The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s 17th annual Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts will take place from July 12th to 15th, 2018. The festival coincides with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a celebration that lasts until mid-July.
This year, the festival focuses on the history of the Nusantara. Fezhah Maznan, a programmer with The Esplanade Company, stated that Pesta Raya has always celebrated the rich Malay heritage through arts and culture from the region. He expressed hope that the festival will continue to build strong relationships between artists and audiences. He explained that this year’s festival will feature works highlighting Malay identity, including a fresh perspective on Malay folklore and characters in the commissioned production Alkesah. There will also be new interpretations of traditional keroncong and dikir barat music. He added that the festival will also honor the history of Malay dance in Singapore with a performance by Sriwana. He expressed hope that attendees will connect with the diverse programming and experience the best of what the Nusantara offers. As background, dikir barat is a traditional musical form of group singing, while keroncong is both a musical instrument and an Indonesian musical genre.
Festival Commissions
Alkesah (“as the story goes”), this year’s festival commission, offers a new take on Malay folklore. The story, written by Zulfadli Rashid and directed by Aidli Mosbit, centers around the village of Kampung Alkesah. The tale of misfortune, survival, and secret love features well-known characters such as Mat Jenin (the hopeless dreamer), Sang Kancil (the mouse deer), and Pak Belalang (the village astrologer).
This production, featuring a notable cast including Siti Khalijah Zainal, Jeff Catz, Siti Hajar Gani, and Hatta Said, marks the first time the festival has commissioned a Malay pantomime at the Esplanade Theatre Studio. Musical theatre veteran Elaine Chan and vocal coach Babes Conde will also be participating in their first Malay production.
The festival will also feature a commissioned non-ticketed performance titled GhaMuhyi: Melampaui Sempadan Ghazal. The performance, which opens the festival on July 12th at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, is a collaboration between contemporary ghazal by the ensemble GhaMuhyi from Malaysia and the works of Singaporean traditional Malay music groups Sri Mahligai and Orkestra Sri Temasek.
Attendees can dress vintage and dance the joget during Pesta Berpesta at the Esplanade Annexe Plaza and Annexe Studio on July 14th, which will feature popular music from the 1960s to the 1980s. At this event, the Esplanade presents Tarakucha!, a kebaya jazz performance conceived by Malaysian singer and actor Sean Ghazi. The event will feature original compositions and songs by P. Ramlee, Sudirman, and Jimmy Boyle.
The event will also feature free performances. NADA (Singaporean musicians Rizman Putra and Safuan Johari) will present a contemporary visual arts and sound project that uses music to evoke lost eras. Indonesian duo Iramamama will play nostalgic tunes and quirky sounds, ranging from funk to post-punk music from their home country.
Singapore-born and Kuala Lumpur-based singer-songwriter Imran Ajmain, known for his hit song Seribu Tahun, will celebrate a decade in music with a concert titled First 10 Years at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Imran, following in the footsteps of his father, Ahmad Husaini Ajmain, has written songs for several Singaporean and Malaysian musicians, including Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza, and SleeQ. In addition to songs from his upcoming album, Imran will sing hits from the 1970s and 1980s written by his father.
Inspired by Indonesian folklore, guitarist Addy Cradle composed an epic love saga about a prince and a warrior princess. The performance, titled Transcendence – The Legend of Ryu Wuri, will be held at the Esplanade Recital Studio. This multidisciplinary performance will feature visual artist Muhammad Izdi and video artist Wu Jun Han, who will add to Addy’s instrumental backdrop. Transcendence – The Legend of Ryu Wuri is the first of three volumes that combine rock and traditional music from China, Indonesia, Japan, and India.
On July 13th at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, Singapore’s oldest Malay performing arts group, Sriwana, will present Lenggang Legenda: Merintis Sejarah, which traces the history of Malay dance. The performance will feature iconic dances by the company. Sriwana has produced some of the biggest names in the Singapore Malay dance scene, including Som Said, Osman Abd Hamid, and Rizman Kassim.
On July 14th, Sriwana will present The Classic Tarian Workshop, led by Ibu Surianty, also known as Mdm Lim Ah Choon. Ibu Surianty, an Indonesian dance teacher, introduced zapin and other Malay dances to Singapore in the 1960s.
Dua Diva marks the Singapore debut of Aishah, an ’80s pop diva, and ’90s sensation Liza Hanim. The duo recently appeared on Astro’s singing competition Gegar Vaganza 2017. This one-night-only performance will showcase both individual and collaborative performances of their songs. Music direction will be provided by composer Datuk Ramli MS, who also served as a judge on Gegar Vaganza.
The Indonesian pop-rock band GIGI, with 26 albums spanning their 24-year career, will perform in Singapore for the first time in seven years. The performance will include classics such as 11 Januari, Terbang, Andai, and Kepastian Yang Ku Tunggu.
Screen capture from the Pesta Raya page on the Esplanade website, featuring theatre, music and dance acts as well as workshops.
- Keroncong, which blends Javanese and Western musical traditions, is thought to have been introduced to Indonesia by the Portuguese. It developed into the ukulele, guitar, violin, flute, cello, and bass ensemble that many recognize today. In honor of Pesta Raya, Indonesian composer Pak Liliek Jasqee and his ensemble will pay tribute to the musical, cultural, and linguistic ties between Indonesia and Singapore in Titian Nada Persaudaraan. Singaporean jazz artist Rudy Djoharnaen will also perform familiar and new compositions with the ensemble.
- This year’s festival will feature several programs for children and families.
- Walang Weh is a storytelling performance by the musicians and vocalists of the RENTA Collective.
- Dek Hujan is a performance by P7:1SMA that combines spoken word, dance, and soundscapes.
- Kemas (Malay for “tidy up”) is a series of roving site-specific movement pieces performed at various locations throughout the Esplanade. This piece examines everyday cleaning rituals as engaging and spiritual tasks.
- Ceria! Konsert Si Cilik returns to the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre this year, with a concert honoring Singapore’s Malay children’s songs. Performers will range in age from 10 to 16.
- PIP’s PLAYbox, Esplanade’s dedicated space for children and families, will host interactive storytelling sessions led by Dalifah Shahril, who will discuss the significance of the sarong in Malay culture and identity. There will also be sessions where kids can make their own kuih-muih (desserts).
- This year’s festival features Dikir-pella by JUARA, a new interpretation of dikir barat, a traditional art form. This event will feature classic dikir songs sung a cappella by some of the genre’s most talented singers.
- Pasar Pesta!, curated by the online shopping hub LalooLalang, returns by popular demand. The market will offer traditional handicrafts as well as curated food vendors selling Instagram-worthy and one-of-a-kind Malay food items.
Details:
Tickets for the Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2018 are available from the Esplanade Box Office on the Mezzanine level (+65 6828 8377), the SISTIC Hotline (+65 6348 5555), and all SISTIC outlets.