12–21 March
Esplanade Theatre
Immerse your senses in a world of music in this year’s Mosaic Music Festival, which includes the Chucho Valdes Quintet from Cuba, Karsh Kale & MIDIval Punditz from India, Singapore’s very own B-Quartet and many more acts from the United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan.
6–7 March
F1 Pit Building
Grab your bike and have some great family fun at the second OCBC Cycle Singapore. This time around, the biggest cycling event in Singapore will take place across the weekend to give cyclists of all levels a chance to take to the roads. Kids and toddlers get to pedal their own dedicated races along Marina Bay on Saturday. This will be followed the next day by a 20km community ride, 40km Challenge, 50km Super Challenge and the Criterium event for competitive riders.
www.ocbc.cyclesingapore.com.sg
4 March–10 April
DBS Arts Centre
The Singapore Repertory Theatre’s The Little Company is back with the adventures of the lovable Bear and Chicken. This time, Bear and Chicken’s fear of going to a new school leads them to join the circus instead. But their dreams of becoming a clown, acrobat and lion tamer don’t turn out as they expect. This charming tale of discovery illustrates that not all lessons in life are learnt in a classroom and how fears can be blown out of proportion.
www.sistic.com.sg
4–7 March
Esplanade Theatre
After its sold-out run in 2009, Singapore’s undisputed queen of comedy Kumar returns with Stripped Bare & Standing Up – a no holds barred show in which he exposes the naked truth of what it means to be a drag queen. Nothing is sacred as Kumar takes on the subjects of race, language and religion – from his crush on a teacher, wearing his first dress, buying his first pair of size-11 Manolo Blahnik stilettos or his army stint. Be prepared for a rollicking session with Singapore’s loudest, proudest diva.
www.sistic.com.sg
3–19 March
Alliance Française Theatre
Ollie and the Slurge is a modern-day fable about bullying, the environment and standing up for one’s beliefs. Young Ollie is bullied in school for his appearance and his ideas on caring for the environment. Ollie’s father is bullied by his boss because times are hard. The boss is bullied by his wife because she wants more money. How do they change this? With original live music and wonderful live-action puppets, Ollie and the Slurge is a fun family musical with a conscience.
Hone your inner triathlete in this multi-level race designed to suit every level of fitness and skill. This unique race series comprises an aquathlon and duathlon leading up to a triathlon event on 2 May. Open to anyone aged eight years old and above, the three-race series welcomes beginners, athletes and professionals and promises friendly and healthy fun for everyone.
28 February: Aquathlon
14 March : Duathlon
2 May : Triathlon
www.singaporesprintseries.com
19–20 February
Esplanade Theatre
The classic tale of war between the sexes takes on an urban spin in this modern comedic retelling of the love-hate relationship. As the male and female protagonists engage in a ‘war’ on the battlefield of love, who will succumb? Directed by eminent Hong Kong director Edward Lam, this play also features Taiwanese idol Ariel Lin, multi-faceted Taiwanese actor David Wang, and renowned Hong Kong music producer Denise Ho. Performed in Mandarin with English subtitles.
www.esplanade.com
19–20 February
F1 Pit Building
This year’s Chingay will showcase a dazzling vision of Asia with the theme, The Soaring City. ‘Flying horses’ will kickstart the festivities and the first ever
firecracker dragon display will join traditional dragon and lion dances, while well-loved tales such as Butterfly Lover, Puteri Gunung Ledang and Indralogam will be weaved into the parade for a rich multi-ethnic festival.
26–28 February
Iluma Shopping Centre
From 3D animation and videography to photography, the showcase from Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s fresh batch of Multimedia & Animation diploma graduates has it all. Discover what the young new media creatives have to offer at this wide-ranging display of student potential.
www.ict.np.edu.sg/showdown2010
6–7 February
Changi Exhibition Centre
Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, the Singapore Airshow, is back and ready to entertain when the six-day trade show opens to the public for a weekend. Apart from the latest in fighter jets, the Singapore Airshow will unveil – for the first time – the Green Pavilion, which will showcase groundbreaking ideas in aviation that tackle the challenges of climate change. Aviation enthusiasts and novices alike will be enthralled by masterful aerial acrobatics, fairground attractions, food, shopping and carnival fun. Located at the sprawling purpose-built Changi Exhibition Centre, visitors can also get a panoramic view of Singapore’s eastern seaboard.
www.singaporeairshow.com
www.sistic.com.sg
30 January
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Taiwanese pop princess A*Mei presents a darker and edgier side in her first world tour named after her Puyuma name, Gulilai Amit. Be prepared for a visual and aural feast as she entertains with crowd favourites such as Released, Sisters, Bad Boy and more.
