Make a date with a British royal and one of the art world’s trailblazers this month.
Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup
When June 5
What Britain’s Prince Harry arrives on our shores for the first edition of the by-invitation-only Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in Southeast Asia. The annual fundraiser of the charity co-founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 supports vulnerable HIV-affected children and youths in the southern African countries of Lesotho and Botswana, which have some of the highest infection rates globally. Held at Singapore Polo Club, the event will see Prince Harry and Argentine polo star and Sentebale ambassador Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras battle it out on the field under different teams.
Image: Getty Images
(Related: 10 Absolutely Adorable Prince Harry Moments)
National Theatre Live
When June 9 to 10
What National Theatre presents the screenings of three theatre productions featuring heavyweights Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart (pictured) in No Man’s Land, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein and Helen Mirren in The Audience, at Esplanade Theatre.
Image: Johan Persson
Yayoi Kusama: Life Is The Heart Of A Rainbow
When June 9 to September 3
What For the first time in Southeast Asia, National Gallery Singapore, in collaboration with Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, stages a major retrospective of the renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's practice spanning more than seven decades. The exhibition takes visitors through more than 120 of Kusama's works in various mediums such as paintings, sculptures, videos and installations from the 1950s to the present, including brand-new works.
Image: Yayoi Kusama/Ota Fine Arts Tokyo/Singapore, Victoria Miro London and David Zwirner New York
Reopening Of Fendi Flagship Store
When June 13
What Fendi’s revamped space in Ngee Ann City officially opens. To mark the occasion, the Italian fashion house has created limited-edition velvet Peekaboos. There will be three Peekaboo bag designs making their global launch in Southeast Asia, and one Singapore-only Mini Peekaboo in velvet featuring a tapestry weaving technique pattern. Only five pieces are available.
UFC Fight Night Singapore
When June 17
What The world’s elite mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes will enter the Octagon cage to compete for top honours—and bragging rights—when the UFC returns for its first live event in Asia this year with UFC Fight Night Singapore, at Singapore Indoor Stadium. On the fight card is a thrilling bantamweight bout between former UFC women’s champion Holly Holm—who famously knocked out former judo Olympian Ronda Rousey in 2015—and Brazil’s Bethe Correia. Leading up to the main duel are intense match-ups featuring international UFC superstars and Asian powerhouses, including Brazil’s Rafael dos Anjos’ welterweight debut against Belgium’s Tarec Saffiedine, as well as a gripping clash between South Korea’s Dong Hyun Kim and the US’ Colby Covington.
(Related: 5 Reasons To Give UFC Fight Night Singapore A Fighting Chance)
The Dream Ball
When June 18
What The Floral Designers Society celebrates its 20th anniversary with its annual Dream Ball, at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. The non-profit organisation, which aims to promote up-and-coming floral designers from around the world, will also present its inaugural Young Designer award.
Brae x Restaurant André: Escape to Country Victoria
When June 20 to 21
What What happens when two celebrated chefs collaborate on a menu? Culinary orgasms all around, we imagine. Chef Dan Hunter (right) of Australia’s Brae meets local maestro André Chiang in the Restaurant André kitchen to create a special menu for diners lucky enough to get a table.
Boeing Boeing
When June 23 to July 22
What Try to keep up with this modern-day Casanova who plays “captain” to three beautiful air stewardesses, each blissfully unaware of the others’ existence, with another restaging of this Wild Rice favourite. At Victoria Theatre.
Singapore International Festival of Arts
When June 28 to September 9
What As a counter to global disenchantment, the works at this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) explore the theme of “enchantment”, described as the antidote against populism, alienation, injustice and irrationality. Outgoing founding festival director Ong Keng Sen introduces a biennale of 16 homegrown commissions, and seven international productions making their Asia-Pacific premieres. Ong himself will direct a contemporary Asian musical, in collaboration with National Theater of Korea, based on JeanPaul Sartre’s 1965 adaption of Greek tragedy The Trojan Women. Unlike previous editions, the pre-festival of ideas, The Open, and the main festival take place over a continuous four-month period. At various venues.
Image: National Theater of Korea
Being Haresha Sharma
When June 29 to July 2
What The Necessary Stage turns 30 this year and it looks back at resident playwright Haresh Sharma’s acclaimed plays with this new production staged in collaboration with Cake Theatrical Productions’ Natalie Hennedige. At Drama Centre Theatre.