By D.Y.

A trek up Singapore’s landmark hill reexamines the boundaries of realised history and collective memory.

Situated in the backyard of Singapore’s Central Business District, Fort Canning Park is perhaps one of Singapore’s most iconic green spaces for both recreational activities as well as large-scale cultural events. Yet, most might overlook the depth of local stories living along its green pastures. Thus, aligning with the theme of SNF 2026: Myths and Legends, immersive theatre company Sightlines Entertainment aims to bridge this gap in its newest venture: The Lost Legacy of Fort Canning: The Forbidden Hill – a collaboration with local heritage specialist, The Urbanist.

Built on the convention of promenade theatre, Lost Legacy exists as an ‘immersive nocturnal trail’ through various stations within Fort Canning, referred to here by its original, pre-colonial name: Bukit Lerangan – The Forbidden Hill. Soundtracked to music by Jing Ng and brought to life by an ensemble of Malay dancers (Choreographer Md Al-Hafiz Hosni alongside movement artists Nur Afif Nesuan, Lyn Hanis Rezuan, Muhd Sa’ed B A Fattah and Anna Natassha Musa), Lost Legacy invites audiences to embark on an audio-immersive journey not merely as a casual park-goer but as an active participant in the reconstruction of history and myths surrounding the hill. The trail begins at the intersection of two stations: SMU Connexion and the Foot of the Hill, where audiences are welcomed to scan a QR code before plugging in their own audio devices to listen in to an unnamed narrator. Then, after a series of technical calibrations, a mysterious figure (Zulfiqar Izzudin) dressed in traditional royal garment appears almost serendipitously, leading the trail with a gentle smile and broad, sweeping gestures before beginning our ascent. What ensues is a trek through the central area of Fort Canning with stops at notable landmarks like the Fort Canning Green and the Keramat Iskandar Shah – a cenotaph honouring the last of the five kings of Singapore. 

As a whole, it is no surprise that Lost Legacy’s strongest moments are in its movement-centric scenes choreographed by Hafiz. Standout moments include an early station at the Green, where our guide breaks out into energetic dance to tell the story of Kala – a formidable God and its mythic ties to the hill. Then, at the corner of our eyes, a procession begins across the background of the green with dancers flowing through the greenery. Here, the green’s vast, picturesque space is used beautifully, framing a living postcard created before our very eyes. Questions raised by the presence of a mysterious, gold armband feel earned, piquing the interest of history buffs and the less-acquainted equally. Later, as we are leaving the Keramat, we are treated to a similar procession movement up-close before enjoying a Nusantura-inspired dance behind Fort Canning Centre in the direction of Pancur Larangan – The Forbidden Spring. Using silk cloths, the performers float up and down the steps facing the back of the Centre, carrying a profound sense of elegance while evoking images of the Orang Bunian – People of the Invisible. In this way, the dancers’ movements go beyond their individual bodies, acting as vessels for mythic storytelling in order to share a common vitality; thereby allowing the legends of Bukit Lerangan to come alive.

Yet, reflecting on the entire programme, these moments of performance feel only like a glimpse into what could have been. With a rather short run-time of 50 minutes, Lost Legacy lacks the breadth for audiences to properly explore outside of the central area surrounding the green. Contrary to the unseen stories and sights visitors might expect, audiences are instead led around the usual sights while being posed with an extensive line of questioning about ownership and time. Though the narrator invites the audience to expect questions from the hill (as it has done for a long time), the production does little to address these questions in-depth. On the other hand, this might also be a relief to those looking to dip their toes into local heritage while enjoying the embellishments of performance to what essentially feels like a run-of-the-mill heritage tour. 

Nonetheless, one has to commend the creative collaboration between choreographer Hafiz and Sound designer, Jing Ng. As the beating heart of the experience, Jing Ng’s sound design feels adaptive: ambient, dissonant and primal in movement transitions yet thumping and upbeat in the livelier performance sequences. To match this, Hafiz’s choreography brings a welcomed energy that is equally attuned to the peaks and troughs of the narration. Most importantly, in a narrative centred around the unseen people that make up the myths of Bukit Lerangan, Hafiz resists sensationalism; choosing instead to prioritise the stories of his environment with a gentleness that is rooted in profound respect. 

In that sense, while Lost Legacy exists almost as simply as a walk in the park, its fleeting moments of performance offer a peek into what outdoor-immersive theatre can achieve in terms of storytelling. In particular, with the rich history of Bukit Lerangan, there is a profound, irreplaceable resonance in having both artefact and myth delivered to audiences on-site, anchoring their presence to the location and its history in equal part. As such, as much as Lost Legacy reminds us of the distinction between truth and reality, it also highlights an exercise in sitting with the discomfort of unanswered questions, serving as a launchpad for individual discovery. Therefore, in a time where Singapore continues to reexamine the usage of its limited land, Lost Legacy holds up a poignant reminder of why history and culture are not only learned in classrooms but felt, touched and lived-in – all in the backyard of our city.

The Lost Legacy of Fort Canning: The Forbidden Hill runs on 27-29 August, and 3-5 September at Fort Canning Hill. Tickets available here