FESTIVA L GUIDE Septfest returns after a 6-year hiatus!

SeptFest is ’s month- long celebration of art, culture and community, held annually to mark The Substation’s anniversary (16 Sept). Themed differently each year, SeptFest features multi and interdisciplinary programmes such as exhibitions, performances, films from and the region that highlights the diversity and experimentation spirit of The Substation. Marking the 30th Anniversary of Singapore's first independent home Themed In The Margins, the 4-week of the arts, and keeping true to The festival curated by Co-Artistic Director, Raka Maitra, Substation’s spirit of experimentation takes a closer look at the stories of the marginalised, and celebrating the alternative, The displaced and forgotten communities who are often Substation will be highlighting and out of sight. In its abstract interpretation, the festival redefining the stories of the fringe. also features works that highlight the fragility and ephemeralness of spaces, or even the relationships we have with ourselves or the strangers we meet. foreword In these unprecedented times, although the pandemic has resulted in the shift of SeptFest to March, the festival’s commitment to the presentation and development of new experimental work is undiminished. Something positive that came out of the pandemic is that it has spurred us to take The end of an era: a closer look at our artists at home. A SeptFest like no other I dedicate this SeptFest not only to the rich and We rarely see what is in plain sight. For the past 30 diverse talents we have amongst us but also as our years, The Substation has always been here at 45 fond farewell gift to Singapore, with stories from the Armenian Street. For three decades, it was a place fringe and the margins. for the arts like no other. While many claim that there are various arts venues today, I have always I hope all of you will have an enjoyable time at the stood firm that The Substation is one-of-a-kind. Its festival. openness to interdisciplinary works, the range of emerging artists it has supported and developed RAKA MAITRA over the years, and the issues and concerns of a Festival Director, Co-Artistic Director, society that it has highlighted, is unequalled in The Substation Singapore.

At the end of July, The Substation will be no more, and what was plainly obvious would disappear. It will be the end of an era. Nonetheless, this ending will be marked with a SeptFest like no other.

4 5 festival calendar

PERFORMANCE THEATRE THEATRE WEEK 1 EXHIBITIONS 4, 5, 6 Mar TEA LEAVES GLOWING WALTZ OF THE FLOWER OEOS 4, 5, 6 PROJEK ORANG ASLI IN THE WIND Caroline Chin & Lina Yu Mar Zai Kuning, Ronnie & Zai Tang Marvin Acero Ablao 4–6 MAR | 8.30–9PM Bahari, Samri A/I Abdul 4 MAR | 6.30–7.30PM 4–6 MAR | 7.30–8.10PM PAGE 8 Rahman PAGE 8 PAGE 8 4 TO 14 MARCH 12–8PM WEEK 2 PERFORMANCE LECTURE MUSIC & SPOKEN WORD SEE RELATED 11, 12, 13 Mar 11, 12, 13 BROWN IS HARAM TABULA RASA PROGRAMMES ON Mar Kristian-Marc James Paul & Mysara Aljaru Subhas Nair PAGE 14 11-13 MAR | 7–8PM 13 MAR | 2–3PM 11-13 MAR | 8.30–9.30PM PAGE 9 PAGE 9

MIGRANT WORKERS COMMUNITY MUSEUM Alfian Sa'at, Vithya WEEK 3 MUSIC & STREET DANCE THEATRE PERFORMANCE Subramaniam, Zulkhairi 18, 19, 20 Mar Zulkiflee & collaborating NADA X SCRACH MARCS PARTHENOGENESIS: ALTERNATIVE LESSONS FOR WOMEN 18, 19, 20, curators Mar 18-20 MAR | 7–8PM from (a)basement Sonia Kwek & Tan Weiying PAGE 10 theatre collective 18-20 MAR | 9–10PM 18 TO 28 MARCH 18-20 MAR | 8–9PM PAGE 11 12–8PM PAGE 10

SEE RELATED PROGRAMMES ON PAGE 15

WEEK 4 IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY 25. 26, 27 Mar GALLERY OPENING HOURS: 25, 26, 27 ISLAND BAR (SINGAPORE): THE LAST CHAPTER 12–8PM, TUE–SUN Mar THE SUBSTATION: A HOME FOR.. Various Artists Various Artists 25–27 MAR | 7.15–10.15PM CLOSED ON MON 25–27 MAR |10.30AM–10:30PM PAGE 13 PAGE 12

6 7 THEATRE DOUBLE BILL OEOS (30 min) PERFORMANCE LECTURE Created and performed by Lina Yu programmes of the & is waltz flower oeos Year 2030. The world is a slightly different place brown haram than we knew it to be. It looks and feels much the OPENING | PERFORMANCE Caroline Chin & Marvin Acero Ablao, Lina Yu same, but runs differently. The pandemic in 2020 Kristian-Marc James Paul & Mysara Aljaru changed the way the world operates. Research tea leaves glowing 4, 5, 6 Mar · 7.30pm–9pm · Theatre · $20 and development are at the forefront, and 11, 12, 13 Mar · 7–8PM · 13 Mar · 2–3PM Inclusive of 20min intermission technology has made many advancements. One Theatre · $20 in the wind day, a Professor is found dead, and his assistant is There will be a post-show dialogue on 6 March. questioned…

Tang Da Wu & Zai Tang This piece is a continuing exploration of Room 4 Mar · 6.30—7.30PM · Facade 0505, a piece that was presented at The Substation in 2020. While Room 0505 explored the human condition through the traditional to the present, OEOS is an imagination of a possible future.

