Silver Arts 2017: Here are some of Singapore's most talented seniors
The Silver Arts festival will be returning from 1 to 24 September 2017, offering a slew of activities such as film screenings, concerts, theatre performances, workshops, talks and exhibitions.
With nearly 70 veterans and senior citizens taking part in the event’s sixth edition, which is presented by the National Arts Council (NAC), the organisers have put together a total of 38 programmes happening across 20 venues and targeting 42,000 attendees.
While most of these programmes are free for kids, parents and grandparents to enjoy together, the ticketed programmes are affordably priced from $3 for films to $12 for concerts and theatre productions.
Many of the highlights for this year’s Silver Arts festival involve some of Singapore’s most talented senior citizens, such as 74-year-old Chinese opera artiste Oon Ah Chiam who will be performing for the programme “Songs of Guidance”. The veteran has spent 60 years on the Chinese opera stage since being sent to join the troupe by her family when she was a young girl.
Oon’s performance, put together by Toy Factory Productions and directed by her son Goh Boon Teck, will feature classical Hokkien tunes surrounding the themes of filial piety, family and morality.
“It has been many, many years in my mind to create something or to work together with my mum. [She is a] very youthful and energetic woman who had inspired me throughout my life. I grew up with her story, her songs, her opera theatres, which are full of colour. All these songs, if you put them together, are basically telling you to be good,” said Goh during a media preview on Tuesday (1 August).
Cultural Medallion recipient Nadiputra, who has been involved in the local arts scene since the 1960s, will be performing in “Syair Biola” (Songs from the Violin) in a performance inspired by his earlier musical called “Lorong Buangkok”, a tribute to Singapore’s last kampung village.
Besides being a notable playwright, Nadiputra, who is known for his thought-provoking dramas exploring social criticism and religious issues, also became the president for the first Malay children’s drama group called Teater Nadi back in 1985.
In “Syair Biola”, look out for performances of nostalgic tunes made popular by P Ramlee, Matt Monroe, Harry Belafonte and Teresa Teng.
“The story revolves around religion, mixed marriages between Chinese and Malay, because through religion we can develop harmony, understanding one’s religion… it’s a sample of multi-racial living.”
The Straydogs is one of Singapore’s pioneering blues band. Formed in 1966, the six-piece band has come a long way since jamming at a friend’s house in Marine Parade’s Jago Close and performing their first gig at a birthday party.
After celebrating their 50th anniversary last year, drummer James Tan, 71, and bassist Lim Kiang, 67, told Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore that they don’t see themselves retiring from music anytime soon.
They’re also happy to be performing at this year’s Silver Arts as part of the Rocking Good Times concert alongside other veteran bands Pest Infested and The Trailers. Tan jokingly added, “Back when I had hair and teeth, I wasn’t recognised. Now that I have none, I am.”
NAC has also commissioned two new short films for this year’s Silver Arts festival that showcase acting talents by local senior citizens.
Entitled “Happy To See You” and “Rayqal”, which are directed by Yee Chang Kang and Sufyan Sam’an respectively, the former explores a reunion between two long-lost friends while the latter explores the reconciliation of a grandson and a grandfather through their shared passion for music.
Here are the list of events to look out for at Silver Arts 2017, which takes place from 1 to 24 September (admissions to the ticketed events are available for purchase via APACtix from Friday, 4 August):
Double Bill: No Parking On Odd Days & The Coffin Is Too Big For The Hole by Nine Years Theatre
When: 9 Sept (7.30pm); 10 Sept (11am, 3pm)
Where: Our Tampines Hub
Price: $12 ($8 for senior citizens)
Syair Biola (Songs From The Violin)
When: 16 Sept (8pm); 17 Sept (3pm, 8pm)
Where: Our Tampines Hub
Price: From $10 to $12 ($8 for senior citizens)
Songs of Guidance by Toy Factory Productions
When: 22 Sept (2.30pm, 8pm)
Where: Victoria Theatre
Price: From $10 to $12 ($8 for senior citizens)
Arts in Eldercare Seminar 2017
When: 6 Sept (9am to 4.30pm)
Where: Our Tampines Hub
Singapore Silver Shorts at Silver Films
When: (1 Sept, 9 Sept, 12 sept, 16 Sept, 23 Sept, 24 Sept)
Where: Various Golden Village theatres
Price: $6 ($3 for senior citizens). Tickets available from 17 August
Silver Arts Exhibition
When: 7 to 24 Sept
Where: National Library Building, The Plaza
WeCare Arts Exhibition
When: 3 to 14 Sept
Where: Festive Walk East, Our Tampines Hub
Arts on the Move: Music and Theatre
When: Every weekend in September
Where: Our Tampines Hub, National Library Building
Open Homes @ Silver Arts (Arts on the Move: Music and Theatre)
When: Thursdays to Saturdays from 14 Sept
Where: Joo Chiat, Bukit Panjang, Clementi
Arts on the Move: Workshops & Talks
When: Every Saturdays and Sundays from 9 Sept
Where: National Library Building, Toa Payoh Library, Tampines Regional Library, and library@chinatown
Price: Free (Registration required)
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