Arts In Your Neighbourhood

Media Invite

This is an insanely trendy programme conceived by the National Arts Council [NAC] and I love this initiative! It isn't just paintings on easels displayed in the heart of your neighbourhood but dances, music, plays and art installations. To top it all up, they are FREE!

For three exciting weeks, Arts In Your Neighbourhood will bring performing arts to your doorstep from 10 to 27 March 2016 in various locations. As not all programs are created for families and young children, I've picked out these few recommended programs that the little ones may enjoy more than the rest.

I brought Ewan and Faye to The Rainbow Toymaker at Toa Payoh Safra on Sunday. Did they enjoy it? Yes they did! Not so much for Faye because she is still too little to understand mimes. Or rather, she was frightened by the actors because it is rather abnormal for a toddler to watch people without voices. This is a theatrical play filled with strong facial emotions without words. You get a 30 minute performance using only gestures and movements. Anger is portrayed fiercely on the face and sadness would make your heart ache; sentences were portrayed to the audience with large word cards. The casts at Cake Theatrical Productions are very convincing, versatile, passionate and very good with children.

The set design is visually engaging and I love those larger-than-life props like the gigantic scissors, tin robots and five-stones. It brought me back to my childhood and definitely a visual treat for the kids. I was especially attracted to how the dark gloomy cloud turned himself into a colourful rainbow at the end of the show!

As shared by Natalie Hennedige, Artistic Director of Cake Theatrical Productions, "The whole idea is about igniting that innate sense of play and imagination that belongs to every child. We want to bring the audience through a journey where they may learn something about themselves, reflected through the characters in the play."

There weren't many characters. Just three and yet, they could command a hundred pair of unwavering eyes peeled to the set during the performance. Towards the end of the show, children were invited for an interactive session with the casts! Everyone were eager to be chosen; hands raised high in the air with "Me! Me! Me!". Well, Ewan didn't get the chance to be picked but the floor was opened to all children to mingle with the actors and take photos with the props.

Ewan was especially excited to be a tin robot! He went straight for it and donned the head on. What he did after totally caught us by surprise. Instead of pretend-playing at the set, he went around the lobby at Toa Payoh Safra entertaining the other parents as if he was one of the actors! This little darling made us smile from inside. What a dramatic fella and I wouldn't mind if he chose theatre as a career. He would be realising the dream I never fulfilled.

Halfway through all the laughter and play with the actors, he went straight up to one of the cast and said, "I saw you at Gardens By The Bay yesterday right?" Oh wow! That blown the actor away! "Oh Yes! I was at Gardens By The Bay last evening! I remember you!", he responded.

We were watching a musical under the stars at Gardens By The Bay the previous evening by the same production company and Mr Tree at The Rainbow Toymaker is the Prince in Cinderella! What coincidence and how awesome it was that they met again.

The Rainbow Toymaker is staging its second show this Sunday, 20 March 2016 at Ang Mo Kio Central Stage with two time slots - 5pm and 7pm. If you think your children will enjoy this visually exciting friction with a slew of wacky characters with big personalities, do not forget to put it on your family schedule!

Don't forget to check out The Rainbow Toymaker [20 Mar 16], Arts Imprints Around The Neighbourhood [20 Mar 16] where there will be craft workshops, storytelling and musical performance trail and Stories Under The Stars  [26 Mar 16] by Act 3 Theatric. Check out details above.

To receive this exclusive and beautifully designed Arts In Your Neighbourhood tote bag with AYN giveaways including fun educational sheets for the young ones, simply follow these steps:

1. Like them on Facebook or Follow Arts For All in Instagram
2. Arrive at any event venue and show a NAC staff you've Liked or Followed Arts For All
3. Receive your tote bag, while stocks last

Arts In Your Neighbourhood will be back again in November 2016. It will be an exciting series of programmes for the young and old.

AYN LINKS:

Facebook | Instagram | Web | Download March 2016 Schedule.

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