Bibliophiles, budding writers and appreciators of the beauty of words, this one’s for you. There’s a new festival in town and it’s meant to let literary aficionados and casual readers alike live out their #BuySingLit dreams while being surrounded by fellow lovers of the word.
Textures, a three-day event held from Mar 9-11 at The Arts House, will see Singapore’s literary community coalesce into a celebration that’s both thought provoking and fun at the same time. There’ll be workshops, live performances, readings, panel discussions, exhibitions, a bazaar and more to keep you verily occupied throughout the festival. Here are some of the highlights you won’t want to miss.
Trade Secrets
This rare, behind-the-scenes look at the world of book publishing sees a publisher, a book buyer and a literary agent come together for a discussion on, well, the secrets of the trade. Find out the inner workings of this legacy industry and how it’s like in this day and age.
Sunday, Mar 11 | 3pm–4pm
Living Room
Free
The Page on Stage
Witness some of Singaporean literature’s most memorable stories and characters from the 1990s come to life on stage as two actors play out four sketches inspired by the amazing and heartwarming works of Gopal Baratham, Colin Cheong, Philip Jeyaretnam and Simon Tay.
Friday, Mar 9 | 9.30pm–10.45pm
Saturday, Mar 10 | 2pm–3.15pm & 9.30pm–10.45pm
Sunday, Mar 11 | 2pm–3.15pm & 8.30pm–9.45pm
Back of Chamber
$20; tickets via bit.ly/thepageonstage
Herstory
Singapore’s female literary greats Catherine Lim, Meira Chand and Suchen Christine Lim will be sharing the spotlight in this discussion on the triumphs—and setbacks—they faced over the decades to get to where they are today.
Saturday, Mar 10 | 5.30pm–7pm
Living Room
Free
Making Comics! – Working with Others in the Sequential Arts
Ever dreamed of being the next Sonny Liew? Whether you’re a writer or an artist (or both), sign up for this intimate workshop where you’ll engage in a practical exercise on collaborating with other creatives to produce your very own comic. And don’t worry if you’re an amatuer—no prior experience is needed.
Sunday, Mar 11 | 2pm–5pm
Council Room
Free with registration on Peatix
Read me like an open book
Get a taste of some of the most exciting Chinese titles published recently in Singapore as the authors themselves share about the inspirations and challenges behind their creative process. You might just pick up a writing tip or two, as well as the secret to finding your own writer’s voice. This session will be held in Mandarin.
Sunday, Mar 11 | 11am–1.30pm
Chamber
Free
Proletariat Poetry Factory
Poetry improvisation specialists the Proletariat Poetry Factory is making an appearance at the festival to do what they do best—producing personalised poems and flash fiction for the masses on the spot, inspired by a word of your choosing.
Friday, Mar 9 | 6pm–10pm
Saturday, Mar 10 | 6pm–10pm
Outdoor
Free
Note for Note
Musicians and poets partner up to present this fusion of disciplines, where original works are presented on stage in a tête-à-tête that will have you appreciate their intertwined natural harmonies while peeling at layers of meaning. This first of three editions in 2018 will feature poets Marc Nair, Charlene Shepherdson and Theophilus Kwek paired with musicians Joses Ho, Daniel Tan and Yvonne Teo.
Friday, Mar 9 | 8pm–9pm
Chamber
$10; tickets via bit.ly/notefornote
Poetry as Social Commentary or Fleeting Memory
Two veteran writers in the Malay literary scene, Eunos Asah and Maarof Salleh, will be conducting a recital and forum, where they will engage in discussions about the state of their beloved artform and ask themselves the hard questions—what social roles are they filling in the scene, are they meeting such expectations, and are such questions even relevant today? This session will be held in Malay.
Saturday, Mar 10 | 11am–12.30pm
Chamber
Free
#Buysinglit Bazaar
After getting inspired at the festival, head on over to this lively bazaar where the best in local publishing will be offered in one convenient location. Expect both established and independent auteurs to be featured in this showcase that’s expected to be bigger and better than last year’s edition.
Friday, Mar 9 | 6pm–9pm
Saturday, Mar 10 | 11am–8pm
Sunday, Mar 11 | 11am–6pm
Blue Room
Free
Hear Stories! Tell Stories!
Let your little ones learn about the transboundary artform that is storytelling through an interactive workshop-performance where their peers, alongside masterful storytellers, weave together a tale that will light up your imaginations. This session will be conducted in Tamil.
Saturday, Mar 10 | 10am–12pm
PlayDen
Free
Spend a meaningful weekend delving into the local literary scene at Textures, happening from Mar 9-11 at The Arts House. Find out more about the festival and register for the many free activities here.