MUSIC & SPOKEN WORD

Tabula Rasa

Subhas Nair

11, 12, 13 Mar · 8.30–9.30PM · Theatre · $20 BROWN IS HARAM

An ongoing, collaborative project developed by Kristian-Marc James Paul and Mysara Aljaru, this performance-lecture explores Brown narratives in Walk out of knowing Singapore, specifically Brown social mobility and Improvise in uncertainty masculinity. It is based on Kristian and Mysara’s In darkness research and workshops that were organised Dream with dice as part of The Substation’s artist residency programme, Concerned Citizens Programme Tang Da Wu and Zai Tang create a performance (2019-2020) and the lived experiences of both together using sound, , body and action. artists and contributors of the project. This collaboration stems from conversations TOP: WALTZ OF THE FLOWER about the value of intuition, chance and the BOTTOM: OEOS Dramaturg: Alfian Sa’at unknown in art-making. Improvising in parallel to Dive into the stories of gentrification, language Director: Myle Yan Tay one another with their respective materials, they Waltz of the Flower (40 min) theft, racist policies and the resulting attempt to avoid any predetermined relations or displacement of identities in Singapore as Created and performed by Caroline Chin, together Issues related to sexual harassment, sexual violence and generate any specific meaning together. Rather, with Marvin Acero Ablao Subhas Nair introduces his sophomore album, racism will be discussed. it is a proposal for a performance of multiple Tabula Rasa (also pronounced tak boleh rasa). possibilities, where instinct and awareness A woman enters. She threads a familiar space— The conceptual album looks at erasure in the city guide each passing moment. Emerging elements an empty space with nothing but a pot and a and interrogates the power play in writing of our intersect and interrupt, forming tangents and dying tree; a single leaf dangling. She speaks to narratives, and what the tablet remembers. tensions between one another, the space and the her invisible audience, at times herself, as she audience. attempts to reveal a story. She deviates, jokes, Created and performed by: Subhas Nair Produced by: Jean Hew confesses, reveals, but struggles at completion. Suddenly, someone enters. He carries on his This performance includes mentions of suicide and routine and waits. Nobody comes. He begins to intergenerational brown trauma. dance, uninhibitedly, and he goes.

Inspired by Samuel Beckett’s Footfalls and Waiting for Godot, as well as Zeami Motokiyo’s The Damask Drum, this work touches on themes of loneliness, memories, and longing. 8 9 THEATRE PERFORMANCE DOUBLE BILL The first known female Chinese historian Ban Zhao wrote Lessons for Women《女诫》 , which parthenogenesis: alternative lessons became a widely circulated code of conduct for women (especially during the Qing and Ming dynasty) for Chinese women, on the virtues they should abide from (a)basement theatre collective by in society. The book emphasises on women MUSIC & STREET DANCE 18, 19, 20 Mar · 8–9PM · SAD Bar · $20 Sonia Kwek & Tan Weiying to observe humbleness, obedience, devotion, talking only about their familial roles of wife/ 18, 19, 20 Mar · 9–10PM · Theatre · $20 nada x scrach marcs daughter/mother/etc. The book seems to teach women the art of attending to others, but nothing about pleasing their own desires. NADA & ScRach Marcs 18, 19, 20 Mar · 7–8PM · Theatre · $20 This double-bill seeks to present an alternative experience of women, in particular women dealing with their own inner desires. These two female solo pieces dig into women stereotypes and break down the virtues that women have been told to uphold.

Hymen Instinct (30 min) Created and Performed by Sonia Kwek

PHOTO: THOMAS BRUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY “Are you ashamed of your desire?” (In the Realm of the Senses, 1976) parthenos + genesis = of asexual origin The maidenly Moon Goddess harbours a dark secret—she grows a penis every full moon. Since the late 1800s, the medical profession has Meanwhile, the dancing Lady of the Night has diagnosed people who expressed little interest in a problem—she is unable to orgasm. Can we sex with ‘sexual coldness’, or ‘sexual anaesthesia’. embrace our deepest desires without being a slave to them? Does purity matter in the parthenogenesis: is one woman’s quest for an pursuit of satisfying our appetite? Subverting orgasm—despite not wanting one. It is her self- the archetypes of the virgin and the whore, seduction, with love letters addressed to you Hymen Instinct is a look at the right to an erotic from the perspective of those like her. Writing experience of life and sex, where it all begins. in invisible ink, their thoughts only revealed through acid and flame. To many, she is merely What? That's It? (30 min) an attention-seeking millennial with an ‘ Created and Performed by Tan Weiying orientation’. If she really wanted to, she could always self-medicate with the ‘right person’, An elderly lady tries her utmost to achieve an injected deep inside her. orgasm, the only way for her to feel closer to her dead lover. She isn’t healthy. She isn’t well. She isn’t right. That's what we all say. Both pieces feature work by sound artist: Madam Data TOP: NADA (PHOTO: THROBBING PIXEL) TOP: HYMEN INSTINCT BOTTOM: SCRACH MARCS “Because who would invest time and effort into a BOTTOM: WHAT? THAT'S IT? There will be a post-show dialogue on 18, 19 and 20 relationship that isn't going to get them any sex?” PHOTOS: CHARMAINE POH March. In this new collaboration, mythical maestros NADA and dynamic dance duo ScRach Marcs will Contrary to popular belief, she isn’t alone. Sexual content, references to genitalia and simulated traverse movement and sound in an exploration violence will occur. of Singapore’s club culture of the past. Director / Writer: Rebecca Goh Responding to one another's practices, street Co-creator / Performer: Alia Alkaff dance and 60s–80s Malay pop, this performance Co-creator / Multimedia Designer: Angeline Glen is a reimagining of a lost cultural era brought to Tomara the contemporary stage. There will be a post-show dialogue on 18, 19 and 20 March.

Includes frequent use of projection lighting, sexual references and content, and strong language. Ratings to be advised. 10 11 DRAWING INSTALLATION CLOSING WEEKEND

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE the chonteng: Subs (2020) MULTI-DISCIPLINARY Island Bar (singapore): Rizman Putra the Assisted by Bud Young and Shawna Chia The Substation: last chapter A Home for... 25, 26, 27 Mar · 7.15–10.15PM 25, 26, 27 Mar · 10.30AM–10:30PM · SAD Bar · $21 The Substation (Various Locations) · $30

After 30 years, The Substation is now to be returned for renovation works. Is this a final full stop, a turning point or a rallying call for change? Could it be a dying melody that is slowly fading away? Or is it simply a farewell party, a final breath of air within this space which has cradled and nurtured so many artists? Is this a bittersweet lament, a sigh of goodbye?