29 January–3 February
Esplanade Theatre
Dubbed by The New York Times as the “world’s most popular opera” and regarded as the culmination of Giacomo Puccini’s compositional maturity, La Bohème features some of Italian opera’s favourite arias.
The Singapore Lyric Opera’s take on the passionate love affair between Mimi and Rodolfo comprises an Asian cast of opera greats such as Nancy Yuen, Kota Murakami, Simon Kyung Lee and Martin Ng. Performed in Italian with English and Mandarin subtitles.
21–24 January
Esplanade Theatre
Who says ballet is for girls? Men in Tutus is a hilarious all-male comedy ballet by New York’s Les Ballets Grandiva that combines classical ballet and contemporary dance with tongue-in-cheek humour. Prissy? Prim? Hardly. This performance is a rollicking take of male foibles, mishaps and hissy fits.
14 January
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Formed in 1987 and now well established with their own subversive punk-rock flavour, American rock trio Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass guitar, vocals) and the Tre Cool (drums, percussion) will perform in Singapore for the first time.
The Grammy Award-winning band, widely credited to have revived mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States, has won three Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Album for its ‘rock opera’ American Idiot and Record of the Year for Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
13–24 January
Various venues
Back for the sixth time, the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival takes on a provocative edge as it explores the relationship between Art and The Law. Organised and curated by The Necessary Stage, the Festival will push the boundaries of culture, lives and society. Festival highlights include _______Can Change, by The Necessary Stage – a play that touches on race, religion and sex – as well as Our Own B612, by Taiwanese pop duo katncandix2. Photographer Phillip Toledano will also present the Asian premiere of America the Gift Shop, an installation project that asks: if American foreign policy had a gift shop, what would it sell? Also premiering are these groundbreaking works: an installation piece by Burmese artist Htein Lin and a contemporary dance-theatre production by Debris Company from Slovakia.
31 December
Esplanade Waterfront and Marina Bay
Welcome 2010 at the annual Marina Bay Singapore Countdown! Start the New Year in a fest of music and performances. This year, pen wishes and resolutions on Wishing Spheres at the Wishing Stations located around the island and watch your spheres be a part of a visual arts installation on Marina Bay – as it is transformed into a bay of hope and light. Join in the countdown to 2010 with a choreographed fireworks display timed to specially commissioned music that reflects on the experiences of the year past.
5–15 November
The Necessary Stage Black Box
Sofaman, a collaboration between local theatre company The Necessary Stage and The KnAM Theatre from Russia explores the value or curse of staying still in world of transience. A Singaporean woman and a Russian man fall in love. Where do they settle down? Two lonely women form a deep bond. What happens when tragedy strikes? A dying man and his confidant exchange stories of love and sacrifice. Performed in English, Russian and Mandarin with English subtitles.
25 October
Royal Thai Embassy
Indulge in some flea market shopping and do your bit for charity at the Red Cross International Bazaar. This year’s bazaar will feature stalls and performances from Africa, Brazil, Cambodia, Greece, Kuwait, Spain and Japan to give an international and festive air. All proceeds go to the Singapore Red Cross’ local humanitarian services.
22 November
Esplanade Recital Studio
Join prolific composer and sitar performer Samuel Dass as he presents Indian classical melodies and some of his own creations, accompanied by Nawaz Mirajkar on tabla. Proclaimed to be one of the torchbearers of Indian classical music, and acclaimed in his home country of Malaysia as one of the most dedicated masters of the ancient art form of sitar-playing, Dass started playing the sitar when he was just seven and has won seven gold medals at the International Performing Arts Championships in Los Angeles. He is the only Malaysian to perform at the prestigious Palladium in Hollywood in 2006.
3–6 December
Esplanade Theatre
Get a side-splitting dose of local flavour as Sebastian Tan, the Broadway Beng (Singlish for ‘gangster’) takes on Singapore’s iconic landmark the liu lian (‘durian’, a nickname for The Esplanade) regaling audiences with his various misadventures as a Hokkien-speaking Broadway-singing boy from Ang Swa (‘Redhill’). The fourth installment of this popular Hokkien-English musical comedy cabaret is directed by local film-maker Royston Tan.
19 December
Esplanade Theatre
Ring in the holidays with Jeremy Monteiro, Singapore’s King of Swing, at his annual Christmas concert. With at least 25 albums to his credit and with numerous successful shows in Europe this year – culminating in a ‘Singapore Swing’ concert at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival – Jeremy and his Big Band is back to tantalise local audiences in true Swing style. The show will also feature guest members from the great big bands of the world including members of the Count Basie Band, Woody Herman Big Band and the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra.
17 October
Little India
Be captivated by the colour and sparkle that characterises the Hindu Festival of Lights at the annual Deepavali Light-up held at Little India.
