Arts Fest! Let's Begin!

Oh finally I could devote attention to the events at Singapore Arts Festival. Joy! My friends have flown in to stay for two weeks, running loose all over town, and bugging me to the max to give the events some love. Yes, yes, of course! I've seen the festival calendar and have more or less decided the ones I want to catch, but haven't gotten around to buying tickets or registering. But that's what friends are for. They've arbitrarily booked me for certain shows. Hurrah! So it was a fun scramble to figure out what doesn't clash. Missed out a couple of earlier shows, but it seemed like I didn't exactly miss that much since many had dates for repeat performances or opening this week.

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'They Only Come At Night: Pandemic' by Slung Low Theatre Company

When the friends and I were skyping about Arts Fest and its shows, this one tickled our funny bone to the max. British theatre company Slung Low's 'They Only Come At Night: Pandemic'. It was as hilarious as it sounded. With the setting at Old School, it's so apt for experiential theatre. But we didn't expect such a large group. We thought it would be kept to a max of 50 or so. Put me in a group, and I tend to wander off. I didn't even have a chance to let my imagination run wild. We kept giggling at the 'wrong' parts. Vampires! Muahahahaha. Absolutely embarrassing we were. Scare level- ZERO. We were mostly shrieking from laughter. So corny.  Those headphones spelt bad news. They played screams on cue, lame like canned laughter.

'Tzlota' by Ka'et Ensemble

Pleasantly surprised to find out that 'Tzlota' by Ka'et Ensemble was a free performance. Registration was needed though. I'm growing very fond of Israeli choreographers nowadays. There's a certain magnetism and raw sizzling energy about their works. 'Tzlota' is conceptualized by Tel Aviv choreographer Ronen Izhaki. Set to prayer chants and swaying movements of devout Jews deep in prayer, five Orthodox men who aren't full-time dancers (they've got day jobs!) create a powerfully moving and evocative work. I was completely enthralled.

'Hotel - Hotel Maids' by Ciudades Paralelas

Not exactly a natural choice of venue, but absolutely apt across five rooms at Hotel Ibis Novena was Ciudades Paralelas' 'Hotel - Hotel Maids'. Created by Argentinian Lola Arias, this can be done anywhere in the world, and there's not much difference. It was a tad eerie. You know, those 'invisible beings' who clean up your room and re-arrange my teddy bears into the most whimsical positions at different corners of the room? So much to be said about hotel maids, their stories and work. Audiences are invited to participate and look at a hotel room from various perspectives. I like this one quite a lot. All my traveling has been made pleasant by the housekeeping department and the respective individuals assigned to my room. These 'hotel maids' are awesome.

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I looked at my calendar for the next two weeks and grinned. Many more shows lined up. Lots of friends to catch up with. Can't wait. There's a certain sort of glee about filling up the evenings this way. Honestly, the heat isn't unbearable in the nights. It's pretty okay so far. Heat over rain in the evenings please, thankyou Weather Gods.