As a homage to The Substation, The Last Chapter is a final act of solidarity and creative collaboration before the curtains go down. A returning and gathering of artists from different generations led by What we are saying goodbye to? What collects in Lim Chin Huat, explore and re-discover the collective memory? the nooks and crannies, characters, works and memories that are housed in In the world of IsLand Bar, meet your host who will The Substation. serve a signature cocktail, a political concoction of island histories and realities. IsLand Bar brings Curated and Produced by: Lim Chin Huat together voices from different places, practices Featuring: Kok Heng Leun, Johnny Ng, Eve Tan, to share their micro context within global Renee Chua, Wendy Toh, Regina Toon, interactions. Through an immersive situational Eileen Lee Chonteng (“to doodle” in English), created performance, you are invited to drink and re-think Creative Production Manager: Tennie Su using Chinese ink and brush, is a mural drawing about the origins of cultural and social identities; Lighting Designer: Gabriel Chan that explores the ideas of line and mark-making the notion of home, displacement and care Photography: Tuckys Photography Surtitlist: Shang Dianjun based loosely on the method of automatic through an activation of your senses. drawing. A festival commission, the installation reimagines elements of The Substation building IsLand Bar is an open-source project first as a form of homage, while documenting the initiated as an experiment in ADAM* 2017 and stream of iconography and structures from the commissioned in Taipei Arts Festival 2018 led by consciousness of the artist. principal artists Scarlet Yu (Hong Kong/Germany), Chikara Fujiwara () and Lee Ming-Chen The concept was also presented at Goethe (). Institute, Labyrinth of Things I (Coda Culture) and II (Cake Theatre’s Running with Strippers) and Featuring: ila, Jereh Leung, Norhaizad Adam, Scarlet Yu, Greymatter (as part of Teater Ekamatra’s Artist in Zarina Muhammad residency). The various iterations of Chonteng are This edition of IsLand Bar is supported by Goethe a transformation of gesture and forms of various Institute and Taipei Performing Arts Centre (TPAC). stimuli, materialising as abstracted forms, and an investigation of anthropomorphic figures. PHOTO: TUCKYS PHOTOGRAPHY

12 13 EXHIBITIONS Projek Orang Asli is a continuation of artist Zai Projek Orang Asli Kuning's interest in the subject of Austronesian and pre-Islamic arts and cultures in the Riau migrant workers Curators: Rubel Fazely, Yulia Endang, May Thu Zin, Archipelago region. Over 18 years, Zai has Nina Rotelo, Yu Ming, Zhou Zhi Wei Zai Kuning documented and created works inspired by the community museum 4–14 March 2021 (Tue–Sun, Closed on Mon) Orang Laut (sea people) and Mak Yong (ancient Facilitators: Alfian Sa’at, Vithya Subramaniam, 12pm–8pm daily · The Substation Gallery Malay opera) in the Archipelago. His observations Zulkhairi Zulkiflee 18-28 Mar (Tue–Sun, Closed on Mon) Free admission have been documented in the form of writing, film, drawing, , and sculpture. 12pm–8pm daily · The Substation Gallery With support from migrant worker activists Free admission Collaborating Artists: Ronnie Bahari, Jolovan Wham and Stephanie Chok Samri a/l Abdul Rahman In this exhibition, Zai turns his attention to the Advisor: T.K. Sabapathy Orang Asli, the aboriginal people of Peninsular Project Manager: Jezlyn Tan . They are the oldest inhabitants of this area, yet their existence is rarely mentioned in Singapore’s history. Their disappearance due RELATED PROGRAMMES: RELATED PROGRAMMES: to Singapore’s modern development is also largely Curator's Tour Exhibition Opening 21 & 28 Mar · 2PM · The Substation Gallery 4 Mar · 7–10PM unknown. Based on Zai’s Free admission via registration The Substation Gallery childhood memories, the Free admission via registration Orang Asli—who were also Performance: Migrants Band Singapore loosely known as the Sakai 21 Mar · 4.30–5.15PM, 5.30PM–6.15PM Artist Talk: Zai Kuning in people—lived at the hill in The Substation Theatre conversation with T.K. Sabapathy Telok Blangah where his own Free admission via registration 7 Mar · 2–3.30PM relatives resided. The Substation Theatre Anis – Tabla Free admission via registration In the process of Jomiluddin – Dole documenting the daily life, Munir – Harmonium Film Screening: Sewang Ne' Asik Nilsagar – Electric Piano • 7 Mar · 4PM, 5PM, 6PM, 7PM rituals, song and dance, Nozrul – Singer The Substation Theatre traditional dress and Prodip - Tabla Free admission via registration folklore of the Orang Asli, Rana – Singer Zai conceptualises and Robiul - Flute • 5–14 Mar · 7PM daily presents works within a Rubel – Guitar The Migrant Workers Community Museum begins with a The Substation Gallery UNTITLED BY RONNIE BAHARI range of visual art forms: Shojip – Percussion proposition: what would a museum, designed and curated by Free admission. Limited to 10 pax. photography, video Subhas Nair – Supporting Role migrant workers, look like? What objects would be exhibited to documentation, writing and making notations. A screening of a work-in-progress represent the heritage of such a diverse group of people? What Zai is interested in discovering ways to present his docu-film Sewang Ne' Asik by Zai does it mean to create a ‘place’ for those who are often marked findings as expressions of , in Kuning, which documents Sewang, as transient labour, whose ‘places of origin’ lies elsewhere? What the way that he has told the stories of the Orang a Temiar ritual of the Orang Asli does the history of migration to Singapore look like if we take into Laut and Mak Yong to an international audience. community that calls for the spirit of account the social history of migrant workers—those who number the forest to heal and protect members almost a million and who work in the construction, cleaning and of the community who are on the move, maintenance, shipyard, oil refinery and domestic work industries? travelling in the forest, or between the forest and the town. Bringing together a working group consisting of migrant workers, artists and activists, the Migrant Workers Community Museum is an attempt to create a temporary museum at The Substation featuring artefacts contributed by members of the migrant worker community in Singapore.