12 December
Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall
Have a trip around the world in this colourful multi-ethnic themed concert by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the School of the Arts. Be charmed by Korean, Japanese, Malay, Indian and even Romanian folk songs performed on traditional Chinese instruments and brought to life by the elegant dances choreographed specially for this performance.
22 December–14 April 2010
National Museum of Singapore
Co-presented with National Museum of Korea and the Australian Museum, this highly anticipated exhibition will feature over 230 Egyptian objects and major works dating back to 4,500 BCE. The artifacts on show will highlight changing Egyptian funerary customs, political intrigues, and the extraordinary skills of artists and craftsmen of the day, whose use of materials reveal the royal and artistic fashions of the period.
2–4 October
Various Venues
Paying tribute to the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival celebrations, when the moon is believed to be at its most beautiful,
Moonfest brings to life Chinese folk traditions and art forms with its range of ticketed and free performances and activities. Get a taste of Cantonese opera performed by China’s foremost opera artists at the Esplanade theatre as they tell The Story of Dongpo and Chaoyun and The Four Legendary Beauties.
9–29 November
Esplanade Theatre
Join jazz sensation Laura Fygi in her stage debut in the rollicking Victor/Victoria, a musical about a woman, pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman, set in 1930s Paris. Joined by a cast of over 30 renowned celebrities and professional dancers from Australia, Cuba, China, Hong Kong, France, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, this Asian premiere promises to be a theatrical treat.
7–8 November
The Padang
Singapore Cricket Club’s (SCC’s) annual International Sevens Rugby tournament is back. The 62nd annual staging of this premier sporting event will feature clubs from South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Fiji and Asia. Apart from the gripping action on the field, the world’s premier rugby tournament also promises lots of family fun in the form of bouncy castles, rock bands, food stalls and other festivities, including all-day happy hour beer prices, all guaranteed to provide as much fun off the field as on it.
3–12 October
Various venues
The Singapore Sun Festival returns for its third year with a line up of exclusive events across ten days. Featuring musical greats Al Jarreau and Elvis Costello, opera sensation Angela Gheorghiu, the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and tenor Marius Manea, the Singapore Sun Festival will also engage with literature workshops by Nobel laureate and Nigerian playwright, poet, novelist and critic, Wole Soyinka. The festival will also offer a range of movie screenings, culinary tastings, a yoga conference and a chance to spend an afternoon with modern-day guru Deepak Chopra.
2–31 October (Fridays and Saturdays only)
Night Safari
Revel in spine-tingling thrills at the Night Safari’s annual horror fest where a host of Halloween pageantry awaits. Be welcomed by denizens of the dead as they haunt the dark corners of the Night Safari, ready to flaunt their creepy smiles for a photo. Take a ride on the infamous Train of Terror as it travels through the haunted rainforest, filled with the calls of the animals – as well as ghoulish surprises. The brave of heart can take a walk through the walking trails for a closer look at the creatures of the night.
September 25–27
Marina Bay Street Circuit
Gear up for more action in the second FORMULA 1™ Singapore Grand Prix which took the world by storm in its inaugural run in 2008 as more than 110 million television viewers worldwide watched the race against the backdrop of a Singapore skyline. 2009 promises to be no less exciting. To complement the race, the Singapore GP season will begin September 18 and will offer a slew of race-themed events, from parties to retail and dining experiences, that will rev the senses in preparation for FORMULA 1™ action.
September 12–13
West Coast Park Grand Lawn
Let your spirits soar in this fun-filled fest that will take you back to your childhood. The annual NTUC Income Kite Festival will feature kite-making competitions, kite stunts and kite fights. More than just a toy, kites symbolise cultural diversity, scientific achievement and military strategy. They also embody grace, strength, optimism and hope. As part of Singapore’s kampung culture, kites also offer a point to explore the nation’s heritage, history and culture together.
September 11–13
Esplanade
A dynamic mix of Korean martial arts and physical comedy, JUMP is a hyperkinetic 90-minute live stage performance of amazing stunts, tumbles and of course – jumps. The non-verbal action-packed, family-friendly production act created by
Yegam Theatre Company has been called “Jackie Chan meets Charlie Chaplin”. The storyline tells of a Korean family well-versed in martial arts, with a grandfather who enjoys challenging the rest of the family in martial arts showdowns. This promises to be a hilarious and rambunctious act that features lots of great comedy, martial arts, acrobatic and gymnastic moves.
