The first two months of 2024 have marched past, and the March school holidays are quickly closing in! And that is great news because Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s annual children’s festival March On is making a return from 6 to 17 March 2024.
Now into its fourth edition, this year’s festival is filled with fun and meaningful arts experiences and programmes for kids and families that explore the themes of shelter, adventure and coming of age.
Kids of all ages can delight themselves in a wide array of local and overseas productions, ranging from theatrical works, music and dance performances to interactive roving activities and parent-child programmes.
Here’s a look at the not-to-be-missed highlights of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s March On 2024.
March On 2024 Highlights at Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay
Jungle Book reimagined
Jungle Book reimagined brings the issue of climate change closer to home through the eyes of a child escaping its effects in a damaged world.
Go on a thrilling adventure set in the future as a family escapes to a modern city and the child Mowgli discovers new relationships with nature and wild animals.
Join the world-renowned Akram Khan Company for this dance-theatre retelling of Kipling’s well-loved tale. Celebrate the importance of belonging and respecting nature in a performance that features 10 international dancers, vivid animation and visuals, and an original musical score.
When: 6 to 9 March 2024 (6 & 7 March for schools only; 8 March 7.30 pm; 9 Mar, 3 pm)
Where: Esplanade Theatre
Recommended ages: 8 & up
Tickets: From $40
Find out more about Jungle Book reimagined
Shining in Space
Shining is a little girl who journals her memories and aspirations which she only divulges to her best friend, a stuffed toy named Star.
When her notebook is threatened to be destroyed by accident, Star comes to life and offers to take Shining on an intergalactic adventure of a lifetime
Together with musicians from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and Singapore Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, join Shining and Star on a journey to space filled with orchestral music, storytelling and multimedia as they make new friends and unwrap the mysteries of the cosmos.
When: 9 March 2024, 2.30 pm
When: Esplanade Concert Hall
Recommended ages: 5 to 8
Tickets: $25
Find out more about Shining in Space
Caliban’s Island
Void Deck Games will take you on an adventure to Caliban’s Island where the adults have been transformed into bizarre hybrid creatures and children are the only ones with the ability to save them. Guided by a sorcerer named Prospero, kids will have to go on a daring quest to save the adults.
This interactive play will take children and accompanying adults all around the Esplanade as they search for the ingredients to brew a potion and reverse the curse.
Caliban’s Island is inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and tells of the enduring bond between adults and children.
When: 8 to 17 March 2024 (except 11 & 12 March), 11 am & 4 pm
Venue: Starts from the Esplanade’s Basement 2 Carpark Foyer
Recommended ages: 7 and up
Tickets: $30. Children must be accompanied by an adult and tickets are required for each attendee.
Find out more about Caliban’s Island
Aki’s Playground
Take a step away from reality and into an exploratory space of three magical “worlds” at Aki’s Playground. Travel through mystical forests, across the reaches of outer space, and plumb the depths of the ocean to discover hidden gems and have your senses delighted.
With interactive light and sound displays along with curated workshops, Aki’s Playground is suitable for anyone with a heart for adventure.
When: 14 to 17 March 2024, 11 am to 2 pm; 3 pm to 6 pm
Where: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Recommended ages: 3 to 8
Tickets: $15
Find out more about Aki’s Playground
HOME
To children, a home is not bounded by four walls and a roof. Instead, it is a sense of safety, security and belonging.
HOME is a visual theatre experience by Theatre Madam Bach from Denmark that makes use of cleverly woven storytelling and puppetry to warmly invite children to explore what it means to be “home”.
When: 7 to 10 March 2024, (11 am & 4 pm on 7 and 8 March; 11 am, 2 pm & 4 pm on 9 and 10 March)
Venue: Esplanade Annexe Studio
Recommended ages: 3 to 7
Tickets: $30
Find out more about HOME
Ticketed Workshops
HOME (Parent-Child Workshop)
Sign up for a workshop based on the performance of HOME. Engage in a fun time of craft-making as you and your child build your version of home together to the accompaniment of live music and song.
