m1sff15 sponsors report
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Page 2 of 52
CONTENTS
Executive Summary
[ Pg 4 ]
The Fringe in Numbers [Pg 11]
Performance & Exhibition Details
[ Pg 12]
Sponsors, Partners & Supporters
[ Pg 18 ]
Publicity, Marketing & Outreach
[ Pg 22 ]
Reviews & Audience Feedback
[ Pg 41 ]
Fringe Team 2015
[ Pg 49 ]
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2016
[ Pg 50 ]
Page 3 of 52
“The festival explored its theme of Art & Loss in a variety of ways,
with some works opting for the tender and humorous, and other
skirting the heavier edge of grief. While some works were more
naturalistic and accessible and others more abstract and visceral, the
personality of the festival — intimate, risk-taking and at once incisive
and playful — came through.”
- The Straits Times Life!
White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour (Iran)
Photo credit: Pink Elephant Labs
Page 4 of 52
The Duchamp Syndrome by Por Piedad Teatro | El Trapo Teatro | The Play Company (Mexico | USA)
Photo credit: Lia Rueda
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Page 5 of 52
The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival has clearly made its mark in the Singapore cultural landscape with its
11th edition curated around the theme of Art and Loss. Not only has the appointment of a new Artistic
Director and Festival Manager created a great deal of fresh attention and conversation, we also
managed to further strengthen the quality of our programming, as well as continue growing audience
numbers and engagement.
The 28 ticketed performances in 2015 reached out to 3,608 audiences filling 86% of the seats. While we
were not able to compete with our own record 93% house in 2014, which was largely due to especially
low ticket prices to celebrate the 10th anniversary, this is an increase compared to 81% in Fringe ’13.
The 2015 Festival reached a total of 14,989 people as compared to 13,934 in 2014, and it is also
noteworthy that we received a record number of applications for participation this year from both local
and international artists. 19 of the 28 performances were also sold out for the following productions:
With/Out by Loo Zihan - All 5 performances sold out
The Duchamp Syndrome by Por Piedad Teatro | El Trapo Teatro | The Play Company - All 2
performances sold out
The Malay Man and His Chinese Father by ponggurl - All 2 performances sold out
Mosaic by Take Off Productions - All 3 performances sold out
Minister for Culture, Community & Youth Mr Lawrence Wong as our Guest of Honour for the Opening Reception.
Photo credit: dawn chua / www.echoroar.com
Page 6 of 52
White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour – 3 performances out of 4 sold out
untitled women by The Necessary Stage - All 4 performances sold out
92% of our audience agree that ticket prices are reasonable or very reasonable, which is in line with our
aim of keeping the Festival challenging yet accessible to audiences old and new. We want audiences to
take a chance on edgier works, and having free exhibitions and wallet-friendly ticket prices also
encouraged 29% of our audience to attend 3 or more events at the Festival. Standard tickets were
priced at $22 ($17.60 for M1 staff and customers who enjoy an exclusive 20% discount) and concession
tickets at $19 for students, NSFs and senior citizens.
The Fringe also saw an increase in attendance from Polytechnic and Junior College groups, and we
were very encouraged by their active participation in the various programmes, including a very healthy
turn out in post-show discussions with the artists.
The Fringe continued with its usual blend of experimental and hybrid arts disciplines from countries
such as Australia, Canada, France, Iran, Japan, Mexico and USA, all sparking very rich and stimulating
post-show discussions, and a range of very supportive reviews. It is evident from the reviews, audience
feedback forms and post-show discussions that the works in the Fringe challenged and stimulated
imaginations and stirred meaningful discussions and debates around the theme of Art & Loss, and also
around the nature of art-making. We are proud of the range of distinctly unique forms and styles of
work we presented in the Fringe, and the range of different responses to the theme.
How Loneliness Goes by Nguan (Singapore)
Photo credit: Nguan
Page 7 of 52
Despite the potentially sombre nature of the theme, we managed to attract and curate works and
programmes that were as colourful, playful and humorous as they were contemplative and soul
searching.
New and improved partnerships also gave new life and talking points to the Fringe; namely our
partnership with Centre 42, which gave birth to our most talked about programme With/Out by local
artist Loo Zihan. Centre 42 also played host to the two sold-out Fringe Talks that focused on the arts
practices of the Fringe artists, both local and international.
An emphasis in the Fringe this year was on Singaporean work from very strong local artists with a
significant following. We favoured works that were reworkings and re-imaginings as we believe that it is
a good time to mark a maturing of the independent and experimental art-making scene in Singapore.
We also believed it was time to allow our local artists to show more of their muscle and craft, by
showing how they could take their artistic development further, achieve higher production quality, and
to show that Singaporean audiences were ready to prioritise local work even if it had already been seen
before, in some form. In fact, it is all the local works that were entirely sold out.
