Located in the heart of the city, in the midst of the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, Singapore Management University has long been a landmark of the city centre, thronging with student life or sometimes, just a convenient location for people to meet and gather. And this August and September, SMU is once again lighting up the campus with a series of performances with their annual SMU Arts Fest.
This year, the festival takes on the theme of PLAY, as they celebrate the joy, spontaneity, creativity, and boundless possibilities that playfulness brings to both art and life. Featuring a whimsical blend of cross-disciplinary collaborations and cleverly reimagined nostalgic elements, this year’s festival promises a fun and meaningful experience in the art of play for the audience. Collaborating with the Singapore Night Festival for the second year in a row, alongside other educational institutions such as Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic, expect to enjoy everything from a festival hub on the SMU Green, complete with live performances from students, alongside other innovative experiences. Involving about 470 students, programmes include performances from groups such as SMU Voix and SMU Samba Masala, the latter of whom recently returned from performing at the largest samba festival in the world in Coburg, Germany.
Highlights of the festival include:
In collaboration with Singapore Night Festival, PLAY BACK is a playful take on iconic eras from the 1960s to the 2000s. Journey down memory lane and experience captivating music, dance, and visual spectacle that are inspired and reminiscent of schoolyard games, Singapore heartlands and entertainment scenes.
Start your journey by taking a personality quiz to determine your PLAY Persona, before heading outdoors to the SMU Green to discover FREE PLAY, an enchanting outdoor installation inspired by the iconic dragon playground. Grab a plastic panel corresponding to your Persona, and write down how you play, and hang it up on the dragon to form one of its ‘scales’ before admiring the diverse ways in which so many people play – be sure to snap a selfie against the reflective, lighted up structure as well in this captivating outdoor space.
Playing on 6th and 7th September at the SMU Arts and Culture Centre, join theatremakers Jo Tan and Edward Choy with their interactive experience Dungeons & Distractions. Inspired by the collaborative mayhem of Dungeons & Dragons, get ready for an immersive experience complete with fight choreography and live theatre, as the production puts you at the heart of the action, using actors and stunt performers as avatars to confront monsters, uncover mysteries, and turn dreamers into heroes.
Playing on 13th September at the SOTA Concert Hall, SCREEN PLAY sees the SMU’s orchestra and choir join forces for an unforgettable concert experience. Taking inspiration from the world’s favourite movies, from Jurassic Park to the ABBA songs featured in Mamma Mia! and more, lose yourself in the spellbinding allure of cinematic music scores harmonised with stunning visuals, all on a magnificent screen over a single magical evening.
Finally, on 16th September, head down to the SMU Connexion Event Square and hear from startup founders such as Xiao Ming from SGAG and Irene Ang from Fly Entertainment, both of whom have transformed their love for the arts into thriving businesses, where they prove that the arts isn’t just about play – it can pay off too, if you learn how to turn passion into a livelihood when you spot the right opportunities.
SMU Arts Fest 2024: PLAY runs from 30th August to 13th September 2024. Tickets and full programme available here
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