August 29–31
Various Venues
Baybeats is back! This local indie staple promises even more aural delights in 2009
with a line-up of more than 30 local and international performances. Opening the three-day fest is The Lilac Saints, The Analog Girl, Taiwanese electronica band The Shine & Shine & Shine & Shine, and Leeson. Other acts include The Karl Maka, Indonesian band Agrikulture and American synth-pop act Joy Electric. Closing in grand style on Sunday will be Australian band Jebediah, UK rockers Transition and Elemental Gaze from Indonesia.
August 29–30
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Lee Foundation Theatre
Bhaskar’s Arts Academy is taking dance to a whole new level by injecting yoga concepts into its latest production. Choreographed by Cultural Medallion winner Santha Bhaskar and dance and yoga exponent Neewin Hershall, the dance production CHAKRA will explore the concept of energy centres in the practice of yoga. Featuring eight of its principal dancers, this vibrant high-energy production is conceived as a journey of dance and music towards enlightenment. To further their quest to illumination, patrons will be able to redeem three Hatha Yoga sessions at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society with their tickets.
Contact +65 63366537 for details.
August 14
The Padang
Bask in the Olympic spirit as the world counts down to the inaugural Youth Games here in Singapore (14–26 Aug 2010). August 14, 8.10pm sharp, will mark the unveiling of the official one-year countdown clock. This historic milestone for the Olympic movement will be accompanied by a spectacular display of lights, sound and action, as well as a slew of performances. A host of fun, carnival-style activities will keep you engaged in the sporting celebrations with Singapore’s youth talents, Olympians, sports personalities and local celebrities.
August 10
Fort Canning Park
Catch industrial rock gods the Nine Inch Nails (NIN) in their first ever visit to Singapore – and what could be their last world tour before an indefinite hiatus. Driven by the creative vision of front man Trent Reznor – hailed as the ‘Godfather’ of Industrial Rock – NIN has sold more than 20 million albums and been nominated for 12 Grammy awards, winning two. The band’s first album, Pretty Hate Machine, has gone triple platinum. Topping that was the second album, The Downward Spiral, which sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.
August 9
Marina Bay
Partake in the celebration of Singapore’s 44th National Day by the marina or in front of the telly. This year, the national ceremony will again be held atop the Marina Bay Float against the backdrop of the CBD. This year’s parade and National day show will be integrated into one event and viewers can expect more spectacular lighting effects.
August 1–2
University Cultural Centre Theatre
The Hindu epic, the Ramayana, comes on stage through the varied representions of Asian dance in this international collaboration between Maya Dance Theatre, National Culture and Heritage Academy of Malaysia, I Nyoman Budi Artha (Bali), Ajith Baskaren Dass (Malaysia) and lighting designer, Naomi Shoko Matsumoto Japan). The performance will showcase classical Indian dance, the Bharatha Natyam as well as the Balinese and Wayang Wong.
July 17–19
Fort Canning Park
Enjoy a night of dance in the great outdoors at this year’s Ballet Under the Stars 2009 – the 15th edition of Singapore Dance Theatre’s highly popular event. This year’s highlights include Pop!, a 20-minute ballet pastiche set to popular tunes from Annie Lennox, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and They Might Be Giants. This year’s line-up also includes Stand Up for Singapore, a piece originally commissioned for National Day 2007, Double Contrasts, Goh Choo San’s widely toured piece, and excerpts from Raymonda and Sleeping Beauty.
July 10–11
Various venues
Partake in a dazzling weekend of outdoor theatrical Festival, spectacular the Bras will feature Bersama a spectacular and vocals. The festival will dazzle the night as it culminates with a pyrotechnics show by Pan.Optikum from Germany.
June 7 – November 22
Singapore Pavilion, Venice
Berlin-based Singaporean artist Ming Wong represents the Singapore Pavilion at the 53rd Venice Biennale in his solo show, ‘Life of Imitation’. He revisits Singapore’s golden age cinema in the 50s and 60s – which has been little known to the world – and presents in three multi-screen video installations, the legacy of Singapore’s socio-political and multi-ethnic transitions before independence in 1965. The Singapore Pavilion is located at Palazzo Michiel del Brusá within a 14th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal near the Rialto.
July 7–8
Victoria Concert Hall
Hear heaven on earth as the Little Singers of Monaco, or Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco, bring to life Renaissance music. Under the royal patronage of H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco, the choir of 31 comes from a century-old tradition of European choirs. This widely acclaimed choir appears in aid of the NAFA Student Relief Fund.
Every Saturday from
July 4–25
Siloso Beach, Sentosa
Enjoy sun, sand, sea and some jazz at Jazz by the Beach at Sentosa. Every Saturday in July, soak in the tempo and enjoy a double bill of jazz musicians such as Joanna Dong, Roberto & Friends, Smokey & the Bandits, ChromaZone, Xian Yang Group, Acapella Jazz, Denise Mininfield and Big Band Sounds.
