Cover "Animal Farm” by The Finger Players (Photo: Moonrise Studio, courtesy of Arts House Limited)
"Animal Farm” by The Finger Players (Photo: Moonrise Studio, courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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Marking a milestone year, SIFA 2025 makes a bold artistic statement with the largest showcase of homegrown talent in the festival’s history—celebrating Singapore’s vibrant creative spirit in the arts
As Singapore marks its 60th year of independence in 2025, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA), returning from May 16 to June 1, is going all out to spotlight the nation’s vibrant creative pulse. With the theme of “More Than Ever”, this milestone edition is Natalie Hennedige’s swansong as festival director, and fittingly, it’s a powerful celebration of local artistry.
With a record-breaking 15 commissioned Singapore works, this year marks the most homegrown commissions in SIFA history. Presented by Arts House Limited and commissioned by the National Arts Council, the festival spotlights Singapore’s flourishing cultural landscape while deepening artistic connections across communities.
Whether they reimagine classics, delve into national memory, or spark joy through satire, these Singapore-made works are bold, poetic and deeply reflective of our SG60 journey.
Here are eight homegrown highlights you won’t want to miss.
Read also: Grand stage: 10 magnificent theatres and cinemas across Asia
“The Sea and the Neighbourhood” by Wang Ruobing, Philip Tan, Christina Chan with Singapore Ballet, and Brian Gothong Tan
Above “The Sea and the Neighbourhood” by Wang Ruobing, Philip Tan, Christina Chan with Singapore Ballet, and Brian Gothong Tan (Photo: Moonrise Studio, courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“The Sea and the Neighbourhood” by Wang Ruobing, Philip Tan, Christina Chan with Singapore Ballet, and Brian Gothong Tan (Photo: Moonrise Studio, courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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Transforming Bedok Town Square into a living, breathing artscape, The Sea and the Neighbourhood is a multidisciplinary marvel anchored by a coral-inspired installation by visual artist Wang Ruobing. Featuring choreography by Christina Chan (with Singapore Ballet), soundscapes by Philip Tan and visuals by Brian Gothong Tan, the piece draws inspiration from Bedok’s coastal past and urban evolution. It’s a free, open-air performance that channels the ebb and flow of history, ecology and collective memory—a stunning tribute to community and place.
From May 16 to 18, at Bedok Town Square.
“Animal Farm” by The Finger Players
Above “Animal Farm” by The Finger Players (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“Animal Farm” by The Finger Players (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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In this visceral new adaptation of George Orwell’s classic, The Finger Players breathe life into a dystopian fable with its signature blend of masterful puppetry and theatrical storytelling. Directed by Oliver Chong, Animal Farm presents a revolution turned nightmare as power corrupts and oppression reigns. Dark, witty and visually striking, this bold retelling underscores the relevance of Orwell’s cautionary tale today. Whether you’re rediscovering the story or seeing it anew, this production is a must-see for its provocative imagery and razor-sharp political resonance.
From May 16 to 18, at Drama Centre Theatre.
“Umbilical” by Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod and thesupersystem
Above “Umbilical” by Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod and thesupersystem (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“Umbilical” by Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod and thesupersystem (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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Helmed by a powerhouse trio—Rizman Putra, Zul Mahmod, and thesupersystem—Umbilical is a multisensory journey across time and terrain. Fusing movement, AI-generated visuals, music and installation, this evocative work draws parallels between the human body and the island of Singapore itself. Using the umbilical cord as a symbolic bridge, it explores identity, resilience, and transformation in the face of shifting political and ecological realities. Technologically immersive and emotionally resonant, Umbilical offers a layered, futuristic meditation on belonging.
From May 16 to 18, at SOTA Studio Theatre.
“A Thousand Stitches” by Alan Oei and Kaylene Tan
Above “A Thousand Stitches” by Alan Oei and Kaylene Tan (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“A Thousand Stitches” by Alan Oei and Kaylene Tan (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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When a young art conservator uncovers a hidden wartime narrative inside a vandalised painting, past and present collide in A Thousand Stitches. This evocative new work by Alan Oei and Kaylene Tan uses performance, painting and live cinema to explore art, memory, and the wounds of occupation. Featuring actors Xuan Ong and Mihaya Shirata, the story shifts between modern-day Singapore and Japanese-occupied Syonan-to. It’s a layered, lyrical experience that stitches together fragments of love, propaganda and resistance.
From May 23 to 25, Drama Centre Black Box.
“Lear” by Ramesh Meyyappan
Above “Lear” by Ramesh Meyyappan (Photo: courtesy of Niall Walker)
“Lear” by Ramesh Meyyappan (Photo: courtesy of Niall Walker)
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In a radical reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Ramesh Meyyappan—a Singaporean artist based in Glasgow—delivers Lear, a visceral, non-verbal exploration of family fractures, power and madness. Collaborating with Scotland’s Raw Material, Meyyappan strips the play to its emotional core, using physical storytelling and striking visual language to chart the patriarch’s descent. With a compact cast of four and bold, minimalist staging, Lear promises to be an intense, moving encounter that speaks volumes without saying a word.
From May 23 to 25, at SOTA Studio Theatre.
“Waiting For Audience” by Nine Years Theatre
Above “Waiting For Audience” by Nine Years Theatre (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“Waiting For Audience” by Nine Years Theatre (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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Devised by Nine Years Theatre and directed by company founders Nelson Chia and Mia Chee, Waiting For Audience is a cheeky, philosophical love letter to the stage. Originally a work-in-progress in 2024, this polished iteration blends clowning, physical theatre and Chinese cross-talk in a playful meditation on performance, purpose and presence. Two actors await their audience in an old theatre—bantering, bickering and breaking the fourth wall. Will anyone show up? Will it matter? This inventive meta-theatre piece is both humorous and heartfelt.
From May 30 to 31, at SOTA Drama Theatre.
“stray gods” by weish
Above “stray gods” by weish (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“stray gods” by weish (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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Singer-songwriter weish conjures a haunting live music performance in stray gods, where song becomes spell and the voice becomes instrument. This intimate concert-meets-theatre piece blends electronic loops, poetic lyrics and raw emotion to explore themes of doubt, longing and belief. With weish’s ethereal vocals and immersive sound design, stray gods transforms the stage into a sonic sanctuary.
From May 30 to June 1, at SOTA Studio Theatre.
“Hossan-AH! In The High Arts” by Hossan Leong
Above “Hossan-AH! In The High Arts” by Hossan Leong (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
“Hossan-AH! In The High Arts” by Hossan Leong (Photo: courtesy of Arts House Limited)
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Beloved entertainer Hossan Leong takes the stage in a laugh-out-loud, song-filled solo show chronicling four decades of Singapore’s cultural evolution. Hossan-AH! In The High Arts is both memoir and musical revue—a witty, heartfelt journey through the highs, lows, and hilarious moments that shaped the local arts scene. Expect clever anecdotes, reimagined classics, and plenty of Leong’s signature sparkle.
From May 30 to June 1, at Victoria Theatre.
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