We had three festival highlights: With/Out by Singaporean artist Loo Zihan, a groundbreaking
reimagining of Completely With/Out Character (1999), a piece about the late Paddy Chew by The
Necessary Stage; the haunting How Loneliness Goes by Singaporean photographer Nguan; and the world
premiere of The Duchamp Syndrome from a collaboration between Mexican-based Por Piedad Teatro and
El Trapo Teatro with New York’s The Play Company. With/Out and The Duchamp Syndrome were both
With/Out by Loo Zihan (Singapore)
Photo credit: Olivier Henry, Milk Photographie
Page 8 of 52
completely sold out and created a great deal of buzz and conversation in the festival and the press, and
Nguan’s exhibition attracted 4,645 visitors over the 12-day Festival.
The three installations at the National Museum of Singapore with their themes of home, family,
community and memories clearly struck a chord with people. In all, 5,435 visitors interacted with the
knitted installation The Wedding Guest’s Tale, took away photographs from Fade… in exchange for
donations to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, and chatted about their concepts of home over cups
of tea at Where the heart is.
Media coverage of the Festival remained robust, including preview and review articles from Official
Magazine Time Out, The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, The Business Times and TODAY, to name a
few. In addition, numerous reviews were posted on popular arts websites and blogs, including Centre
42’s Citizen Reviewers, and interviews on 938 Live, FM96.3 Smilewave and Lush 99.5.
A new initiative to increase audience engagement and understanding processes involved holding Artist
Ask Me Anything (AMA) posts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/m1sff), where the 39 questions
reached a total of 7,952 people. Together with consistent social marketing efforts, we increased the
number of Facebook likes to the Fringe page by 54% and audience engagement was multiplied many
times over. Nuffnang also continued their support into the 7th year as the Official Blog Community,
enhancing the Festival’s viral marketing efforts via engagement through social media including
Facebook, Twitter and our dedicated website, designed by local creative communications outfit
fFurious.
Fade… by Tan Ngiap Heng (Singapore)
Photo credit: The Necessary Stage
Page 9 of 52
The Festival also continued to brand itself via outdoor sites such as street banners displayed
prominently along North Bridge Road and Brash Basah Road in partnership with the Arts and Heritage
District and Singapore Tourism Board. Clear Channel also continued as the Official Outdoor media to
advertise the Festival via eye-catching ads at more than 50 bus stop shelters and taxi stands islandwide.
All of this would not be possible without the support of M1 in our 11th year and all our sponsors and
partners, including Festival venues Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, National Museum of Singapore,
ION Art Gallery at ION Orchard, Centre 42 and Drama Centre Black Box. The continued support of
international embassies and cultural institutes such as the Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur, Embassy
of Mexico in Singapore and Institut Français, as well as new artist sponsors from Jalisco, Quebec and
Picardie enabled us to present exciting international works as well.
The Festival continued to grow and develop with your support in 2015 with the thought-provoking
theme of Art and Loss, and we would not be able to achieve this growth and nurturing of Fringe
audiences without your faith in the Fringe.
Enclosed in this report are all the key information and statistics gathered by our team. We welcome
your feedback on this year’s instalment of the Fringe, and the continued conversation between us, to
keep the Fringe a dynamic and vital part of our Singapore arts scene.
Here’s to working with you again in Fringe 2016: Art and the Animal.
Kind regards,
Sean Tobin
Artistic Director
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
Page 10 of 52
“The work was well curated for the theme Art and Loss. And it was
not an easy theme to find work for but I think Sean was able to put
together such a satisfying array of art exploring this difficult theme.”
- Tan Ngiap Heng, Artist
Fade… by Tan Ngiap Heng (Singapore) Photo credit: The Necessary Stage
Page 11 of 52
12 DAYS
8 COUNTRIES
68 ARTISTS
10 VENUES
18 EVENTS
86% OVERALL HOUSE
14,989 PEOPLE REACHED
$2,553,982.69 PR VALUE
THE FRINGE IN NUMBERS
Page 12 of 52
“Incredibly brave to programme young groups/artists. Refreshing to focus
on restagings.”
- Chen Yingxuan, Director, Take Off Productions
Mosaic by Take Off Productions (Singapore)
Photo credit: Crispian Chan
PERFORMANCE & EXHIBITION DETAILS
Page 13 of 52
Performance & Exhibition Details
TITLE DATES NO. OF
SHOWS VENUE
TOTAL
CAPACITY
TOTAL
ATT.
