
Usher in the Year of the Rat with an exciting line-up of performances at the 18th edition of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts. From 31 Jan to 9 Feb 2020, the festival at Esplanade Theatres on the Bay will celebrate the New Year through an array of ticketed and free programmes, suitable for all ages!
Huayi 2020 – Ticketed Programmes
Gullinkambi – Puppetry Theatre for Children
Bon Appétit Theatre (Taiwan)
In a small town near the North Pole, there lived a little girl named Sonna and her best friend, the polar bear Gullinkambi. One night, Gullinkambi is nowhere to be found. Unable to trace the whereabouts of her best friend, the heartbroken Sonna muster her courage and decide to embark on a solo adventure to bring her friend home, bidding farewell to her warm home and her beloved grandmother.
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Through this unknown journey, faced with threatening weather conditions, a mountain of challenges await her. Will little Sonna brave through these obstacles and bring her friend safely home? What awaits them upon their return?
An original production by Bon Appetit Theatre, Gullinkambi is a tale of love and courage told through a multi-disciplinary showcase of puppetry, physical theatre, lights and music. Open your mind to a world of imagination as you follow Sonna’s search for Gullinkambi in this heartwarming non-verbal puppetry production, bound to touch anyone and everyone, from the young to the young-at-heart.
About Bon Appétit Theatre
Bon Appétit Theatre is a Taiwanese theatre troupe with a focus on original stories and devising acting approaches at its core of creation. The name of Bon Appétit Theatre refers to “taste” and “appetite”, where the artists are the chefs and the audience partakes their creations. Every original theatre production is a discussion on contemporary issues, natural environment and observation in humanity through the artforms of physical theatre, puppetry, music narration and other diverse devising methods. Through creative presentations, Bon Appétit Theatre hopes to continue to share their stories and with audiences from all over the world.
(1hr, no intermission)
This is a non-verbal performance.
Advisory: Recommended for ages 3 and above. No admission for ages below 3.
7 – 9 Feb 2020, Fri – Sun
Fri, 11am
Sat & Sun, 2pm & 5pm
Esplanade Recital Studio
Ticket Price: $30^
^PIP’s Club Special:
10% savings
Enjoy savings for 2 to 4 tickets.
Limited tickets. Terms & conditions apply.
Parent-Child Workshop – “Who Is The Fastest Of Them All?” Acting Workshop
Renee Chua (Singapore)
Do you know the story of the 12 zodiac animals? Which animal is the mightiest of them all?
Conducted in a fun and engaging way, parent and child will bond through a series of craft activities, roleplay and storytelling as we learn the tricks and traits of the 12 zodiac animals. The little ones will have the opportunity to learn Mandarin, explore creative verbal and physical expressions as well as build their confidence as they present their version of who won the race in this interactive workshop!
About Renee Chua
Renee Chua has been an actress, director and drama educator since 2004. A notable stage actress, her works include Magic Lantern (Paper Monkey, won ST Life! Award for Best Production for Young), 11 (The Theatre Practice, nominated for ST Life! Award for Best Ensemble), and David the Best (Drama Box).
(2hrs)
Conducted in Mandarin.
Advisory: Recommended for ages 5 to 8 with accompanying adult. Accompanying adults must be above 16. No admission for ages below 5.
1 & 2 Feb 2020, Sat & Sun, 1.30pm & 4.30pm
Esplanade Rehearsal Studio
(Meet at Theatre Studio entrance, Level 4, 15mins before start time.)
Ticket Price:
$30 (1 adult + 1 child)
$45 (1 adult + 2 children)
$45 (2 adults + 1 child)
Tickets have to be bought in pairs or 3s.
Huayi 2020 – Free Programmes
Fortune Koi Fish
The Koi fish symbolises good fortune and prosperity! Make and bring home your very own Koi fish using craft materials and bring your family good luck!
31 Jan – 9 Feb 2020, Fri – Sun, 11am – 6pm
PIP’s Play-box
The Runaway Chopsticks
Brocolily (Cheryl Kjm, Zeeaura & Sharon Sum) (Singapore)
Join Brocolily in The Runaway Chopsticks, a musical storytelling session about the true meaning of the Lunar New Year!
1,2,8 7 9 Feb 2020, Sat & Sun
11.45am & 4.45pm (Performed in Mandarin)
3.15pm (Performed in English)
PIP’s Playbox
Zodiac Bodypainting
Magic Painters (Singapore)
Ready to show off your Chinese Zodiac animal? Get your Chinese Zodiac animal painted on you in this workshop. Limited to the first 150 participants each day.
1 & 2 Feb 2020, Sat & Sun, 3pm
Esplanade Concourse
Springy Steps
Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre
Come to our forecourt garden and enjoy the Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre’s graceful and energetic performance, and get to learn the basic dance steps from the elegant dancers with your family as we welcome the Lunar New Year!
1 & 2 Feb 2020, Sat & Sun, 5pm & 6pm
Esplanade Forecourt Garden
Zodiac Shrink Art Keychains
Senikraf (Singapore)
Carry your Chinese Zodiac animal with you as a personalised keychain! Select your own template, colour it and watch it shrink into a keychain right in front of you. Limited to the first 150 participants each day (one keychain per person).
8 & 9 Feb 2020, Sat & Sun, 3pm
Esplanade Concourse
Journey West: Web of Deceit
Paper Monkey Theatre (Singapore)
Web of Deceit is a fascinating tale from the classic story Journey to the West, where Master Tang San Zang and his disciples go on an exhilarating adventure to the Western region. While on their journey, they meet the crafty Spider Demons who spin their webs and traps Master Tang and Pigsy to prepare for a feast! Will the disciples be able to save their master before it is too late?
7 to 9 Feb 2020
Fri: 6.45 pm, 8 pm, 9.15 pm
Sat: 6 pm, 7.15 pm, 8.30 pm
Sun: 6.45 pm & 8 pm
Esplanade Waterfront Canopy
(Performed in Mandarin)
Event Information
Huayi 2020 – Chinese Festival of Arts
Start date: 31/1/20 0:00
End date: 9/2/20 23:59