From The Straits Times    |

Your wait is over: August is finally here and you’ll get a nice four day-long break thanks to National Day (Aug 9) and Hari Raya Haji (Aug 11). Can we all say “Hooray!”? Although we totally get it if you want to simply enjoy your long-awaited (and much-needed, to be honest) rest by doing absolutely nothing at home, here are 15 events in August that might entice you to change your mind.

From theatre shows and choral performances to the beloved Singapore Night Festival, 31 days of the month will fly by real quick.

 

1. 12th International Choral Festival Orientale Concentus 2019 – Grand Prix Concert, Esplanade Concert Hall — Aug 1

Photo: Ace 99 Cultural

If you love choral music and a good bout of competition, the International Choral Festival is an event you won’t want to miss. The musical extravaganza brings together top teams from around the world, including countries such as Czech Republic, South Africa and Indonesia. The four-day competition culminates in the final Grand Prix Concert on Aug 1 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, where you’ll be treated to a night of melodic voices as they battle it out for the prize of S$10,000. Tickets cost $29 each via Apactix.

 

2. Decathlon x Get Active Race, Decathlon Singapore Lab — Aug 4

Photo: Decathlon Singapore

Known for its affordable sporting equipment and sportswear, Decathlon is partnering with GetActive! Singapore to host a 7km race along Kallang River in the vicinity of the Sportshub and the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The race will start at the Decathlon Singapore Lab at 230 Stadium Boulevard, so get your running shoes ready, channel your inner athlete and enjoy the view while you work up a good sweat.

In addition, Decathlon won’t be giving a medal of completion as they aim to be “the most eco-friendly race”. Race registration starts from $30 for a single person via Decathlon’s website.

 

3. The Orange Production – Acting Mad, The Necessary Stage Black Box Theatre — Aug 7 to 11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by André Chong (@andrechray) on

 

Photo: Instagram / @andrechray

Mental illness is not a buzzword, but a real condition that can afflict anyone. Born out of an interview with 20 actors who had or are going through mental health issues, Acting Mad was created to shed light into the misunderstood condition and debunk the surrounding stigma.

The production team’s goal is simple: “Can sharing our stories, and creating theatre, be a form of solace and support?” We’d like to hope so. The show is free-seating and tickets cost $28 each via Sistic.

 

4. Supervision, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre @ Wild Rice — Aug 8 to 18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Photo: Instagram / @wildricesg

Set at Wild Rice’s new theatre space in the revamped Funan shopping mall, Supervision follows the life of Teck, a 71-year-old grumpy retiree, as he is cared by his daughter Jenny and domestic worker Yanti. This play created by Thomas Lim aims to look at the realities of an ageing population and it asks questions such as: Would you give up the things you enjoy in exchange for a few more years?

Does working in someone else’s home mean giving up your right to privacy? And to what lengths would you go in order to watch over someone you love? Tickets cost upwards of $40 each via Sistic.

 

5. We Are Singers, Singapore Indoor Stadium — Aug 10

Photo: Apactix

If you’re like us and you can’t get enough of Chinese singing competition show I Am a Singer, where established Mandopop singers battle it out for bragging rights, then this concert We Are Singers is a treat you can’t pass up.

Three Taiwanese singers Liang Wen Ying, Xu Jia Ying and A-Lin will be performing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and you can be guaranteed a night of powerful vocals and heartfelt singing.

Tickets cost upwards of $108 via Sportshubtix.

 

6. Westlife – The Twenty Tour, National Stadium — Aug 10

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Photo: Instagram / @westlife

Grew up listening to Westlife’s If I Let You Go, Queen of My Heart and Unbreakable and know the lyrics to all of its catchy songs? We won’t judge. We’re just saying you should pencil this into your calendar, stat. Irish pop boy band Westlife will be coming to Singapore to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a one-night only concert at the National Stadium. Bring along your girlfriends and get set to bask in the past as Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan serenade you with their smooth-as-silk vocals.

Tickets cost upwards of $108 each via Sportshubtix.