%TAGE
HOUSE
Fringe Highlights
With/Out by Loo Zihan (Singapore)
14 – 18 Jan 5 Black Box & Rehearsal
Studio, Centre 42 250 250 100.00%
The Duchamp Syndrome by Por Piedad Teatro | El Trapo Teatro | The Play Company (Mexico | USA)
14 – 15 Jan 2 Gallery Theatre,
National Museum of Singapore
342 342 100.00%
How Loneliness Goes by Nguan (Singapore)
14 – 25 Jan - ION Art - 4,645 -
Live Fringe
Terra Incognita by Pat Toh (Singapore)
14 – 15 Jan 2 Esplanade Theatre
Studio 360 245 68.06%
Loss-Layers by A.lter S.essio (France | Japan)
16 – 17 Jan 2 Esplanade Theatre
Studio 360 213 59.17%
Grand Singe (Great Ape) by Nicolas Cantin (Canada)
22 – 23 Jan 2 Esplanade Theatre
Studio 360 217 60.28%
Under Pressure—Temporary Title by Groupe ACM (France)
24 – 25 Jan 2 Esplanade Theatre
Studio 360 210 58.33%
Page 14 of 52
TITLE DATES NO. OF
SHOWS VENUE
TOTAL
CAPACITY
TOTAL
ATT.
%TAGE
HOUSE
White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour (Iran)
21 – 24 Jan 4 Esplanade Recital Studio 907 898 99.01%
The Malay Man and His Chinese Father by ponggurl (Singapore)
17 – 18 Jan 2 Gallery Theatre,
National Museum of Singapore
240 240 100.00%
The Malay Man and His Chinese Father by ponggurl (Singapore)
17 Jan 1 free
durational
Gallery Theatre, National Museum of
Singapore - 108 -
Mosaic by Take Off Productions (Singapore)
22 – 24 Jan 3 Gallery Theatre,
National Museum of Singapore
513 513 100.00%
untitled women by The Necessary Stage (Singapore)
23 – 25 Jan 4 Drama Centre Black Box 480 480 100.00%
Fringe Gallery
Fade… by Tan Ngiap Heng (Singapore)
14 – 25 Jan - The Platform, Level 2, National Museum of
Singapore - 3,447 -
Where the heart is by Asha Bee Abraham (Australia | Singapore)
14 – 25 Jan - The Concourse, Level 1,
National Museum of Singapore
- 813 -
The Wedding Guest’s Tale by Shelly Quick (Canada | Singapore)
14 – 25 Jan - The Concourse, Level 1,
National Museum of Singapore
- 1,175 -
Page 15 of 52
TITLE DATES NO. OF
SHOWS VENUE
TOTAL
CAPACITY
TOTAL
ATT.
%TAGE
HOUSE
Mambo Night for a King by Jason Wee (Singapore)
14 Jan onwards
- handsignsfortheking.com - 1,013 -
Fringe Activities
Devising Masterclass by The Necessary Stage (Singapore)
17 – 18 Jan - Esplanade Rehearsal
Studio - 20 -
Fringe Talk: Reimagining Singapore Theatre
22 Nov - Black Box, Centre 42 - 80 -
Fringe Talk: The Presence and Power of a Playwright
25 Jan - Black Box, Centre 42 - 80 -
“For audiences tired of the mainstream, the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival promises to provide
audiences with alternative works that provoke and challenge.”
- 联合早报 Lianhe Zaobao
Page 16 of 52
Loss-Layers by A.lter S.essio (France | Japan) Photo credit: Nicolas Laverroux
80 % OF OUR AUDIENCES ARE SINGAPOREANS
83% OF OUR AUDIENCES ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 19 TO 40
61% OF OUR AUDIENCES FOR 2015 ARE NEW TO THE FRINGE FESTIVAL
92% OF OUR AUDIENCES FEEL THAT THE TICKET PRICES FOR FRINGE 2015 ARE VERY REASONABLE OR REASONABLE
Page 17 of 52
“There was an appreciation and care for the development of the work. Really appreciated all the chats, feedback, and coming into my rehearsal process. That presence and dialogue shows an interest in not just a product but a respect for the value of process in theatre making.”
- Pat Toh, Artist
Terra Incognita by Pat Toh (Singapore) Photo credit: Ramadhani
Page 18 of 52
How Loneliness Goes by Nguan (Singapore) Photo credit: Nguan
SPONSORS, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
Page 19 of 52
Special Thanks
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival
Sponsors | Partners | Supporters
M1
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
National Museum of Singapore
ION Art
ION Orchard
Arts Fund
Japan Foundation
Institut Français
National Youth Council
Fridae
First Printers
Barossa
Pixel Creations
fFurious
Official Magazine - Time Out Singapore
Official Outdoor Media - Clear Channel
Official Blog Community - Nuffnang
Official Hotel - Hotel Grand Pacific
Total no. of Sponsors, Partners and Supporters 28
No. of Repeat Sponsors 18
Page 20 of 52
Secretaría de Cultura - Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco
Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco
Bienestar
Canada Council for the Arts
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Conseil régional de Picardie
Take Off Productions
Young Changemakers
Centre 42
Q Framing
Mambo Night for a King by Jason Wee (Singapore) Photo credit: Jason Wee
No. of New Sponsors 10
Page 21 of 52
“Tobin says: I want the Fringe to keep being friendly and
approachable, to be fiercely experimental and innovative and fresh
and not obliged to follow the mainstream – but neither should it be
alienating. It should reach out as much as possible and I want to
keep that alive.”
