or don’t look like each other
  • Power, or letting yourself to be controlled

It purposely shows us strange things to make us question the normal things in our lives.

“It doesn’t happen too often that you leave the theatre slightly confused, but with a relaxed smile on the lips and feeling refreshed. Watching someone act foolishly [in SAME SAME] is therapeutic; it helps you not to take yourself so seriously and let some absurdity into your life. Boredom can kill even the most meaningful work.”

—Lucie Kocourková, Taneční aktuality (translated from Czech)

In a world where reason is a nice façade, the bursting in of non-sense makes us face our relationship with normalcy and allows us to be receptive to unexplored paths. Somewhere between burnout and brownout, two women, exposed to each other like a palindrome in a distorting mirror, lose their direction and rekindle their inner wild animals.

Belgian choreographer Karine Ponties, leading Czech creative dancer Tereza Ondrová and theatre director Petra Tejnorová explore the boundaries of subtle humour, irony and absurdity in this award-winning dance-theatre performance. Inspired by silent film actor Buster Keaton whose trademark physical comedy was heightened by his deadpan expressions, SAME SAME moves us with their depth and sincerity despite the hilarity of the form.

Post-show dialogue on 20 January 2024, with speech to text interpretation available upon request. Please email your request to info@singaporefringe.com before 15 December 2023.

Artist Statement

Somewhere between bored out, burnout, and brownout, SAME SAME explores the contemporary issues we face at work and in our lives. The piece highlights the absurdity of repetitive gestures in both public and private spheres while playing with mirror effects to emphasise the complexity of human beings and relationships. In this piece, we also explore resemblance and dissemblance, domination and submission, superficiality and depth. In a world dominated by reason, the interruption of absurdity compels us to confront our relation with normalcy.

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Date & Duration
20 January 2024, 8pm
21 January 2024, 3pm
55 min with no intermission

Location
Esplanade Theatre Studio

Price
$35 | $28*
*Concession for students, NSF, senior citizens and PWD cardholders

Esplanade&Me Specials (7 Nov - 31 Dec 2023, limited tickets)
Black & White card members enjoy a 10% discount off standard price tickets. Log in to your Esplanade&Me member account to access the promo code.

Accessibility Features
Open captions in English for all shows

Rating
General

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View trailer here