Silver Arts returns this year in a hybrid format, with a blend of physical and digital programmes for seniors and their loved ones to enjoy in-person and from the comfort of their homes.
Venue: On-site & Online
Date: Sep to Dec 2021
Fee: Free
Presented by the National Arts Council (NAC), with an exciting line-up of more than 30 programmes in English, Malay, Tamil, Mandarin and Chinese dialects, here's what you and your family can look forward at Silver Arts 2021:
1. On-Site Live Performances
红山脚下的歌谣 Old Songs Of Redhill Market
Venue: Victoria Theatre
Date: 3 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm & 6.30pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Connected through love, culture, food and all things Singapore in the good old days; a group of music lovers wrote their own melodies, and sought to find their own rhythm amidst the daily bustle of the Redhill Market.
Now in 2021, come and rejoice in nostalgic tunes greatly inspired by the sounds of the Trishaw Bell, bright colourful lights of Great World Amusement Park, and even to the crispy texture of Fried Dough Stick; these are just to name a few of the great collection of Old Songs of Redhill Market gracing the grand stage of Victoria Theatre!
Performed in Mandarin and Hokkien, with English Subtitles.
SwingOUT Party
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, Level 9
Date: 4 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Does jazz and jive rock your boat? Are you familiar with Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw? Did you play the saxophone, trumpet or trombone during those school band days? Time to pick up that instrument, dust off those dancing shoes and join City Swing Big Band as they perform popular tunes by the big bands from the 40s swing era. Let us transport you through time and entertain everyone in the family from the young to the young at heart. You will find yourself snapping your fingers, tapping your feet, swinging with a partner and even tooting a trumpet to these wonderful evergreen tunes.
Keroncong Asmara (Romantic Keroncong)
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre
Date: 4 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm & 8pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Keroncong Asmara presents Keroncong songs that are not only soulful and melodious but will also get you dancing. Performed by great homegrown vocalists and Orkestra Melayu Singapura, the colourful, varied musical styles from Keroncong Asli (Original), Classics, to pop- and jazz-infused tunes will surely get audiences singing and swaying along!
Performed in Malay, with English Subtitles.
Music Hall: That’s My Jam
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, Level 9
Date: 5 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free | Register here
'My jam' is an expression used in music which refers to a favourite song or a piece of music that carries a groove or style that pleases you. So what can be more pleasing than watching a family play music together? Let this inter- and intragenerational band take the music and dance lover in you back to the late 60s and 70s. They will feature a selection of music from a time when bell bottoms were in trend and the twang of electric guitar kept the hips swinging. As they say, the family that plays together, stays together.
我只在乎你 I Only Care About You
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre
Date: 12 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm & 8pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Heartwarming, sweet and beautiful, Teresa Teng's angelic voice has touched the hearts of many people across the globe. Conducted by Mr Quek Ling Kiong, let Ding Yi Music Company bring back her unforgettable melodies with local singer Tallin, known as "Little Teresa Teng" and virtual choir Voices of Singapore, as we pay homage to her classics through Chinese chamber music, and present this renowned songstress in 'real life' to you and your loved ones!
Performed in Mandarin, with English Subtitles.
后会无期 Curtain Call
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre
Date: 17 to 18 Sep 2021
Time: 8pm
Fee: Free | Register here
As a writer of obituaries, death and goodbyes have defined much of Zhang Le's life. After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to write a different obituary and hold a different funeral... for himself. Little did he know what white lies and dark secrets he was about to unearth.
Performed in Mandarin, with English Subtitles.
Evergreen Symphonic Jukebox
Venue: Victoria Theatre
Date: 19 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm & 8pm
Fee: Free | Register here
The Evergreen Symphonic Jukebox returns for a live performance this year! Let veteran singer Rahimah Rahim, beatboxer Charles Stitch Wong, and the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra, led by conductors Adrian Chiang and Dedric Wong surprise you in this unique concert. Highlights include familiar tunes with Samuel Phua on the saxophone, and the exclusive screening of Longevity Peach, directed by Ng Xinmin with a brand new soundtrack performed live.
Gambar Kegemaran
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall, Level 7
Date: 25 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Did Hujan Panas (Drizzle on a Hot Day) make you laugh and cry? Were you already fangirling P Ramlee then? Or perhaps the 80s was your wild period and you spend your date night watching Azura? The 50s and 60s were the golden era for Malay films in Singapore, introducing us to many moving and beautiful soundtracks. Come relive those memories with Syawal Kassim and his band, be serenaded by the lovely voices of Rahimah, Iskandar and Teeqa RZ, be fascinated by the multimedia design from Mervin Wong, and travel back to a time of black-and-white movies, drive-ins and 5-cent kachang puteh.
Performed in Malay and English.