When: 11 & 12 March 2024, 10 am & 2 pm
Where: Esplanade Bay Room
Recommended ages: 7 to 12
Tickets: $20
Find out more about HOME (Parent-Child workshop)
Come Under My Umbrella (Caregiver-Child workshop)
Have you had a chat with your kids on personal boundaries and what is their safe space?
Come Under My Umbrella, a workshop by SOMAYOKE and ARTFOLD, weaves together movement, moments to ponder and participatory games as a learning bridge to explore the idea of the body as a shelter, body safety and personal boundaries.
You and your child will even get to work together to personalise an umbrella, symbolic of a shelter from life’s storms, as a product of your reflections.
When: 9 March 2024, 4 pm
Where: Esplanade Rehearsal Studio
Recommended ages: 6 to 10
Tickets: $20
Find out more about Come Under My Umbrella (Caregiver-Child workshop)
Musical Plants (Parent-Child workshop)
Plants and technology are rarely mentioned in the same sentence, much less combined. Yet, at this novel workshop, participants will get to create music as plants turn into musical instruments with the help of technology.
This parent-child workshop will entertain and educate your kids at the same time! No prior music background is needed, so just sign up as you are and prepare to be wow-ed!
When: 14 to 16 March 2024
Where: Esplanade Rehearsal Studio
Recommended ages: 5 to 12
Tickets: $20
Find out more about Musical Plants (Parent-Child workshop)
Other Programmes at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s March On 2024
In addition to the ticketed programmes at March On 2024, there will be free performances and activities too.
The Plants
Let the artist facilitators from Playable Streets engage you and your children with a combination of live plants with digital sensors. Controlled by touch, The Plants are sure to intrigue and bring out the wonderment of music merrymaking.
When: 7 to 10 and 14 to 17 March 2024, 5 pm to 8 pm with a performance at 7 pm
Where: Esplanade Lawn, outside Singtel Waterfront Theatre
Find out more about The Plants
I Draw You, You Draw Me
Join 3Pumpkins and Tak Takut Kids Club at the Esplanade Courtyard to connect with others through drawing and the act of being drawn at this free activity.
Dates: 8 to 10 and 15 to 17 March, 5 pm to 9 pm
Venue: Esplanade Courtyard
Find out more about I Draw You, You Draw Me
Fatimah and Her Magic Socks
If you’re looking for something for little ones ages 3 to 6, the PLAYtime! series will also be held in March.
Join Fatimah and her newfound lion friend in Fatimah and Her Magic Socks as they take you on a whimsical journey with her magical mismatched socks!
Restaged and adapted from PLAYtime! 2017 and PLAYtime! 2020, this 2024 version will surely be a theatrical delight where kids can dance, laugh, sing and let their imaginations run wild!
Dates: 1 to 17 March 2024
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Tickets: $23
Find out more about Fatimah and Her Magic Socks
There is a PLAYtime! X March On special where you can redeem limited edition PIP socks with any purchase of tickets to Fatimah and Her Magic Socks and any other March On 2024 programme!
Inclusivity at the Esplanade
To make art accessible to everyone, Jungle Book reimagined and Shining in Space have selected sessions with Relaxed Environment settings.
This caters to individuals who would appreciate making a noise or two, having the ability to leave and return to their seats freely and having access to the washroom during the event itself.
Do get tickets for those sessions should you and your children benefit from the Relaxed Environment setting.
Join in the March On at the Esplanade!
So what are you waiting for? Join in the March On 2024 Children’s Festival at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and reach for the stars of reimagination, adventure and hope with your little ones!
A final pro tip: Sign up as a PIP’s Club member to redeem special goodies and enjoy savings on various programmes. Full details of March On 2024 promotions can be found here.
Find out more about Esplanade’s March On 2024 Children’s Festival.
This feature is brought to you by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