- The Straits Times Life!
Where the heart is by Asha Bee Abraham (Australia | Singapore) Photo credit: Asha Bee Abraham
Page 22 of 52
Under Pressure—Temporary Title by Groupe ACM (France) Photo credit: Vincianne Verguethen
PUBLICITY, MARKETING & OUTREACH
Page 23 of 52
Publicity & Marketing
COLLATERAL |
AVENUE DESCRIPTION
Programme Booklets 30,000 copies | A4 size | 38 pages
30,000 booklets were distributed to all SISTIC authorised agents, community libraries, M1 stores, secondary schools, international schools, tertiary institutions, arts schools, arts venues, embassies and cultural organisations, cafes, restaurants, clubs, and entertainment and retail outlets around Singapore.
Programme Leaflets for all productions and exhibitions 10,000 copies | A5 size | 4 – 8 pages
10,000 copies of in-house designed and printed programme leaflets about each work and artist were distributed at all performances and exhibitions.
M1 The Festival was advertised on a DL flyer inserted into all M1 customers' bill mail-outs inform them of the Festival and their exclusive discounts.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
White Rabbit Red Rabbit was used as the cover image and all M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 events at the Esplanade were included in the What’s On (January – March 2015 issue), disseminated at SISTIC counters, lifestyle café chains, hotels, arts venues and Esplanade from December 2014.
National Museum of Singapore
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 was included in the Quarterly Calendar for January – March 2015 and distributed at the Museum, libraries and arts venues.
Time Out Singapore 2 half-page advertisements for the November and December 2014 issues, and a full-page advertisement in January 2015’s issue were included in Time Out to advertise the Festival.
ENCORE (The European Season)
Events from the Festival that hailed from Europe (specifically Loss-Layers by A.lter S.essio (France | Japan) and Under Pressure—Temporary Title by Groupe ACM (France) were listed in the ENCORE! events listings in their programme booklet, disseminated free islandwide from January to February 2015.
SISTIC
3 full-page SISTIC Run-on-Print advertisements were featured in the November and December 2014 and January 2015 SISTIC Entertainment Guides, available at all authorised SISTIC agents islandwide. 2 full-page advertorial interview with Sean Tobin in SISTIC Entertainment Guide for January 2015, to promote the Festival to customers.
Art Stage Singapore 2015 Art Stage Singapore included listings of How Lonelines Goes by Nguan in their guide, disseminated at numerous venues in the lead up to their event in January 2015.
OUTDOOR AND ON-SITE
M1 Copies of the Festival booklets were distributed to customers.
Page 24 of 52
COLLATERAL |
AVENUE DESCRIPTION
Clear Channel 54 posters advertising M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 were displayed at bus stops and taxi stands around the island from December 2014 to January 2015.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Banners, floor stickers, directional signages, and posterboards of various sizes were displayed at venues in and around the Esplanade, such as the Box Office, Bus stop, Concourse and Tunnel.
National Museum of Singapore
2 ad panels were displayed at the National Museum of Singapore from November 2014 to January 2015.
ION Orchard 2 A1-sized posters about How Loneliness Goes by Nguan were displayed at concierge desks at the mall, and the e-poster was displayed on information screens.
Centre 42 Various A2-sized posters advertising the various Fringe events at Centre 42 were displayed at their venue.
Drama Centre An ad panel for untitled women by The Necessary Stage was displayed at the ground floor foyer.
Arts & Heritage District 11 street banners were displayed along North Bridge Road.
Singapore Tourism Board 35 street banners were displayed along Bras Basah Road.
ONLINE
Festival website
A dedicated Festival website was created at www.singaporefringe.com.
The website, designed by fFurious, was also mobile-enabled and customised for both desktop, tablet and mobile-phone viewing.
Festival Facebook page
The dedicated Facebook page was frequently updated with previews, rehearsal photos and videos, with individual event pages set up. In addition, we started Artist Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, which gave insights to the artists’ processes, inspirations and personalities.
Festival Twitter account The dedicated Twitter account was frequently updated with regular event updates, blurbs, discussions and recommendations, as well as uploads of preview and review articles.
Electronic Direct Mailers (EDMs)
14 unique EDMs were sent to a total mailing list of 10,000 (comprising databases of local and international partners of The Necessary Stage, SISTIC, embassies, sponsors, partners and venues, schools, The Necessary Stage's Volunteer E-Group and the Arts Community E-Group).
Genre-specific EDMs were sent to targeted groups such as educators and students.