MAH MERI MASKS BY SAMRI A/I ABDUL RAHMAN

THE LAST MALAYAN BREATH PHOTOS: FACILITATORS OF MIGRANT BY ZAI KUNING WORKERS COMMUNITY MUSEUM 14 15 LINA YU has been involved in Writers' Festival, speaking at TEDx PnG, Drama and Philosophy graduate TAN WEIYING has been involved currently living in Singapura. His work various local theatre productions as and performing at Other Tongues–a from Royal Holloway, University of in theatre ever since she joined the talks about morality and behaviorism an actor, and is also exploring acting in minority voices festival. Subhas believes . She has directed, trained, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts & in the Malay Culture, within the context Artists film and TV after graduating from the active allyship is crucial in dismantling and collaborated with creatives Cultural Troupe (SHHKACT) at the age of post-colonialism and socio-political Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) in systems of oppression on all fronts and and organisations from all over the of 5. She conducts drama classes with change. He reimagines and uses TANG DA WU is a multidisciplinary 2014. Currently under The Substation’s uses his writing as a tool to provoke world—at theatres and conferences in children aged 3-7, facilitates theatre the Malay folk form as a strategy to artist acclaimed for his public art Associate Artist Programme, Lina hopes dialogue and social change. He also the Czech Republic, , Germany, workshops with senior citizens, and navigate society’s systemic structures projects and performances that raise to find out more about the creative wrote K. Muthusamy. Singapore, and the . acts/directs. Her current practice and stereotypes. Currently, he is the individual and collective awareness on process, as she explores themes and Her work explores urgent social issues, explores the creation of imagery with Artistic Director of P7:1SMA, a dance social, environmental and institutional issues of concern. She looks forward to NADA is a /sound project philosophical dialectics, and critical bodies in space. Weiying is a graduate of performance company that radically issues through the use of thought- collaborating with fellow practitioners that explores the myth and synthetic museology through site-responsive the Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI) shifts the perspective of Malay and provoking narratives. Tang co-founded from different disciplines, while history of a fabricated group of the physicality, documentary storytelling, (Class of 2017). dance through intimate and innovative (TAV) in 1988, a continuing to hone her craft as an actor same name focusing on the excavation and multimedia performance. She is performance experiences. He has collective that radically shifted the and creator. of the golden era of Malay traditional also embarrassingly passionate about MADAM DATA (A. presented his work in (Venice possibilities of art-making in Singapore supporting other young artists like International Performance Art week), and popular music that spanned from is a towards the contemporary. In 1999, her in all of their diversity. Rebecca ADHIYATMA) (Mapping Melbourne), KRISTIAN-MARC JAMES the 1960s to the 1980s. A concept musician (composer) and Tang was awarded the Arts and Culture has been described as a “future star Taipei (Asia Discovers Asia is a member of SG Climate developed by Rizman Putra and Safuan sound scientist who explores Prize at the 10th Asian Culture PAUL theatre-maker”, and as a name to Meeting), France (Paris Rally and has appeared on numerous Johari, the duo blurs the line between machine and spirit interfaces. Prize and in 2007, he was one of four look out for—with “cleverly created Summer Academy), Austria podcasts and news publications on fiction and reality by deconstructing Their fantasies are about truly artists who represented Singapore at subtleties and brave staging choices” (ImPulsTanz), behalf of the movement as their press popular Malay songs from the past knowing what sacredness the Venice . Tang’s recent solo in her work. (NuArt), and notable representative. Apart from his work and melding them back together like is, echolocating spaces infused exhibitions include Cunxin Cuntie Cunxin events in Singapura. in climate activism, Kristian is also an a newly-discovered treasure of long with spirits, and begetting ghosts in (2021) at Comma Space, : lost tapes that has aged with time. ALIA ALKAFF is a writer, The D. D. Land and Sembagraphie (2019) associate member of AWARE. Most the technology they create. In finding recently, he was a contributing author The project made its debut as “A videographer and editor. She believes these things, they seek a liberatory SCARLET YU is a and Hak Tai’s Bow, Brother’s Pool and Nada Story”, a mixed media in the power of storytelling, preferring Hong Kong-born Berlin- Our Children (2017) at NAFA. His work for white: behind mental health practice that uses sound to return stigma (2019), an anthology installation and performance to utilise TV, theatre and narrative bodies to resonance. They work with based dance artist. They Poach the Rhino, Chop Off His Horn piece at Budi Daya Exhibition videos to translate her messages. In Her work navigates and Make This Drink (1989) featured on mental health in Singapore. synthesizers, handmade computer In his day job, Kristian works organised by the Malay the past, Alia has worked full-time as programs and circuits, field recordings the in-betweenness in Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia Heritage Centre and held in a story writer for Channel 5’s longest- of the politic and the 1960s–1990s (2018-2019) at National as a Diversity and Inclusion and clarinets; they consider these Programme Coordinator conjunction with the Malay running drama, Tanglin. Her previous objects to be interfaces with the Divine poetic of listening and Museum of Modern Art, ; National Culturefest 2014. In March acting works include Dwayne Ng’s storytelling in human, Museum of Modern and Contemporary at a global software presence; they work with the sonics of corporation. 2015, NADA made a trip to Paris for a Single Mothers (2019) as the character, stillness, space and brutal intensity. nature, and things. Art, , and National Gallery special exhibition held at Palais de Tokyo Sunitha as well as, appearing in Patch Scarlet makes art as an Singapore. where they did an artist visitation stint to and Punnet’s debut double-bill 2042 interface to connect is a visual and performance artist MYSARA rerecord selected songs in French. (2017) as Mother in the piece entitled ila multiple living realities whose intimate works incorporate ZAI TANG is an artist whose ALJARU is a A Mother's Love. She is a graduate from and focuses on the objects, moving images and live practice spans sound, drawing, writer, researcher Singapore Polytechnic’s ‘Creative paradoxical aspect of ScRach MarcS (Rach, performance. Through weaving animation, and performance. He creates and lens-based Writing for TV and New Media’. memory, the heritage Marc), a pioneer robotic couple imagined narratives into existing immersive affecting experiences that practitioner. Currently, she is a Communications system, the self-narrative formed in 2008, represents a new realities, she seeks to create alternative explore notions of awareness and Previously a Studies major at Nanyang Technological dramaturge, the transformative ideology and evolution of street art in nodes of experience and entry connectivity between human and journalist and University. identities, subjectivity, and the politics Singapore