Enjoy film, theatre or a spot of football? There are lots of productions that will grab your fancy at Singtel Waterfront Theatre and Esplanade Theatre Studio from July to September. From screenings of award-winning London plays by National Theatre Live to contemporary productions in The Studios, find out about upcoming events at Esplanade below!
National Theatre Live events at Singtel Waterfront Theatre
From 25 to 27 July, catch National Theatre Live consisting of four film events screening at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre.
National Theatre Live is an innovative way of bringing British theatre productions around the world. It features the best productions from the National Theatre, Barbican Centre and West End in London. Each performance is filmed live then screened in cinemas and theatres in more than 40 countries.
The four award-winning titles screening over the last weekend of July have been selected to present different genres across theatre and film.
Vanya, 25 and 27 July
Catch Andrew Scott (Fleabag; James Moriarty in BBC’s Sherlock) in this one-man play. This is an adaptation of Uncle Vanya, Anton Chekhov’s timeless piece that explores the complexities of human emotions. This production won Best Revival at the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Nye, 26 July
Michael Sheen plays Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, the creator of the National Health Service (NHS). The show looks at his memories of what led him on his journey to create the NHS, from stuttering struggles in childhood to his early days of activism and eventual rise in parliament as one of Britain’s greatest orators.
Dear England, 27 July
With the UEFA Euro 2024 underway until 14 July, this production explores England’s football culture through the life of famous football manager, Gareth Southgate, played by Joseph Fiennes. Southgate questions why the country that gave the world football has since faced a pattern of loss. What must he do to take the team and country back to the promised land? This production won Best New Play at the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards.
The Motive and the Cue, 27 July
This production portrays the tension between a director and actor of different generations. Mark Gatiss took home the 2024 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor with his portrayal of ageing director Sir John Gielgud, opposite Johnny Flynn as a young Richard Burton, more famously known for being Elizabeth Taylor’s fifth and sixth husband, tackling the role of Hamlet.
Why you should attend National Theatre Live
Although presented on screen, the National Theatre Live events at Esplanade recreate the experience of attending a theatre production. You’ll feel as if you’re watching actors on stage in a theatre.
Tickets for each of these events at Singtel Waterfront Theatre are $26. There are limited concessions available, more ticketing information for National Theatre Live can be found here.
More Esplanade events: The Studios
This season of The Studios at Esplanade features theatre works that challenge the boundaries of contemporary theatre and performance. Whether you’re starting to explore or looking to understand more about the histories and relationships of individuals, communities and nations, there’s something for everyone.
Air, 12 to 14 July
A verbatim play that shares the authentic voices of the Orang Seletar though interviews and conversations. It provides a closer look at the stories and struggles of this indigenous coastal community that once lived in Singapore.
Rhapsody in Yellow: A Lecture Performance with Two Pianos, 16 and 17 August
Chart the ups and downs of Sino-American ping-pong policy through the improvised musical duet of discord and harmony, chaos and serendipity, humour and pathos by two pianists on stage.
This musical lecture-performance is conceptualised by visual artist Ming Wong and traces the diplomatic journey that started from President Richard Nixon’s meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong 50 years ago in China, to the 20th century. This performance is jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Singapore Art Museum.
One Day We’ll Understand 有那么一天, 30 August to 1 September
Conceptualised and performed by Singaporean visual artist Sim Chi Yin, this multimedia performance is set against the backdrop of the Malayan Emergency in 1948. It explores the memory, inheritance and family history of Sim through her collection of archival photographic and film footage against narration and a live score by percussionist Cheryl Ong.
This Song Father Used to Sing (Three Days in May), 6 and 7 September
This play by Thai theatre-maker Wichaya Artamat play follows a brother and sister who meet on a day in May in three different calendar years. They come together to commemorate their deceased father in a traditional Chinese ceremony. At the same time, they engage in conversations about everything and nothing where their past, present and future subtly blend. This production was awarded Best Play by the International Association of Theatre Critics, Thailand Centre in 2016.
Why you should attend The Studios events at Esplanade
The topics presented in The Studios will appeal to those curious about the larger forces that shape our trajectories as individuals, communities, societies and nations, and the various perspectives that different artists possess.
There are also six companion programmes in the form of talks, master classes and walks. These complement and extend upon the topics covered in the various productions. You’ll also be able to hear from some of the artists and creatives such as Ming Wong, Sim Chi Yin, Wichaya Artamat and Tamara Saulwick about their creative process in panels.
Catch Air, Rhapsody in Yellow and One Day We’ll Understand at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre. Tickets for each of these events at Esplanade are $48. This Song Father Used to Sing (Three Days in May) runs at the Esplanade Theatre Studio and tickets are $38. Limited ticket concessions available.
More ticketing information can be found here.
1 Esplanade Drive
6828 8377 | esplanade.com
Looking for more events at Esplanade? There’s fab jazz music at Jazz in July. Plus, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in Singapore with friends and family. To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!