Page 25 of 52
COLLATERAL |
AVENUE DESCRIPTION
M1
A web banner advertising the Festival was included on M1’s dedicated website (www.m1.com.sg) from November 2014 to January 2015. Facebook posts on the Festival and exclusive discounts for M1 customers were advertised.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
A web banner advertising the Festival was included on Esplanade's dedicated website (www.esplanade.com) from November 2014 to January 2015.
4 EDMs were also sent to selected demographics of Esplanade's mailing list. The Studios also promoted Terra Incognita by Pat Toh on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/esplanadethestudios)
National Museum of Singapore
The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 was listed on the Museum’s dedicated website (www.nationalmuseum.sg) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/National.Museum.of.Singapore). 1 EDM was also sent to their database.
Centre 42
Centre 42’s dedicated website (www.centre42.sg) featured 2 Homepage banners advertising the Fringe talks and listed all Fringe events held at Centre 42. Their support for With/Out, which was Loo Zihan’s creation as part of their Basement Workshop programme, included documentation and video interviews with the artist and the process. Centre 42 also supported Fringe Talk: Reimagining Singapore Theatre as part of The Living Room series, and video recordings of both the Fringe Talks were also filmed as part of the documentation process, and will be made available on their website and Facebook page. 3 unique EDMs, each featuring a Fringe event at Centre 42, were also sent to their database. In addition, Centre 42’s Citizen Reviewers attended the Fringe performances and posted their reviews on the website (http://centre42.sg/category/cr-theatrereviews).
Drama Centre untitled women by The Necessary Stage was included in the online calendar.
ION Orchard How Loneliness Goes by Nguan was included on the website for ION Art and 1 EDM was sent to their database.
Official Blog Community - Nuffnang
Network wide cost-per-click campaign provided box ads of the Festival to blogs signed up to Nuffnang (4,000 clicks) for January 2015.
The Festival’s main visual was used as the skin for Nuffnang’s official Twitter page in January 20145 Shoutouts and mentions of the Festival were done on Nuffnang's official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
2 feature blog posts on the Festival were included on the Nuffnang site.
Page 26 of 52
COLLATERAL |
AVENUE DESCRIPTION
1 dedicated EDM advertising the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival and 1 mentioning the Fringe in a community EDM were sent out to registered Nuffnang bloggers islandwide.
Official Magazine – Time Out Singapore
Previews and event listings on Time Out's website from December 2014 to January 2015, and 3 EDMs were sent to their database.
Fridae
2 EDMs were sent out to Fridae’s members.
Premium Homepage Banner advertisements were included on Fridae’s website over a 3-month period.
3 Run-Of-Site Banner advertisement inserts were included in Fridae's agenda listings.
3 Email Notification Banner advertisements were included in Fridae's emailers.
1 Featured Agenda advertisement button were included on Fridae's website over a 3-month period.
5 Newsletter Banner advertisements were included on Fridae.com's emailers.
SISTIC
4 dedicated EDMs were sent to SISTIC’s selected database to advertise the Fringe, along with 4 Facebook shout outs and advertising on the main website (www.sistic.com.sg) via New Release and Highlights icons. The Festival also ran a Mastercard Promo giveaway contest via SISTIC.
Broadcast Advertising
Festival video A 60-second Festival video was produced and screened from October 2014 to January 2015 at M1 shops, the Fringe website, partners' websites, and on-site plasma screens at the Esplanade and National Museum of Singapore.
Others
Media Launch of the Festival The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 staged a successful press launch at the Esplanade on 22 October 2014, which generated several press write-ups immediately after.
Opening Reception of the Festival
The official Opening Reception of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 was held at the National Museum of Singapore on 15 January 2015, and was attended by Guest of Honour Minister Lawrence Wong and various members of the media, sponsors and artists.
Page 28 of 52
Publicity & Marketing Collaterals
Time Out Advertisements
SISTIC Run-on-Print Advertisements
Page 29 of 52
Publicity & Marketing Collaterals
Arts & Heritage District Street Banners
Singapore Tourism Board Street Banners
Page 35 of 52
Publicity & Marketing Collaterals
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival TV Commercial (Screen Capture)
Page 40 of 52
With/Out by Loo Zihan (Singapore) Photo credit: Olivier Henry, Milk Photographie
“The best thing about the Fringe, as I have experienced yet again this year, is definitely the robust publicity infrastructure that has been refined over the years. You feel that your work is getting the maximum exposure and the publicity team (both at Phish and the Fringe) really believe in the work – which is very important.”
- Loo Zihan, Artist
Page 41 of 52
Under Pressure—Temporary Title by Groupe ACM (France) Photo credit: Monica Mahendran
REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Page 42 of 52
REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Fringe Highlights:
With/Out by Loo Zihan (Singapore)
Photo credit: Olivier Henry, Milk Photographie
“… With/Out is as much a faithful reconstruction of the late Chew’s 1999 monologue, Completely With/Out Character, as it is a deeply moving homage to a man who chose to do the brave and extraordinary in the face of certain death.”
