A Milestone Year for Singapore, A Milestone Festival
In celebration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence, this year’s theme, More Than Ever, We Know Who We Are, reflects a deep dive into national identity, history, and imagination. With **15 commissioned works—the highest in the festival’s history—**and a powerful line-up of both local and international artists, SIFA 2025 promises to be its most ambitious edition yet.
Under the artistic direction of Natalie Hennedige, audiences can expect her signature post-modern aesthetic: a fusion of theatre, visual art, dance, and music that challenges, inspires, and resonates.
Left: SIFA Pavilion. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Right: The Sea and the Neighbourhood. (Image courtesy of Brian Gothong Tan)
Right: The Sea and the Neighbourhood. (Image courtesy of Brian Gothong Tan)
Taking the Arts to the Heartlands
In a groundbreaking move, SIFA is bringing the arts directly into the neighbourhoods. For the first time in its 48-year history, the festival introduces the SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square. This vibrant, coral-inspired stage by artist Wang Ruobing will host The Sea And The Neighbourhood, the festival’s opening performance, featuring collaborators like composer Philip Tan, choreographer Christina Chan, and video artist Brian Gothong Tan. On weekdays, the space transforms into a kinetic art installation; on weekends, it becomes a multidisciplinary hub for live performances.
Left: Animal Farm. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Right:LEAR. (Image courtesy of Niall Walker)
Right:LEAR. (Image courtesy of Niall Walker)
Reimagining the Classics
This year, timeless works get fresh interpretations by Singapore artists. Expect George Orwell’s Animal Farm reimagined through puppetry by The Finger Players, and a unique King Lear performed from the perspective of a deaf artist by Ramesh Meyyappan, a Glasgow-based Singaporean performer.
Left: Umbilical. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Right:A Thousand Stitches. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Right:A Thousand Stitches. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Deep Stories, Bold Expression
SIFA 2025 doesn’t shy away from the heavy-hitters. Two standout works-in-progress from SIFA 2024 return in full form:
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Umbilical uses movement, projections, and AI to explore the trauma of Singapore’s 1965 separation from Malaysia. Created by Zal Mahmod, thesupersystem, and Rizman Putra, this immersive piece is both personal and political.
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A Thousand Stitches, by a multidisciplinary team including Alan Oei, Kaylene Tan, Xuan Ong, and Mihaya Shirata, tells the haunting story of a student restoring a vandalised portrait of a Japanese woman—an artistic reflection on wartime Singapore.
The House Between the Winds. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Arts for All Ages
Families can once again enjoy Little SIFA at Empress Lawn, complete with interactive installations (keep an eye out for a giant sailboat!) and kid-friendly performances that invite curiosity and play.
Left: Hossan-AH! In The High Arts. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
Right: stray gods. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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| Left: Hossan-AH! In The High Arts. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited) Right: stray gods. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited) |
Celebrating Singapore’s Creative Spirit
Singapore’s arts scene gets a nostalgic and humorous nod with Hossan-Ah! In The High Arts, a stand-up-style journey through the local arts scene since the 1980s by Hossan Leong. Meanwhile, artist weish delves into ancient texts and Hakka funeral songs in stray gods, a powerful musical performance blending history and myth.
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| Prism 48. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited) |
The Festival also features PRISM 48, a conversation series curated by writer, editor, and producer Hong Xinyi. Titled to reflect the multifaceted perspectives shaping Singapore’s evolving cultural identity anchored on shared arts and culture, PRISM 48 explores our understanding of ourselves and our region, and the nation’s place within global artistic circuits. A range of thinkers and cultural advocates, who work both locally and regionally, will be in dialogue about topics such as What Difference Can Singapore Storytelling Make, exploring and reframing cultural narratives through the performing arts and beyond.
Left: HOME. (Image courtesy of Hillarie Jason) / Told By My Mother. (Image courtesy of Pierre Gondard)
Right: COLONY – A True Colors Project. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited) / Vampyr. (Image courtesy of Franco Barrios)
Right: COLONY – A True Colors Project. (Image courtesy of Arts House Limited) / Vampyr. (Image courtesy of Franco Barrios)
Global Voices, Shared Stages
While spotlighting local talent, SIFA continues to grow its international reach. Audiences can look forward to:
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Home by American artist Geoff Sobelle – a theatrical meditation on memory, space, and the passage of time.
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Told By My Mother by Lebanese choreographer Ali Chahrour – a deeply moving performance about love and loss.
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Vampyr by Chilean playwright Manuela Infante – a darkly comedic mockumentary that tackles environmental themes.
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Colony, directed by Remesh Panicker, brings together differently abled dancers from Southeast Asia and Japan in a powerful, inclusive performance.
More Than Ever: Why It Matters
SIFA 2025 is more than just a festival—it's a reflection of Singapore’s cultural courage and its creative pulse. It’s about bringing communities together, challenging the norm, and pushing artistic boundaries in ways that are deeply personal and profoundly collective.
As Hennedige puts it, “We need to look at our arts landscape and all these things happening in relation to one another. If it’s not the space where you still try to push, then I’m not sure where else to.”
Plan Your Festival Adventure
Early bird tickets go on sale from March 11 to April 14, 2025, with a 20% discount for those who book in advance. The full programme and updates can be found at sifa.sg.
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