黄金今曲 Oldies But Goodies
Photo Credits: National Arts Council (unless otherwise stated)
Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall, Level 7
Date: 26 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Did you cry your heart out to Frankie during a breakup? Or maybe you wondered if he truly loved you with 《千言万语》? Perhaps you proposed with 《阿美阿美》? Or marked your wedding anniversary with "Getaran Jiwa"? Music not only entertains us, it also marks important journeys and milestones in our lives. It has been known to boost endorphins, engage the heart and speak to the soul. Come and relive the popular songs of yesteryear with the Stephen Francis Band and wonderful singers Henry, Irene and Yati. Let them serenade you and bring you back to a time when you were young and adventurous.
Performed in Mandarin and English.
2. Silver Arts Exhibition
View interesting new works from four unique artist-led community arts projects online at three libraries from 26 September.
1. A Library Of Splendid Hacks by Michael Lee and Loh Xiang Yun
2. Stories Beyond Us by Joanne Lio and Cheryl Teo
3. Spaces Between The Clouds by Mintio
4. Stop, Look, A-GO-GO! by Lee Sze-Chin, Moses Sia, Tan Wenlin
For details on schedules of exhibitions and to view the art works online, please visit the website here.
3. Digital Programmes
〸楼 Chap Lau (Radio Play)
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date & Time:
-
English Version
2 to 11 Sep 2021, 11am
Post-show dialogue: 12 Sep 2021, 2pm | Register here - Mandarin Version
14 to 23 Sep 2021, 11am
Post-show dialogue: 24 Sep 2021, 2pm | Register here
Fee: Free
Let’s Dance Lindy Hop
Have you always wanted to try out a fun exercise or maybe do a little tap to your favourite tune? Are your social gatherings always sedate and seated? Then what are you waiting for? Learn to dance with Sing Yuen today! Catch her as she shares a brief history of Lindy Hop, demonstrates some of the key dances of the 30s, with dancers from both SwingStation and B Swing Lindy. Sing Yuen will also teach a brief class of the Shim Sham, so gather a few kakis and have a dance party of your own because it is never too late to learn this happy dance.
Shake A Leg Tea Dance
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date: 3 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free
Did you know that in the 1920s, Tea Dance was so popular that it made Raffles Hotel ballroom “the coolest ballroom in the East”? Or that in the 60s, it was all about doing the Hippy Shake in the Cellar, Golden Venus or Celestial Room? Perhaps you paid the $10 cover charge at The Warehouse, Rumours or Zone Two in the 80s. But no matter your era, tea dances bring back memories of young love and passion. Join Maya Dance Theatre, their artistic director Kavitha Krishnan, and travel back to a time when tea dance was all about dating and no one actually drank any tea then.
Learning The Basics Of Ukulele
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date: 4 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free
Ukulele may look like a 4-stringed mini guitar, but this tiny humble instrument is capable of spreading love and sharing happiness across generations. Playing the ukulele has been known to improve tonality and hand-eye coordination. Let Mervyn Goh and fellow ukulele enthusiast Alan Soo teach you the basics of playing the ukulele, from tuning it, to basic chords, to learning simple strumming patterns, to playing simple songs. So sing or strum alongside these happy souls, because when you play the ukulele, every occasion is a happy occasion.
Getting To Know Handbells
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date: 5 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free
A handbell may look simple, however the playing, harmonising and history behind it is rich and textured. How do you ring a bell? Can you ring four bells at once? If one person is only in charge of a few notes, then how many friends do you need to play Singapura Sunny Island? With the constant ringing, how do you make handbells sensory/autism friendly? Get to know handbells better with Damien Lim in this show and tell. And learn how to come together with kawan-kawan to play a song in perfect harmony.
Ringing In Harmony
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date: 12 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free
Enjoying Acappella
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date: 9 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free
Have you seen shows like Glee and Pitch Perfect where actors sing in perfect harmony and without instrumental accompaniment? This is acappella singing, a style of singing which originated in Europe around the late 15th century AD and has since traversed continents and time. A cappella is all about bringing people together, finding harmony, balance and beauty in both music and life. It is also about the flexibility and creativity of the human voice be it beatboxing, doo-wop or barbershop quartet singing. Join Leslie Tay and Acappella Anonymous and give your vocal cords a workout as they introduce the different elements of a cappella singing as well as the joys of making music as a family.
The Singing Chef
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date: 19 Sep 2021
Time: 3pm
Fee: Free
Tiong Bahru: Virtual Walk & Workshop
Venue: National Arts Council Singapore Facebook Page
Date & Time:
Virtual Walk
11 & 12 Sep 2021, 4pm to 6pm
Workshop
18 & 19 Sep 2021, 3pm to 6pm
Fee: Free | Register here
Sign up for the virtual walk and/or workshop. We recommend both for the full experience!
For more information and to check out the full line-up, you may visit the website here.
