Singapore’s Malay Festival of the Arts, Pesta Raya, is back for its 15th edition from Aug 4-7, with a lineup of theatrical, dance, and musical performances by artists from the Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Here are five things you should check out:
Catch the 2016 staging of well-loved play
Rosnah, a monodrama by The Necessary Stage’s resident playwright and cultural medallion recipient Haresh Sharma, traces the journey of a young Singapore Malay-Muslim in London, who faces the challenge of balancing tradition and religion in a foreign land. In this 2016 staging directed by Alvin Tan, actress Siti Khalijah Zainal takes on the titular role. Performed in Malay with English subtitles. Aug 4-7, 8pm on Thu & Fri, 3pm and 8pm on Sat & Sun, Theatre Studio, Esplanade. $30
Listen to the Message from a Medicine Man
This mesmerizing multimedia performance by Japanese sound designer and music director Yasuhiro Morinaga is inspired by the soundscape of Indonesia and features a blend of electronic music, string and piano instrumentation, spoken word, and atmospheric effects. Aug 5, 8pm, Recital Studio, Esplanade. $28
Message from a Medicine Man. Credit: Dyan S Indriyani
Learn about traditional Malay dressing styles
If you’ve always been fascinated by traditional Malay fashion, drop by for the talk by Malay cultural activist and poet Suhaimi Nasrain. He’ll give you an overview on the evolution of style over the decades and explain the social norms and beliefs behind the diverse styles and textiles used. Aug 6, 3.30pm, library@esplanade. Free
Craft your own wau (Malay kite)
Try your hand at making your very own traditional moon kite, the wau, with colorful and intricate Malay prints. The best part? You get to bring it home and show off your artistic skills. Aug 6-7, 11am-6pm, PIP’s PLAYbox, Esplanade. Free
Watch a Dikir Barat Battle
This 1990s version of a Malay freestyle rap battle sees four karut (creative lead) backed by 20-man choral groups, waging it out in a battle of wit and rhyme accompanied with choreography and percussion music. The oldest dikir barat group in Singapore, Dendang Mutiara, will also be making an appearance. Aug 7, 7.30pm & 8.45pm, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. Free
More information here.
