Argentinian troupe Fuerza Bruta's immersive theatre show and the Ramayana are among the highlights from this year's Singapore Night Festival

The annual Singapore Night Festival never fails to disappoint with its ethereal art installations and immersive experiences, and this year it returns to the Bras Basah.Bugis district to enthrall audiences for two weekends from August 23 to 31. 

Filled with animated storytellers, soaring acts and mesmerising installations that inspire quiet moments of reflection, the festival has made an exemplary effort to gather a diverse array of both international and local talents to share their works. Besides, the festival has also cast a spotlight on Southeast Asian traditions and folklore in homage to the Singapore Bicentennial celebrations this year for locals to appreciate.

With more than 40 performances, 16 light installations and two festival villages, let us help you navigate through the plethora of experiences with five festival highlights at the 12th edition of the Singapore Night Festival this year.

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Photo 1 of 5 Image: Ozono Producciones
Photo 2 of 5 Image: Ozono Producciones
Photo 3 of 5 Image: Ozono Producciones
Photo 4 of 5 Image: Ozono Producciones
Photo 5 of 5 Image: Ozono Producciones

1. Performance by Argentinian troupe, Fuerza Bruta

Expect soaring acts and aerial acrobatics by the performers from renowned Argentinian troupe Fuerza Bruta, as they take Singapore by storm for three days at the Singapore Night Festival this year. The troupe, having performed in front of an astonishing amount of six million spectators across 34 countries and 58 cities, will immerse audiences in an adrenaline-filled 360-degree sensory theatrical experience through its array of spectacular surprises, with a promise of leaving everyone feeling ever so carefree and enthralled. 

Find out more here

Tatler Asia
Above Artist Sakchin Bessette with his immersive art installation, Whispers

2. Whispers light installation by Light Society

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be engulfed in the rise and fall of nature's power? Well now you can, as Canadian group Light Society has created an immersive 12-minute wind therapy experience to give audiences a mesmerising and almost hypnotic glimpse of nature's overwhelming strength. 

Located at the Gallery Theatre of the National Museum of Singapore, this installation is open to the public from August 8 before the festival's official opening, as a prelude to the stunning line-up of works. 

Find out more here

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Photo 1 of 5 Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana Image: Apsaras Arts
Photo 2 of 5 Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana Image: Apsaras Arts
Photo 3 of 5 Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana Image: Apsaras Arts
Photo 4 of 5 Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana Image: Apsaras Arts
Photo 5 of 5 Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana Image: Apsaras Arts

3. Anjaneyam - Hanuman's Ramayana by Apsaras Arts

Witness the classic Sanskrit epic restaged by this cross-cultural production that follows the life of Prince Rama, and tells the story of love, loyalty and righteousness at the Dhoby Ghaut Green Festival Village from August 29 to 31.

The production, which is conceptualised by renowned Indian dance-theatre performing company Apsaras Arts, will be performed by a talented team of artists from Singapore, the Kalakshetra Repertory Theatre in India, as well as the Indonesian Institute for the Arts Surakarta. The stellar cast from the region also gives rise to a unique take on this performance, told through Bharatanatyam and Javanese dance with an original score that was specifically composed for it.

Find out more here

Tatler Asia
Above Image: Ding Yi Music Company

4. Huff x Ding Yi: A Music and Visual Collaboration by Kenneth A. Huff and Ding Yi Music Company

Interdisciplinary visual artist Kenneth A. Huff collaborates with Singapore's biggest Chinese chamber ensemble, Ding Yi, to bring audiences an exciting performance based on the mathematics of chaos theory. The performance, which comprises pieces such as Transcient, composed by Professor Ho Chee Kong from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, and Songs of Fishing Boats at Dusk, arranged by homegrown composer Phang Kok Jun, will see Huff's intricate pattern projections react in response to the ensemble's tunes, resulting in different performances every evening from August 29 to 31, at the SMU Campus Green Projection Dome. 

Find out more here

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Photo 1 of 2 Image: The Electric Canvas
Photo 2 of 2 S.C.U.L.P.T Image: Yann Nguema

5. Various night light projections

The Singapore Night Festival this year marks many firsts, and among them are night light projections on various heritage buildings in the district. Over at the Armenian Church near City Hall, an interactive large-scale projection will bring the façade of the institution to life and allow audiences to manipulate the appearance of the church's chevet by simply pointing laser beams at it.

Further down the street at Stamford Road, the Stamford Court clock tower will also be projected on for the first time as Australia-based company The Electric Canvas revamps the clock with bright and tropical visuals to greet festival-goers.

The Singapore Night Festival 2019 takes place till August 31

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