and the world. Having both points into the peripheries of the nonhuman worlds. His process begins documentary producer, of the body in autobiography. Her she is currently pursuing started out in the classic street dance unspoken, the tacit and the silenced. with field recordings from wildlife-rich ANGELINE GLEN TOMARA collaborative and solo works have her Masters in Malay styles, ScRach MarcS is about creative Using her body as a space of tension, habitats under threat, which are then is a graduate of LASALLE College’s been presented in various contexts Studies at NUS. Working movement—to look at dance as an art negotiation and confrontation, her abstracted and visualised using both Diploma of Broadcast Media such as IsLand Bar with ADAM on the intersections of form, without boundaries and without works generate discussion about analogue and digital techniques. His programme and is currently pursuing Artist, Temporary Title 2015, For The art and academia, she explores the labels. The duo are constantly on the gender, history and identity in relation recent works have been presented a Film Degree, majoring in Production Unfaithful Replica, For Performance politics of space and power structures lookout for new and exciting works that to pressing contemporary issues. at the Busan Biennale (2020), NTT Design. She excels as an Art Director, and Still Untitled at Sculpture Projects in the process of narrative making that push the creative mind and artistic level; Her works have been shown at DECK InterCommunication Centre (2020), Editor, and Motion Graphics Artist, Münster 2017 together with Xavier Le cuts across class, race and gender. She as creators; innovators and artists. (2021), National Gallery Singapore London International Animation Festival given her creative eye and a strong Roy, A Performance curated by Enoch has also showcased and performed (2020), The Substation; NTU Centre (2020), (2019), grasp of colour. Her works are visually Cheng and solo works such as Read at and ArtScience Museum. from (a)basement for Contemporary Art; National Design SGIFF (2019), Yinchuan Biennale (2018), stylistic, and her brand of aesthetics MEmory, The Act of Passing and The Mysara’s writing has been published Centre (2019); Coda Culture, and Experimental Film Festival theatre collective is has gained her multiple recognitions Act of Memory. Yu was a jury member in Growing Up Perempuan (2018), ArtScience Museum. (2018) and Singapore International a critically-acclaimed independent at both international and local film for Tanzplattform Germany 2018, Budi Kritik (2018) and online/print Festival of Arts – The O.P.E.N (2017). Zai’s theatre company with an international festivals, including three Crowbar Rehearsal Director of Arts Fission publication Karyawan. who is based latest work, Escape Velocity V is currently outlook, made up of a diverse community awards for Goodness, Art Direction and JEREH LEUNG Company (2000-10) and Artist in in Singapore, adopts a constant showing at National Gallery Singapore of interdisciplinary theatre-makers. The Music Video. She hopes to continue residency at Hombroich Summer evaluation and redefinition of until 14 March 2021. MYLE YAN TAY is a writer, collective shares a creative passion for collaborating and creating inclusive Fellows and Asia Discovers Asia Meeting patriarchal society and social norms. actor, and director. His works include raw, subversive, and thought-provoking heartfelt stories, which also enlighten 2017. In 2015, she obtained a Master Through working with dispositifs of CAROLINE CHIN is a performer Master Race (2018), Overtime: An work, with interests in multidisciplinary and entertain the audience. in Choreography at The Hong Kong from Singapore with a background Original Musical (2017) co-created with and surrealist theatre and with an misc-en-scene, soundscapes and Academy for Performing Arts. in acting and dance. She graduated Nathaniel Mah, and Lemmings (The artistic focus on multimedia, spoken filmic elements, he creates landscapes SONIA KWEK moves, makes and seals to place viscerality as the from the Intercultural Theatre Institute Second Breakfast Company, 2017). word, and movement collaboration. The ZARINA MUHAMMAD is and shares through varying mediums. central vehicle of meaning. Combining in 2018, and later joined Chowk He played Lucas in Zenda Tan’s Eat collective strives to empower creatives, an artist, educator and researcher Often, she is performer, co-creator and/ strategies of collective memories Productions as a dancer in 2019. Duck (Checkpoint Theatre, 2019), was and audiences as active specta(c)tors, in whose practice is deeply entwined or facilitator in projects spanning across and surrealism, he looks into the Independently, she seeks to create work the Assistant Director for Lucas Ho’s discussions of perspectives unheard and with a critical re-examination of oral disciplines. Sonia's practice is driven by politics of memory, authenticity and that finds nuances between forms and FRAGO (Checkpoint Theatre, 2017) and unseen. Creating well-researched work histories, ethnographic literature a fascination with the body, particularly social construct. He has worked with culture. was a Citizen’s Reviewer for Centre 42 that excites and debates is in its pith and other historiographic accounts in examining the material(ity) of the Singapore artists Choy Ka Fai, Daniel (2017-2019). His first comic book Putu and core, with the ultimate aim to make about Southeast Asia. Working at body and questioning body politics as Kok, Loo Zihan, Looi Wan Ping, Drama Piring has been published by Checkpoint social-specific theatre that challenges, the intersections of performance, MARVIN ACERO ABLAO is a women. Sonia seeks to shape space/ Box, Frontier Danceland, T:>Works and Theatre in 2020. inspires, and most importantly, reveals installation, text, ritual, sound and a dancer, actor and visual artist from time for intimate encounters and The Necessary Stage; internationally suppressed narratives that deserve to moving image, she is interested in the Bohol, . He was trained in visceral experiences in her work, as a with Isabelle Schad(DE), Xavier Le SUBHAS NAIR is a rap/hip-hop see the light of day. broader contexts of myth-making, modern, contemporary and classical way to open alternative perspectives Roy(FR/DE), Alexandra Pirici(ROU), artist from Singapore who seeks to share haunted historiographies and role of ballet at Steps Dance Studio. He is about the in-between and unspoken. Oleg Soulimenko(AT/RUS), perspectives of the world around him REBECCA GOH is an the artist as “cultural ventriloquist” currently a member of Kasing Sining Sonia is a graduate of the Intercultural Noa Zuk( IL), Ole Khamchanla(FR) and and engage with people from different interdisciplinary theatre/movement who lends multiple voices to spectral Teatro Bol-anon Ensemble, Bohol Dance Theatre Institute and also holds a Wallie Wolfgruber (USA) . director, collaborator, writer, dramaturg, matters and speculative histories. In Project Company and International walks of life through his music and Bachelor of Creative Industries with lyricism. After releasing his debut album researcher, and workshop facilitator. Distinction from Queensland University addition to presenting her projects, Dance Council-UNESCO. He is in his final is a Malay Not A Public Assembly in May 2018, he She currently helms from (a)basement of Technology. Currently, she is an NORHAIZAD ADAM performances and installations at year at Intercultural Theatre Institute for dancer, dance artist, and performance brought his work