SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
February 2024
Little SIFA: made for Children and Families at the Singapore Festival of the Arts 2024
A larger-than-life ballerina. An old-style carnival fair with fantastical machines. A story created in real time, with paper puppets, furry puppets, book pages, and songs. For one weekend in May, these will add colour to the Dhoby Ghaut area as part of Little SIFA – a brand new facet of the Singapore International Festival of the Arts dreamed up specially for little ones.
Curated as “a space for young hearts and curious minds”, Little SIFA hopes to introduce young audiences to the world of the performing arts. “It’s a newly conceived platform for the festival to announce that it is for young people, and little people, and for the people that surround them – their families,” said Festival Director Natalie Hennedige at the SIFA launch party yesterday.
Bring it on, we say. But why so little, Little SIFA? There is just one ticketed performance, and one free event. We hope to see more next year, but in the meantime, here’s how you can enjoy Little SIFA as a family.
It happens from 24 to 26 May over the last weekend of May (which is also the first weekend of the mid-year school holidays). Make it a big day out for the family: watch the performance at the SOTA Drama Theatre, then stroll across to Cathay Green for the Fair, or vice versa, if you are watching a later performance.
(See also: FEBRUARY 2024: EAT, PLAY, SHOP & MORE FOR FAMILIES IN SINGAPORE THIS MONTH)
Little SIFA Programmes
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster
What happens when a monster who is terrible at being terrible meets the world’s most scaredy-cat kid? See Mo Willems’ books come to life with hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs in this charming and whimsical production by Manual Cinema (US). You can choose to view the action on the big screen, or watch the artists as they create the show in real time! Best for ages three and up. Do note that the 50-minute show has some loud sounds, flashing lights, and furry monster puppets!
When 24 & 25 May 2024 (Fri & Sat), 4pm & 7pm | 26 May 2024 (Sun), 4pm
Where SOTA Drama Theatre
Tickets $58, $38. Family Bundle of 4: Cat 1: $188 (U.P: $232); Cat 2: $128 (U.P $152)
** FREE! ** The Dancer’s Fair by Antigua i Barbuda (CAT)
Step into a world of fantasy and wonder as you engage with a five-metre-tall ballerina and see her mimic your dance movements. Play on familiar, yet different old-school fairground attractions, like a “Ferris Wheel” for children that is made with found objects like discarded seats and even toilet bowls, and a “Little Carousel” whose mechanisms you can trigger – as soon as you figure out how to!
When 24 to 26 May 2024 (Fri to Sun), 4pm – 9pm
Where Cathay Green
(See also: 8 FREE WAYS TO ENGAGE KIDS IN ARTS AT HOME – SINGAPORE STYLE!)
Open Call: Be a Beach Buddy
Ever wanted to be part of an international award-winning production? The Esplanade Theatre stage will be transformed into an artificial beach for live opera-performance Sun & Sea, which is looking for volunteer beach buddies to be part of the scene. While everyone can join in, they are also looking specifically for:
- 1 pregnant woman
- Children of different ages (from newborns to 15 years old)
- People of age 60/70 and older
All you have to do is hang out at this indoor beach and do whatever you’d do at a beach – play games, build sandcastles, picnic, read a book, or even take a nap. No prior acting, singing, or performance experience is required, but you will be taught a simple tune to join the opera at certain times. All volunteers will receive a small token of remuneration to cover transport costs, and will have to bring their own beach outfit and items (e.g. books, picnic mats, umbrella etc.). Families are welcome too!
Sign up here by 15 March 2024, 10am. Do note that you will have to commit to an online audition, a dress rehearsals, and four hours of performance.
SIFA 2024
Ticketing for SIFA is open. Get 15% Early Bird Savings from now until 31 March 2024, 11.59pm on sifa.sg.
All images: Singapore Festival of the Arts
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