Focus on 14 of the best artists and performances at this year's festival

Singapore Arts Festival 2010

There's an eclectic line-up for the Singapore Arts Festival 2010, with artists from three continents displaying an exciting variety of styles, influences and direction. From local classic drama to reinterpratations of traditional Thai dance, to African theatre, via Indian and British classical music, this year's artists are well worth catching. Below are some of the highlights.  

 
1. Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields with Joshua Bell (UK)
Two different concerts with works by Beethoven and Mendelssohn. The Academy is firmly established as one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras while Joshua Bell has a reputation as the foremost classical violinist of his time.

 
2. Acoustic Evening - Nitin Sawhney (UK)
Nitin Sawhney is one of today’s most influential and versatile creative talents. A highly trained flamenco guitarist and classical/ jazz pianist, Sawhney has released eight studio albums to critical acclaim.

 
3. Cargo Singapore - Rimini Protokoll (Germany)
40 audiences will travel in a converted refrigerated truck, with two real-life Singapore truck drivers driving through the unseen areas of Singapore’s economic life.  

 
4. Eleven and Twelve - Theatre du Bouffe du Nord (France)
Based on a novel by acclaimed African writer Amadou Hampaté Bâ, this is a tale of an Africa that is shaken by colonialism and torn apart by internal strife. 

 
5. Emily of Emerald hill – Margaret Chan (Singapore)
Arguably the most performed play in both Malaysia and Singapore since 1985, it is one of Singapore’s most loved creations with many aspects intrinsic to the Singapore identity.

 
6. Eonnagata - Sylvie Guillem/Robert Lepage/Russell Maliphant (France/Canada/UK) 
The story of the Chevalier d'Éon, Charles de Beaumont - diplomat, writer, swordsman. De Beaumont was also a transvestite and one of King Louis' spies who used cross-dressing in carrying out his duties.

 
7. Gatz - Elevator Repair Service (USA) 
A verbatim reading of the entire book, accomplished by the staff of a small office in the midst of their increasingly bewildering business operations.
 

8. Lady Macbeth - Theatre Moollee (Korea) 
A reinterpretation of Macbeth mixing unique artistic theatrical elements and inventive music score. A blend of Western perspectives in Shakespeare’s Macbeth with the traditional Confucian-shamanistic world view prominent in Korea.

 
9. Manganiyar Seduction - Royston Abel (India)
Over 40 Indian musicians and singers from three generations, present a highly theatrical evening of traditional Indian gypsy music.

 
10. Nijinsky Siam - Pichet Klunchen (Thailand)
The legendary dancer Nijinsky, is invoked from painting and photograph to shadow puppetry, from light and shadow to human embodiment.

 
11. On the String - Joyce Koh Bee Tuan & Khiew Huey Chian (Singapore) 
This multi-disciplinary collaboration between a composer and installation artist creates an immersive environment. Seated within the titanium string installation, the audiences aural environment is activated through the choreographed dance movements that "excite" the strings.

 
12. Red Demon (Akaoni) - Makhampom Theatre Group (Thailand)
A contemporary Thai folk dance-drama (Likay), re-imagined through multi-country collaboration.

13. Those Who Can’t, Teach - The Necessary Stage (Singapore)
The classic play has been updated to a contemporary Singapore classroom.

 
14. Wind Shadows - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (Taiwan)

 Choreographic powerhouse Lin Hwai-Min has created a contemporary dance work that makes shadows come alive.  

For more information, including dates, times, locations, and tickets, go to www.singaporeartsfest.com.