to multiple venues theatre collective as the company's associate artist with P7:1SMA and (Singapore), a Professional Diploma in Acting. maker who was born, raised, and including panelling at the Singapore Artistic Director and is an award-winning associate member of Dance Nucleus. ArtScience Museum (Singapore), 16 17 NTU Centre of Contemporary Art well as the published play Cooling Off companies, cultural centres and special Blood Ties, Roar the movie and REGINA TOON is a multi- The Tempest (Singapore Repertory (Singapore), Objectifs Centre for Day. In 2001, Alfian won the Golden event commissions. A recipient of Singapore Dreaming. As an artist, she disciplinary artist. She is an all-rounded Theatre), The LKY Musical (Metropolitan Photography and Film (Singapore), Point Award for Poetry as well as the NAC Young Artist Award 2000, NAFA works primarily in acrylic, watercolour performer who acts, sings, dances and Productions), First Fleet (Nine Years T:>Works (Singapore), Indonesia National Arts Council Young Artist Distinguished Alumni Medal 2019 and and ink. Her works were featured at plays multiple musical instruments. She Theatre), Sometime Moon (Toy Factory Contemporary Art Network (Indonesia), Award for Literature. He has also been a nominee for the Spirit of Enterprise Coda Culture, Your Mother Gallery, trained professionally in East 15 Acting Productions) and Fluid (The Theatre Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei nominated for the Singapore Literature Award 2004, Chin is currently heading National Museum and 791 Art Museum School (UK), Intercultural Theatre Practice). Gabriel was also the lighting (Taiwan), she has also presented her Prize three times, for Corridor (1999, the faculty of movement at Intercultural at Nanchang, China. Institute (Singapore) and has travelled designer for Singapore’s National Day work and been involved in projects Commendation Prize), A History of Theatre Institute since 2015. extensively in Asia and beyond, learning Parade 2017, 2018 and 2020. Gabriel across Asia Pacific and Europe. Amnesia (2004) and his translation of RENEE CHUA is an actress, and researching various traditional is also the founder of Linesmith, a new the novel The Widower (2016). Alfian KOK HENG LEUN is a prominent director, and applied theatre performance forms. While her creative moniker under which he conducts ZAI KUNING is one of the most has won Best Original Script at the figure in the Singapore arts scene, practitioner. As a stage actress, some work often focuses on story-telling, her Vectorworks drafting training courses versatile artists working in the region Life! Theatre Awards four times, for having built his artistic career as a of her notable works include Magic personal research and exploration are in Singapore, authorised directly who resists convenient categorisations. Landmarks (2004), Nadirah (2010), theatre director, playwright, dramaturg Lantern (Paper Monkey, ST Life! usually of the psychosomatic nature, from Vectorworks headquarters in He has pioneered a practice spanning Kakak Kau Punya Laki (Your Sister's and educator. He is known for engaging Award for Best Production for Young), that is the study and discovery of the Washington. sculpture, installation, painting and Husband, 2013) and Hotel (with Marcia the community on various issues 11 (Theatre Practice, nominated body-mind complex. Regina is also a drawing, experimental sound and Vanderstraaten, 2016). He is also the through the arts, championing civic for Best Ensemble), Home Boxes published writer of poetry and prose. TUCKY founded Tuckys Photography music, video, film, performance art, co-artistic director of the biennial discourse across different segments (Paper Monkey, nominated for Best Recently, she has been involved in in 2002. He had been working with poetry, dance and theatre. Zai also Singapore Theatre Festival. of society. Having begun his work in Ensemble), and David the Best (Drama scriptwriting for theatre and film. She various performing arts groups in values collaboration and has performed the theatre almost 30 years ago, some Box). Renee’s directorial draws her inspiration from the beauty creating marketing materials and of reality. and created works with artists of VITHYA SUBRAMANIAM is notable directorial works include works include Wonderland archival of the performances. His diverse practices including Kuning an anthropologist-in-training Drift,Trick or Threat, Manifesto and (Doublebill, M1 works were featured in numerous Sulaiman, and Tang Da Wu interested in memory, materiality, and Underclass. His explorations with Peer Plea-sure EILEEN LEE, an associate artist publications—prints and online in Singapore, and Tetsu Saitoh in Japan. space. Her earlier research had focused multi-disciplinary engaged arts have 2019), The with ECNAD from 2010-2013, has locally and internationally. He has also on Sikh mnemonic spaces and the produced works like Project Mending Puppet King (NAFA, performed in various productions and been creating impactful visuals for RONNIE BAHARI was born in work of cartography in remembering Sky (2008, 2009 and 2012), a series Toy Factory), Sex also began her choreography journey the marketing and sales projects of Gombak, Selangor and lived in Kampar, ‘Punjab’. Vithya is a co-founder of Sikh on environmental issues, Both Sides, Cells (The Voice, with Living Room (2010), BINGO! (2011) corporate and commercial clients. Perak until the age of 25. A self-taught Heritage Trail; the playwright behind Now (2013, 2014 and 2017-2019), a Science Centre), and Adsum (2012). She went on to photographer, he worked for Jabatan Sikhs of Serangoon; and has been project that seeks to normalise end-of- The Legend of Nezha work with John Mead Dance Company RIZMAN PUTRA graduated with Filem Negara Malaysia (National Film a lecturer and tutor with the South life conversations and It Won't Be Too (Paper Monkey (JMDC), Sigma Contemporary Dance Master of Arts (Fine Arts) from LASALLE Malaysia) from 2007 to 2010, then Asian Studies Programme at NUS. Long, which touched on the dynamics Theatre). Renee and in other freelance engagements. College of the Arts in 2007, and has became a full-time photographer for Vithya holds degrees in South Asian of space in Singapore. His most recent has founded Her She was part of the choreography been actively straddling between Politeknik Ungku Omar in Ipoh, Perak. Studies from Columbia University and work Tanah•Air 水 • 土 :A Play In Two Playback Theatre team for NAFA alumni show ‘30 years’ performance, visual arts and music for He is active in promoting the arts, NUS. She is presently a student in the Parts was about the dispossession in 2018, a company in 2017. BINGO! (2011) was her first the last decade. Winner of the Japanese crafts and culture of the Semai, an DPhil Anthropology programme at the of the indigenous Malays and Orang made up of only major creative work in The Substation Chamber of Commerce & Industry Orang Asli community in Malaysia. He University of Oxford, UK, exploring Seletar of Singapore. He is a recipient women to serve as part of Fireball 2011 and she is (JCCI) Singapore Foundation Arts has worked on illustrated materials for the work of objects in the material of the NAC Young Artist Award (2000) women’s stories. thrilled to be able to return to create Award 2005 (as part of artist initiative Lenggong (2015), which was published experience and development of 'Indian- and Cultural Fellowship (2014). He She has been part new work in a place that was filled Kill Your Television [KYTV], Rizman is a by the Perak State