- Corrie Tan, “With/Out pays a moving tribute to the late Paddy Chew”, in The Straits Times Life! [15 January 2015]
“Strong, powerful source material that was given respectful and unembellished presentation.”
- Audience member “The restaging is very sincere and had a spirit of respect/ dignity and dare I say, defiance still? I am left with a sense of yearning though, perhaps this is the experience of loss itself.”
- Audience member “… you negotiated and wrestled with this fragmented — albeit tenuously linear — experience that simultaneously hit you on two levels: The deeply moving emotion one feels towards Chew’s monologue you see and hear, and the intellectually compelling detachedness of the presentation strategy Loo used. It was a show full of warmth, it was a clinically cold show, a combination that worked brilliantly.”
- Mayo Martin, “S’pore Fringe Fest 2015: The late Paddy Chew comes to life in With/Out”, in TODAY [18 January 2015]
Fringe Highlight:
The Duchamp Syndrome by Por Piedad Teatro | El Trapo Teatro | The Play Company
(Mexico | USA)
“… in the very hands of Mexican directors Antonio Vega and Ana Graham, [The Duchamp Syndrome] is a fantastical tale that speaks of loss, hope and the American dream … at once funny, heartwarming and achingly sad. … a visual and auditory feast …”
- Nabilah Said, “The Duchamp Syndrome shrinks loneliness into a charming, bitter pill”,
in The Straits Times Life! [15 January 2015] “…an intriguing feat that pushes theatrical conventions at every turn, drifting between the real and surreal through a cast of colorful characters and unusual routines..”
- Casidhe Ng, in Centre 42’s Citizen Reviews
“I was blown away by the sheer creativity and it wasn't like anything I've ever seen before.”
- Audience member
Photo credit: Lia Rueda
Page 43 of 52
REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Fringe Highlight:
How Loneliness Goes by Nguan (Singapore)
Photo credit: The Necessary Stage
“What I remembered most: The ambiguity about being alone; pleasurable or sad/troubling; artist's eye for beauty in city’s architectural geometries.”
- Visitor “Nguan’s discerning, sensitive eye is a given, with a seeming knack for being in the right place at the right time to capture overlooked moments. But there’s more at work here. The power of his images, we suspect, is equally due to his approach of framing his moments of isolation in that distinct bright palette of his. Enveloped in daytime, there’s a stark contrast and an uneasy tension between what these images tell us and the mood evoked. For us, it’s this ambiguity that makes heightens the unique familiar-but-not-really quality — “ethereal” as a friend put it — of his work.”
- Mayo Martin, “S’pore Fringe Fest 2015: The visual arts exhibition round-up”
in TODAY [15 January 2015]
Live Fringe:
Terra Incognita by Pat Toh (Singapore)
“There were many things I liked about this piece, which developed from a work-in-progress presentation back in 2012 titled Homogeneous. That “butoh transformation” moment was physically top-notch. I was captivated by her extremely detailed description (and demonstration) of how, physiologically, our legs work. ”
- Mayo Martin, “S’pore Fringe Fest: Terra Incognita goes in different directions”,
in TODAY [16 January 2015]
“I loved the intensity, devotion to walking, towards our body.”
- Audience member “T oh approached walking from the conceptual, emotional and anatomical, providing many perspectives to this simple theme. While this work had many thematic threads, it got one fundamental thing right, it was honest and heartfelt storytelling.”
- Lee Mun Wai, The Muse
Photo credit: Delvin Lim
Page 44 of 52
REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Live Fringe:
Loss-Layers by A.lter S.essio (France | Japan)
“Physically, Takayama was a mind blowing repository of dance styles, shifting nimbly from fluid circular motions to accented ticks and hops that packed a punch. … Watching Loss-Layers was one of those rare times that a theatre going experience was so powerful that I left the venue shaken and out of breath.
- Lee Mun Wai, The Muse
"In transforming her body, solo performer Yum Keiko Takayama expertly transforms the space she inhabits, making Loss-Layers a compelling production."
- Audience member
“[I enjoyed] the unrelenting pace, the play of light and lines, the manipulation of body and shapes.”
- Audience member
Photo credit: Fabrice Planquette
Live Fringe:
Grand Singe (Great Ape) by Nicolas Cantin
Photo credit: Sandra Lynn Bélanger
“… a work that was rich in meaning despite its simple, comic banality. In Grand Singe, so little was done, yet so much was gained. Virtuosity was not displayed through complicated physical technique but through the performative confidence the performers exuded.”
- Lee Mun Wai, “Electrifying tension in empty space”, in The Straits Times Life! [26 January 2015]
“Clarity, minimalism, joy.”
- Audience member “Grand Singe is performed by Ellen Furey and Mathieu Campeau, both strong artists who easily command attention. Furey is the more adept performer of the two, easily swinging from fragile to manic to strong to subdued. She moves with such finesse that even the most drudging of actions – such as slapping paint on herself – is executed with enviable grace.”
