We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. To find out more, read our data protection and cookie policy. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Close to continue browsing.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. To find out more, read our data protection and cookie policy. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Close to continue browsing.
Esplanade Presents
23 Feb 2024, Fri, 8pm
24 Feb 2024, Sat, 3pm & 8pm
(Intermission: None)
Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade
This event is over.
This event is over.
There once was a family of four: the father vehemently denies his own infidelity; an erudite yet loquacious old mother is confined to her bed; a son grapples with the complexities of love amid academic struggles; and a wife is plagued by the three afflictions of greed, hatred and ignorance. Their lives take a dark turn when a mysterious yet alluring homeless damsel becomes their maid, personifying the malevolent forces that torment the wife’s restless soul.
Drawing inspiration from various tales in the classic anthology Liaozhai (also known as Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio), Transplant delves into the depths of human nature, where inner darkness can yield dire consequences.
Award-winning theatre veteran Oliver Chong once again takes on a multi-hyphenated role as the production’s playwright, director, and set designer. Incorporating the dexterous use of puppetry, Oliver will offer a fresh and unique lens to these classic tales. Transplant also sees a ground-breaking collaboration with legendary Singaporean Vedic metal band, RUDRA. The fusion of Vedic metal and puppetry may seem unlikely, yet it resonates profoundly in portraying a family manipulated by inner demons, a theme incidentally popular in Vedic Mythology, ultimately leading to their demise and destruction. Together with a stellar cast and the best creatives from the Singapore theatre scene, Transplant promises to be an unforgettable work.
Playwright / Director / Set Designer: Oliver Chong
Sonic Design and Live Musical Accompaniment: RUDRA
System Designer and Sound Engineer: Lee Yew Jin
Lighting Designer: Gabriel Chan
Costume Designer: Loo An Ni
Puppet Designer: Daniel Sim
Performers / Puppeteers: Alvin Chiam, Ellison Tan, Jo Kwek, Neo Hai Bin, Myra Loke, Angelina Chandra & Rachel Nip
There will be a post-show dialogue with the director after the performances on 23 Feb, 8pm and 24 Feb, 8pm.
Advisory 16: Contains some mature content, including some sexual content and depictions of violence and gore.
Performance will include some use of strobe lighting
The Finger Players
The Finger Players is one of Singapore’s leading theatre companies, best known for inventively fusing traditional and contemporary puppetry elements and integrating other artistic disciplines into its visually-arresting productions.
Founded in 1999, The Finger Players is Singapore’s oldest contemporary puppetry theatre company. Since its inception, it has been invited to perform in places such as Africa, Australia, Spain, Paris, Japan, Hungary, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand, making it one of Singapore’s most prolific international touring companies.
As recognition of its remarkable productions, robust track record, and strong advocacy of puppetry, The Finger Players is a recipient of the National Arts Council’s Major Company status, valid for a three-year funding cycle.
The Finger Players has been awarded the President’s Design Award (2007), the Singapore Youth Award (Team) (2008), and numerous accolades in The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards for its efforts to engage the masses through drama and its pursuit of artistic excellence in theatre. Its body of work is extensive and has garnered recognition from both domestic and international media.
The Finger Players’ Core Team consists of Chong Tze Chien, Ellison Tan, Lam Dan Fong, Loo An Ni, Myra Loke, Oliver Chong (Current Artistic Director), Ong Kian Sin, Sindhura Kalidas and Tan Xiang Yi—a collective of award-winning artists, designers and experienced arts managers.
Oliver Chong
Oliver Chong is a multi-award-winning and published playwright, director, actor, puppeteer; and set and puppet designer. Some of his memorable works include Every Brilliant Thing, A Fiend’s Diary, Roots, I’m Just A Piano Teacher, Cat, Lost & Found, The Book of Living and Dying, Citizen Pig and Citizen Dog. His numerous wins and nominations at The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards include Production of the Year, Best Director, Best Script, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Ensemble and Best Set Design.
To date, Oliver’s works have been presented at international arts festivals in Paris, Myanmar, Barcelona, Budapest, Ankara, Bangkok, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia. He has conducted playwriting, directing and acting Masterclasses in Hong Kong and Singapore, and has been committed to helping practitioners fine-tune their crafts since 2014.
Oliver was the Resident Director of The Finger Players (2004 – 2018), and is currently the Artistic Director of the company. He is also the founding member of A Group Of People (2008 – 2012) and the founder of ODDCROP Productions (2019 – present). His published works include Roots, The Book of Living and Dying, I’m Just A Piano Teacher and Cat, Lost & Found. Roots was also read and staged in New Zealand by Proudly Asian Theatre in 2018.
RUDRA
RUDRA, the name of the Indian deity of destruction, conjures the scene of death and destruction. Just like the deity, the band was named so to symbolise the aggressive character of its music.
A legend in the Asian metal scene, RUDRA was established in 1992. Since its humble beginning as a Death Metal band, the band went on to pioneer the evolution of a new genre of called Vedic metal. Vedic metal can be characterised as a bridge between the east and the west: incorporating Indian traditional music, Sanskrit chants and mantras into the sounds characteristic of death and black metal.
23 Feb 2024, Fri
8pm
24 Feb 2024, Sat
3pm
8pm
Standard | Students, NSFs, Seniors & PWDs |
|
Cat 1 | $58 | - |
Cat 2 | $48 | $36 |
Esplanade&Me Specials
Early Bird (14 – 20 Dec 2023, limited tickets)
Black: 20% savings
White: 15% savings
Discover: 15% savings (Min. of 2 tickets)
From 21 Dec 2023, 10am
Black: 15% savings
White: 10% savings
Discover: 10% savings (Min. of 2 tickets, limited tickets)
Applicable to Standard Cat 1 & Cat 2 tickets only. Terms and Conditions apply.
Not a member? Sign up for free!
PAssion members: 10% savings
Min. of 4 tickets, limited tickets
Applicable to Standard Cat 1 & Cat 2 tickets only.
Tote Board Arts Grant
All Junior Colleges/ Centralised Institute & ITEs may use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 50% of the programme cost.
For more details, please contact Esplanade Box Office at 6828 8389 or email boxoffice@esplanade.com.
ESPLANADE OFFSTAGE
Read, watch, listen
Great arts experiences begin with Esplanade&Me. Join this membership to enjoy ticket specials on shows at Esplanade, early bird specials, promotions at Esplanade Mall, unlimited access to Offstage and more.