Secretariat. His ness' and 'belonging' in Singapore. also served as a Nominated Member of Tapestry Playback with beginnings. co-founder of the now dissolved arts photography has been exhibited at of Parliament from 2016 to 2018, Theatre since 2006, collective, Kill Your Television (KYTV), representing the arts sector. working with various the Ipoh International Art Festival ZULKHAIRI ZULKIFLEE is TENNIE SU’s experience as well as front man for an indie music communities to promote (2019), Georgetown Festival (2019), an artist-curator based in Singapore. with performing arts is varied group, Tiramisu. Rizman has also dialogue and social Indigenous Art Festival Johor (2015 His practice explores the notion of JOHNNY NG is the current across Chinese traditional performed and exhibited his works in change. Her applied and 2016), a fundraiser for Orang Asli Malayness in relation to knowledge chairman of Sin Feng Xiang Sheng music, modern dance and Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, theatre projects have children (2012) and the Kuala Lumpur production, the social agency and Society and disciple of renowned contemporary theatre. She Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, the broached on issues such Performing Arts Centre (2011). distinction/taste. crosstalk master Jiang Kun. He started feels privileged to have United Kingdom and Vietnam. Rizman as racism, bullying, civic Recent curatorial doing crosstalk in 1976 and witnessed the process was one of the four artists selected for consciousness, inequality SAMRI A/L ABDUL projects include The won the first Singapore Cross from page to stage and the the President’s Young Talents Exhibition Talk Contest in 1990 and two and environmentalism. development of performers. (2005), as well as being included in the RAHMAN was born and lives in Orchid; The Wasp (2021), Best Actor awards within the Renee is a graduate from She is an Associate Fukuoka Triennale (2005). He received Sungai Bumbun on Carey Island, ; How to local theatre industry. A Centre of Playback Theatre Production Manager with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Selangor. He is Mah Meri, one of the Desire Differently (2020); trailblazer in Singapore (Dip) and National University of Nine Years Theatre. Credits Technology's (RMIT) Most Outstanding Orang Asli communities in Malaysia. Lim Hak Tai Gallery, NAFA, and theatre, crosstalk, film and Singapore (BA). include: It Won't be Too Award 2002-2003. He exhibited He has been making traditional Mah MAT (2019), Objectifs. Other group television for 40 years, Long: The Cemetery, his works at the inaugural Singapore Meri masks and under his exhibitions include The Body as a he has been invited to WENDY TOH is a Dawn by Drama Box; Biennale 2006. Rizman is currently an master, Mr. Pion, for 26 years, and is Dream, Art Agenda S.E.A (2021); perform in China, Taiwan Singaporean artist with a passion for Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral by Associate Artist with Cake Theatrical successful and renowned in this art. Stories We Tell to Scare Ourselves and Malaysia for cultural creating art using different mediums Jeff Chen; The Rite of Spring–A People's Productions. Since 2006, Samri has been supported With (2019), MOCA Taipei, Taipei, exchanges. and forms. She has a wide portfolio that Stravinsky by The Arts Fission Company and invited by Jabatan Kemajuan and The Direction I Rub One Matters ranges from the performance arts to and The Philharmonic Orchestra; M1 Orang Asli (National Department (2018), Grey Projects. He advises on filmmaking. As an actor and performer, Contact Contemporary Dance Festival of Orang Asli Development) to exhibition-making in the Migrant EVE TAN has she has numerous credits in prominent 2019, New Works Festival 2019 by the demonstrate, promote and protect Workers Community Museum participated in several art film and TV productions. She is an Singapore Theatre the traditional woodworking culture (MWCM). projects and exhibitions, Associate Artist with theatre company Alliance; PheNoumenon by T.H.E Dance of the Mah Meri people of Carey including programme GroundZ-0, and has trained and worked Company; Art, Art Studio, Cut Kafka! and Island at events and exhibitions such LIM CHIN HUAT is a cross- managing for Art of with Jinen Butoh School under Atsushi First Fleet by Nine Years Theatre. as ECO Print (2019), Karnival Orang disciplinary arts practitioner who Speed and Big Draw Takenouchi. As an artist, Wendy’s Asli (2017), Malaysia Cultural Week in has over two decades of experience ’15 at Playeum, organising the most recent work was E:den 依：窩 , an Paris (2015), International Museum in capacities as creative director, 6th International Urban Sketchers GABRIEL CHAN, a recipient of installation piece which was showcased Day (2012), World Expo in Shanghai choreographer, visual artist, performer, Symposium and curating the the NAC Overseas Bursary, graduated in The Substation Gallery. On the film (2010), One Village One Product dancer, production designer, mentor programmes for My HeARTland from HKAPA with First Class Honours in front, Wendy’s directorial debut - the International Exhibition in Bali (2009) and educator. He is known for his Carnival on MediaCorp Channel 8. As Lighting Design. He was also awarded experimental short film “In Between” and Kraftangan Malaysia’s Handicraft stunning visual creative theatrical a designer, she specialises in design the Strand Lighting Scholarship, was screened as part of the Isolation Day (2006). works with multi-disciplinary, site- for theatre and festivals, such as 0600 funding his training at the Metropolitan series by The Substation. Her follow-up specific, installation, outreach and (SIFA 2018), It’s a Happy Happy World Opera, New York (’09 Winter Opera (Silver Arts 2018), The Rubbish Prince was “Vios”, a short documentary which Season). He was recently conferred ALFIAN SA’AT is the Resident non-conventional nature. Prior to being (Arts in Your Neighbourhood). She premiered at the Singapore Chinese the Young Artist Award for his artistic Playwright of W!LD RICE. His published an independent arts practitioner, Chin was the art director for Studio Disney Film Festival 2019. A proud graduate excellence and contribution to works include three collections of was co-founder and artistic director of @Disney Channel and U Pick Live @ of Singapore’s Intercultural Theatre Singapore's performing arts scene. poetry, One Fierce Hour, A History of ECNAD with the late Tan How Choon Nickelodeon TV. As a wardrobe stylist, Institute, Wendy hopes to deepen her Signature theatre designs include Amnesia and The Invisible Manuscript, (1996-2013). Some of his signature she had worked on theatre productions craft and continue her journey as a Constellations, Shakespeare in the a collection of short stories, Corridor, and collaborative works were seen and Singapore films, such as People multi-disciplinary artist. Park: Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, a collection of flash fiction, Malay and presented locally and overseas Like Us, 7 Letters (Boo Junfeng), Sketches, three collections of plays as with arts festivals, performing arts 18 19 ticketing All programmes (except for exhibitions and its related Covid-19 safety The health and safety of our audiences, artists and crew are of programmes) are ticketed individually with free seating. utmost importance to us. Therefore, we seek your support and information management understanding as we put in place the following measures: Tickets are available at: thesubstation.eventbrite.com measures

