The Singapore Writers Festival, organised by National Arts Council, returns for its 22nd edition from Nov 1 to 10 with the theme “A Language of Our Own”, exploring language in its many forms—verbal, physical and visual. A diverse mix of writers from Singapore and beyond will be at the festival, including Roxane Gay, Marlon James, Pico Iyer, Meira Chand, Amanda Lee Koe and Cyril Wong. Events at this year’s festival run the gamut from stage performances to workshops; here are seven you shouldn’t miss.
The ‘d’ Monologues: A Lecture-Performance by Kaite O’Reilly
A UK-based playwright and poet, Kaite O’Reilly is also known for her work as a disability activist—she spent 15 years interviewing people with disabilities to create The ‘d’ Monologues, which will be launched at Singapore Writers Festival 2019. In this lecture-performance, O’Reilly will challenge preconceptions associated with disabilities, focusing on the experiences of people living with disabilities in Singapore. Nov 2, 2pm, The Arts House, $15
Perang Spontan: A Dikir Barat X Rap Battle
Tradition meets contemporary culture in this poetic showdown. In the course of an hour, performers will find common ground between hip hop and the timeless musical form of dikir barat as they face off in a spontaneous, freestyle format known as gelanggang. Nov 3, 8pm, Victoria Theatre, $30
Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (To Everyone)
In writing Brown, Yemen-born Canadian journalist Kamal Al-Solaylee spent two years traveling through 10 countries on four continents, including the United States, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. In this lecture, he will discuss multiculturalism, immigration and colorism—hot-button issues in the world we live in today. Nov 9, 12:30pm, National Gallery Singapore, $20
Meet acclaimed young adult fiction author Nicola Yoon at this screening of The Sun is Also a Star, a film adapted from her book of the same name. This work by the Jamaican-American (who also wrote New York Times bestseller Everything, Everything) charts a budding romance between a quantum physics student and a medical student while the former’s family is threatened with deportation. Nov 9, 5pm, National Gallery Singapore, $15
You Say ‘Inclusive’, I Say ‘Subversive’
A workshop led by Kaite O’Reilly, You Say ‘Inclusive’, I Say ‘Subversive’ will delve into inclusivity and representation through plays, poetry and fiction written by people with disabilities. You’ll have your perspectives altered, and you’ll consider new ways of telling stories and crafting characters—and even discover a new form of language. Nov 3, 1pm, National Gallery Singapore, $30
Speaking Of, Speaking With: Writing About Art and Visual Culture in Southeast Asia
Helmed by Singaporeans Kathleen Ditzig, a researcher and curator, and Samuel Lee, a poet, this workshop will guide writers who want to write about contemporary art. You’ll choose an artwork or ongoing art exhibition in Singapore to cover, and writers of all levels are welcome. Nov 9, 1:30pm, National Gallery Singapore, $30
Breaking Silence and Finding Your Voice
If you have a story to tell, this is the workshop for you. Poet, performer and educator Jacob Sam-La Rose has a reputation for leading up-and-coming poets in the right direction, and he’ll help you find a way to express yourself in a way that is uniquely yours. Nov 10, 11am, National Gallery Singapore, $10
Tickets are available through Sistic. For more information, head to the Singapore Writers Festival website and follow the festival’s pages on Facebook and Instagram.
