From 4 to 6 October 2019, spend a wonderful Children’s Day weekend with Octoburst! – A Children’s Festival 2019 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. This year, the highly-anticipated event celebrates fun, friendship and imagination with not-to-be-missed performances, whimsical activities and plenty of memorable moments for families.
Scroll to the bottom to participate in our Octoburst 2019 Giveaway!
Octoburst! showcases some of the best family-friendly performances from around the world and Singapore. This year, the line-up includes an immersive performance that audiences can enjoy from multiple perspectives, a story about what happens when a child wishes upon a star, a magical tale about a tailor and his tools, and much more.
Performances to Stir the Imagination
Cerita Anak (Child’s Story)
Cerita Anak (Child’s Story) tells the tale of an unforgettable sea voyage by a small boy to Australia. Drawing on the Javanese seafaring heritage, audiences are brought on a magical adventure on the high seas through puppetry, music, shadow imagery and sound.
What makes this performance unique is that audiences can experience it from one of two different perspectives.
Children between 2 and 7 years old, and their parents, can board a boat as “passengers” and participate in an immersive journey across the ocean. This perspective taps on young children’s affinity for imaginative play and allows them to experience the performance in a highly sensory and physical way.
Older children and adults can take on the role of “villagers” and watch as the action unfolds before them. This offers a broader perspective of the story, just like what the audience in a traditional theatre show would have.
Cerita Anak (Child’s Story) is an innovative collaboration between Australia’s Polygot Theatre and Indonesia’s Papermoon Puppet Theatre that is not-to-be-missed.
Dates: 4 to 6 October 2019, Friday to Sunday
Times: 10.30 am, 2 pm & 4.30 pm (1 hour)
Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Recommended for Ages: 2 to 7 years old (Passenger), 7 years and up (Villager)
Ticket Price: $20 (Villager), $30 (Passenger – sold as an adult-child pair)
Buy tickets here.
A Ladder to the Stars
Music, light and imagination come together in a humorous story of what can happen when your wishes come true.
A little girl’s birthday wish is heard by a star high up in the night’s sky. The star tells the moon, the moon tells the sun, the sun tells the wind and the rain and they all come up with a wonderful plan to make the girl’s wish come true.
Performed by the UK’s Visible Fictions, A Ladder to the Stars is a heartfelt adaption of Simon Puttock’s book of the same name.
Dates: 4 to 6 Oct 2019, Friday to Sunday
Times: 10.30 am, 2 pm & 4.30 pm (50 minutes)
Where: Esplanade Recital Studio
Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years old
Ticket Price: $25
Buy tickets here.
Tailor Made
A tailor has been working at his shop for years. One day, he receives a note with a riddle, “Your mission is to sew a coat by midnight. The size does not matter, but it must fit perfectly…”
This mysterious note sets him to work, busily making the coat to fulfil the order.
Performed by Train Theatre from Israel, Tailor Made is a minimal-dialogue show that takes ordinary objects and brings them to life through puppetry, music and pure creativity. Watch as the tailor’s tools like scissors and a thimble take on a personality of their own, as if by magic.
Little ones will be charmed as they go along with the tailor on this captivating journey to find out who the coat is really for.
Dates: 4 to 6 Oct 2019, Friday to Sunday
Times: 11 am, 2.30 pm & 4.30 pm (40 minutes)
Where: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years old
Ticket Price: $25
Buy tickets here.
Dance Appreciation Series: Introduction to Swan Lake
Singapore Dance Theatre has adapted the classic ballet Swan Lake just for children!
Using a combination of narration and dance excerpts, Dance Appreciation Series: Introduction to Swan Lake will take little ones into the timeless story about undying love, a twist of fate and faithful devotion. Presented in bite-sized pieces, it is perfect way to introduce the beauty and storytelling of the classic ballet to young audiences.
Kids can come dressed in their favourite costumes and take a picture with the cast at a meet-and-greet after the performance too!
When: 5 October 2019, Saturday
When: 1 pm & 4 pm (1 hour)
Where: Esplanade Concert Hall
Recommended for ages 2 and up
Ticket Price: $14
Buy tickets here.
PIP’s Club members get to enjoy discounts on Octoburst! 2019 ticket bookings. Terms and conditions apply.
Free Events at Octoburst! 2019 – A Children’s Festival
PIParade: A Children’s Parade, Led by Children
There are loads of other free performances and activities at Octoburst! – A Children’s Festival 2019 too.
On 4 October 2019, 5 pm, join the Octoburst! 2019 PIParade.
Led by marching bands from Kinderland Preschool and Maha Bodhi School, the children’s parade will start at the Esplanade Forecourt Garden and meander its way around Singapore’s favourite durian in a rambunctious and energetic celebration of the joys of childhood.
Everyone is welcomed to join in the PIParade but if you want to make the experience extra special, sign up with family and friends in groups of 10 to 30 children for a chance to be selected as a featured contingent in this unique parade. Find out more about how to do so here.
Before the start of the PIParade, head over to the Esplanade Festival Corner to make a parade craft to be used during the festive procession.
Von Tuur Salon
Another free and fun programme that families can enjoy at Octoburst! 2019 is the Von Tuur Salon from the UK.
Travel the world at a beauty salon like no other. In this sound-scape therapy performance, explorers Gouda and Goudi will whisk participants away to far-flung places, all from the comfort of a salon chair. Go on an arctic adventure, a jungle expedition or a city getaway. All you need is to listen closely and let allow your imagination take you there.
There is limited capacity at the Von Tuur Salon and pre-registration is required. Registration opens on 28 September 2019.
Dates: 4 to 6 October 2019, Friday to Sunday
Times: 11 am to 2 pm & 3 pm to 6 pm (15 minutes per session)
Where: Esplanade Basement 2 Foyer
Recommended for ages 4 to 12 years old
Pre-registration required at www.esplanade.com/octoburst-salon
Mark Your Calendars for the Children’s Day Weekend 2019
With so much fantastic family fun in store at Octoburst! – A Children’s Festival 2019, be sure to join the festivities. Mark your calendars to celebrate the joys of childhood through play and the arts over the Children’s Day weekend, 4 to 6 October 2019 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
Find out more about all the exciting performances and activities in store at Octoburst! 2019 at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
This feature is brought to you by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
Octoburst 2019 GIVEAWAY: Tickets to Tailor Made
Little Day Out is giving away:
1 set of 4 tickets to Tailor Made on
Friday, 4 October, 4:30 pm
This Octoburst 2019 contest has closed. Watch this space where we will be announcing the winners!