Programmes IsLand Bar The Last Chapter (Week 1, 2, 3) (Week 4) (Week 4) ◎ Mandatory SafeEntry via TraceTogether app or token

Single Admission $20 $21 $30 ◎ Mandatory temperature taking before entry. If your body temperature is above 37.5, The Substation reserves the right to deny entry.

Concession (15% discount) ◎ All audiences are required to wear a mask at all times. Available for Students (Local/Overseas), $17 $17.8 5 $25.50 Senior Citizens (age 55 years and above) ◎ All guests and staff are encouraged to practise good hand hygiene by sanitising their hands Valid ID required regularly. Hand sanitisers are available at all high-traffic points.

Bulk Purchase (10% discount) ◎ Please avoid agglomeration and intermingling among guests. Limit close contact between With a mininum purchase of 4 tickets and above $18 $27 individuals in your group. for the same performance/show

Seating Accessibility Due to the limited seating capacity, our audience We apologise in advance that due to the design seatings are fixed for individual seating and of our building, our spaces are not wheel-chair arranged at least 1m apart to facilitate safe friendly. distancing measures. We apologise in advance that you will not be able to be seated with your Ratings guest/partner/family members from the same Ratings of programmes are to be advised. household. Audiences are advised to purchase tickets at their own discretion.

20 21 AcknowledgEments FESTIVAL TEAM We would like to thank the following donors, sponsors and partners for their kind support and contribution: FESTIVAL DIRECTOR SPONSORS & DONORS RAKA MAITRA

PROGRAMMES KARINE TAN Programmes, Partnerships, Marketing/PR UZAIR DAUD Programmes, Production, Ticketing MARILYN GIAM Front-of-House

MARKETING & CREATIVE LEOW SI MIN Social Media Marketing BEVERLEY NG Design, Illustration and Identity HEI STUDIO Creative Partner PRINTING PARTNERS OPERATIONS AIKES LOH General Manager MUHAMMED ISYAF BIN SABTU Facilities & Technical Manager JOANNA ROBERT Venue & Admin Manager NUR ALIFF BIN OSMAN Technician AZRIL BIN ATHNI Technician CHUA NG GER Caretaker FARHAN BIN ABU BAKAR Housekeeping MERCHANDISING PARTNERS (THE LAST CHAPTER)

PRODUCTION NADIA NOORDIN Festival Production Manager REES SAFINA Festival Stage Manager DARYL NORMAN SOH Festival Lighting Designer

VOLUNTEERS MANDEL YAP MEDIA PARTNER SPECIAL THANKS ROXANA YEO ZHANG SHI YUAN BAKCHORMEEBOY PLURAL ART MAG SPECIAL THANKS Co-Artistic Director, Woon Tien Wei, The Substation's colleagues, Board Members and friends for their support Company Registration No. 200818724G No. Registration Company

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