- Selina Chong, “Monkey Business”, in The Flying Inkpot
Page 45 of 52
REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Live Fringe:
Under Pressure— Temporary Title by Groupe ACM (France)
“a snappy, hilarious piece of meta-theatre which peeks behind the curtain to celebrate the tedium, the coffee and the photocopying that goes into pulling a work together.”
- Lisabel Ting, “Inside look at circus of theatre”, in The Straits Times Life! [26 January 2015]
“I loved the truth behind the whole play! Excellent stuff that I can relate to and laugh at as a theatre student.”
- Audience member
“… we are given a thrilling exposé into the drama that goes on behind the stage even before the curtains have risen for the first time ... As an audience member , it's something we never get the chance to see and it's refreshing to see the inner workings of a theatre production being laid bare with no holds barred”
- Naeem Kapadia, Crystal Words
Photo credit: The Necessary Stage
Live Fringe:
White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour (Iran)
Photo credit: The Necessary Stage
“One cannot deny that White Rabbit Red Rabbit is a unique and engaging theatrical experience. It reminds us, with cheeky charm, how theatre is a tool to connect people and places - a thread that links playwright, actor and audience despite geographical or linguistic boundaries. True to the theme of this year's Fringe Festival, it also underscores a particular type of art and loss: the loss of a playwright who can never see the play he has created being performed live.”
- Naeem Kapadia, Crystal Words
“Soleimanpour is at once very far away and very present. ... Soleimanpour is a master of words, although he says that it is challenging for him to be writing in English. He manages to provoke laughter and incite fear in the audienc..”
- Isaac Lim, Centre 42’s Citizen Reviewers
“.Very glad that TNS decided to bring this experience here. A great piece of theatre!”
- Audience member
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REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Live Fringe:
The Malay Man and His Chinese Father by ponggurl (Singapore)
“There is something very powerful about a pared-down production ... When done well, it leaves the audience with layers of images and ideas that continue to linger in the mind long after the curtain call … [The Malay Man and His Chinese Father] is one such production.”
- Nabilah Said, “Ponder on father-son bond”, in The Straits Times Life! [19 January 2015]
“Abstract performance that was heart-wrenching.”
- Audience member “While our hopes of meeting the Malay Mother were not fulfilled, save for a spectre in the shadows, we were no less moved and affected. We can’t wait to see what ponggurl does next.”
- Gavin Khoo, Coconuts SG
Photo credit: Shawn Byron Danker
Live Fringe:
Mosaic by Take Off Productions (Singapore)
Photo credit: Joel Lim
“More than just a post-ironic celebration of nostalgia (especially in the orgiastic throes of SG50 frenzy), Mosaic probes deep into the heart of teenage relationships, exposing the insecurities of Singapore’s younger generation.)
- Walter Chan, Centre 42’s Citizen Reviewers
“This play’s an affirmation of Tan’s talents but my ultimate shout out has to be to its young director Chen. You do feel Mosaic as a whole and I’m very sure it’s to her credit, teasing out the little nuances in the script, getting the best out of her actors.”
- Mayo Martin, “S’pore Fringe Festival 2015: Mosaic’s pieces fit just right”,
in TODAY’s For Art’s Sake [23 January 2015]
“As a whole, Mosaic is beautiful, admirably complex and disturbing. It offers no solution to its crises, leaving viewers with a knot of angst in their chests. Yet it is also grounds for optimism. This show, created and staged exclusively by 20somethings, is evidence that young Singaporeans can make great theatre.”
- Ng Yi-Sheng, “Mosaic Marvels”, in The Straits Times Life! [24 January 2015]
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REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Live Fringe:
untitled women by The Necessary Stage (Singapore)
“As both plays unfolded, what became clear was that loss is confusing. We are often left to sort through our emotions as we cope with loss, and sometimes we can’t even be sure what’s gone. There seems no better way to close the M1Singapore Fringe Festival 2015.”
- Selina Chong, The Flying Inkpot
“Set, movement, light and sound was beautiful and natural.” - Audience member
“Charged with a flurry of powerful, raw emotions and a patchwork of m
yths and narratives within vague contexts…” - Gloria Ho, Centre 42’s Citizen Reviewers
Photo credit: Caleb Ming / SURROUND
Fringe Gallery:
Fade… by Tan Ngiap Heng (Singapore)
Photo credit: Tan Ngiap Heng
“It's magical. When you enter it, you feel like entering one's inner world!”
- Visitor “I enjoyed seeing visitors of the exhibition touched and amazed by your art and installation.”
- Visitor “I thought it was really relatable. It allows you to become part of the exhibition and bring back a piece of the exhibition, especially when … each photo has a story of its own.”
