It’s not an exaggeration to say that the annual Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) has come a long way.
Having revealed five highlights last December, the performing arts festival has now unveiled its full line-up, officially announcing over 60 programmes across three short weeks when it returns this May 15-31 for its 43rd edition.
So apart from bigwig acts like Revisor by Kidd Pivot and the four new works from local theatre companies such as Toy Factory Productions and The Finger Players, check out aerial dance troupe Wired Aerial Theatre when they make their Southeast Asian debut here with a showstopping outdoor production, As The World Tipped. Combining gymnastics and bungee-assisted dance, be mesmerised by the stunning display of movements while grasping the important message of sustainability through the showcase.
No Longer Gagok: Room 5 (Credit: Arts House Limited)
Other intriguing pieces to catch include No Longer Gagok: Room 5, a contemporary twist on the traditional Korean art form conceived by Korean gagok vocalist Park Minhee; as well as Source x Audible Lands, where homegrown experimental band The Observatory collaborates with talented musicians from Singapore’s migrant worker community in the film and music performance. Plus, Queen Blood, a playfully brash exploration of femininity conceptualised by French choreographer Ousmane Sy is one to watch too.
But in an effort to keep things accessible to the masses, SIFA has also joined forces with Canadian art collective Daily tous les jours, to put on Musical Swings at Cathay Green. There, the public can have a go on actual swings (that make music), all while having a fresh look at how urban spaces are transformed.
SIFA 2020 returns May 15-31 at various venues in Singapore. More information available here.