- Visitor
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REVIEWS & AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Fringe Gallery:
Where the heart is by Asha Bee Abraham (Australia | Singapore)
“Lovely, engaging, inspiring.” - Visitor
“Conversation with Asha was homely, fulfilling and insightful - simply wonderful!”
- Visitor
“So personable yet relatable. An intimate work.”
- Visitor
Photo credit: Asha Bee Abraham
Fringe Gallery:
The Wedding Guest’s Tale by Shelly Quick (Canada | Singapore)
“I love the theme and motif of the exhibition/ The execution was done well and I personally love the aesthetics.”
- Visitor
“I like how it replicates a real nest with the use of knitting. It's really creative and I like the motif and reason behind it.”
- Visitor
“I did enjoy the interactivity in the exhibition that let visitors
contribute to the overall artwork.”
- Visitor
Fringe Gallery:
Mambo Night for a King by Jason Wee (Singapore)
“Cheeky take on The Singapore Story: From Third World to First.”
- Visitor
“Amused by this very Singaporean dance interpretation of the text.”
- Visitor
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Artistic Director
Sean Tobin
The Necessary Stage –
Administrative Office
Artistic Director
Resident Playwright
General Manager
Festival Manager
Project Managers
Alvin Tan
Haresh Sharma
Melissa Lim
Jezamine Tan
Irma Suzanna Ruslan
Edlyn Ng
Joyce Tan
Volunteer & Intern Coordinator Pearlyn Wee
Production Office
Production Coordinators
Jason Ng
Josiah Yoong
Yusri Sapari
Visual Arts Coordinator Nurul Izzatul Fia Sumono
Lighting Coordinator Josiah Yoong
Fringe Production Interns Ang Kia Yee
Egan Chan
Kenneth Chia
Monica Mahendran
Muhammad Syafiq Bin Anuar
Board of Directors Tan Chong Kee
Vincent Lim
Diana Lim-Chong
Haresh Sharma
Alvin Tan
Christopher Tan
Serene Tan
Andy Yeo
The public relations for the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015 is managed by Phish Communications Pte Ltd.
FRINGE TEAM 2015
Page 50 of 52
Humankind has dwelt together with animals for thousands of years. The history of our relationship
with them is a long, rich, wonderful and sometimes shameful one. We love them, hate them, eat them,
domesticate them, destroy them, worship them, wear them, clone them and lead them to extinction, as
we live off them in affection, fascination, need and greed. They roam around our gardens, streets, our
imaginations and our nightmares. They love us, care for us, intimidate us and entertain us. They
protect us and reflect us. They also kill us. Great men like Gandhi and Lincoln highlighted the
treatment of animals as a sign of how healthy our society is.
Animals have featured in our art since cave paintings and campfire rituals. Our fear and fascination of
them is found in our sculpture, literature and our mythology. Orwell’s Animal Farm, Adam’s Watership
Down, and Ionesco’s The Rhinoceros are among the greatest literary classics. Animals feature in all sorts of
traditional and contemporary spaces, in many cultures, from martial arts to haiku, to fairytales, to
tattoos and some of the greatest pop songs.
Animals have always had this dual charm and dual challenge for me.
I love them so much I want to hold onto them, but I know that the right thing to do is to let them go
and be wild. And I often love them as much as I fear them. But, if you put the feathers and fur aside,
and I could be talking about humans.
Animals are often referenced when we want to talk about human behaviours that we prefer to distance
or disassociate ourselves with. We often conjure up the names of animals when we talk about the less
savoury, or more taboo kinds of human behaviour. I am curious about the way we refer to animals as
this ‘other’ which we secretly know is much more like us than it might be convenient or comfortable to
admit. We allegedly have more manners and intelligence, but that is not always so evident.
M1 SINGAPORE FRINGE
FESTIVAL 2016:
ART & THE ANIMAL
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It’s this love and hate. This affection and fear. This closeness and distance. This familiarity and
ignorance that I find fascinating. Animals as this ‘not us’ and this ‘other us’.
Theatre maker and thinker, Tadashi Suzuki talks of the ‘innate animal energy’ from which a strong and
healthy human culture comes from. Something that is firstly more natural than industrial, more
expressive than mechanical.
I am excited about how next year’s Fringe could bring a bit more of the wild, the natural, and the
instinctive into our physical and emotional space in the heavily built up concrete jungle that is
Singapore.
I am excited to see how your creative investigations into ‘Art and the Animal’ might invite us into a
whole bestiary of exciting new questions, games, adventures and songs.
“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
- Maya Angelou
Art and the Animal.
13 – 24 January 2016.
Get involved.
Find out more about the application process and download the application form at
www.singaporefringe.com
Page 52 of 52
THE NECESSARY STAGE
278 Marine Parade Road
#B1-02 Marine Parade Community Building
Singapore 449282
CONTACT US AT
Tel: (65) 6440 8115
Fax: (65) 6400 9002
Email: admin@necessary.org
www.necessary.org
www.singaporefringe.com
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