 

7. Hossan-AH 50! Love You LEONG Time!, Drama Centre Theatre — Aug 14 to 31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hossan Leong (@hossanleong) on

Photo: Instagram / @hoassanleong

Local comedian Hossan Leong is turning the big 5-0 this year and he’s inviting you to celebrate with him at his show at the Drama Centre Theatre. Known for his comedic takes on current affairs and local culture, Hossan will be treating the audience to a night of laughs as he sings and quips about living through six tourism slogans, three recessions, two international airports and one government.

Hossan has also mentioned via his social media that this production will be his last one-man standup show.

Tickets cost upwards of $55 via Sistic.

 

8. Trevor Noah Loud & Clear Tour 2019, The Star Theatre — Aug 19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Trevor Noah (@trevornoah) on

Photo: Instagram / @trevornoah

Trevor Noah is a South African comedian known for his satirical news program The Daily Show on American cable channel Comedy Central as well as his razor sharp wit honed through stand-up comedy tours. His autobiographical book, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, is a bestseller and is currently in the works of becoming a movie starring Lupita Nyong’o.

Both of his shows are sold out (the second was added after the first saw tickets snapped up within hours), but if you are one of the lucky few who got one, you can expect a night of hilarious quips, spot-on impressions and critical commentary.

Tickets cost upwards of $98 via Sistic.

 

ALSO READ: HUNGRY? HERE ARE 15 PLACES YOU CAN EAT AT THE REVAMPED FUNAN

9. Baybeats Festival, Esplanade — Aug 23 to 25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Photo: Instagram / @baybeats

The annual Baybeats Festival is back for the 18th edition. The music festival is known to promote smaller, independent artists and bands where they’ll perform at various locations around the Esplanade. Spread across three nights, get yourself ready for tunes from local and international indie bands such as LEW, a Singaporean folk singer-songwriter, Stopgap, a local indie rock band, and Reality Club, an Indonesian alternative/indie band, among many others.

Head to Esplanade’s website for more information.

 

10. Singapore Night Festival, Bras Basah and Bugis District — Aug 23 to 31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by SG Night Fest (@sgnightfest) on

Photo: Instagram / @sgnightfest

Need a date idea this August? The Singapore Night Festival is back for its 12th edition and will be held at the Bras Basah and Bugis district. While not much has been revealed regarding the programming for the three day-long festival, it has been confirmed that Argentinian performing group Fuerza Bruta will be performing at Cathay Green. The free-standing ticketed event costs $15 per person (via Sistic) and you can look forward to a slew of acrobatic and aerial performances. As with past iterations, you can also forward to various heritage and art and culture events during the Night Festival.

Head to Singapore Night Festival website for more information.

 

11. Alaska – Live in Singapore, Shine Auditorium — Aug 27

Photo: LA Comedy LIVE

Known for her signature high-pitched “Hiiiii”, Alaska, a drag queen whose real name is Justin Honard, shot to fame when she competed in American competition show RuPaul’s Drag Race. She placed second in the fifth season and went on to win the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Now, Alaska is showcasing her charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent in her performance in Singapore. Here’s hoping that Alaska will perform originals from her multiple music albums and entertain us with lip syncs to pop music favourites.

The show is R18 and tickets cost upwards of $98 each via Sistic.

 

12. Eat Duck by Checkpoint Theatre, SOTA (School of the Arts) Studio Theatre — Aug 29 to Sep 8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Photo: Instagram / @checkpointtheatre

When a family elder passes and the family gathers to mourn, how do the living deal with the loss and the ensuing rites and rituals? Focusing on a family as they hold a seven-day wake at the void deck, Eat Duck by local theatre company Checkpoint Theatre delves into the nature of love and loss and unravels the meaning of being family. The play is written by playwright Zenda Tan and directed by Claire Wong.

The show is free-seating and tickets cost $45 each via Sistic.

 

13. Walking with Dinosaurs, Singapore Indoor Stadium — Aug 29 to Sep 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Photo: Instagram / @dinosaurlive

Ever wondered how dinosaurs used to roam the earth? Now you can get a glimpse with the Walking with Dinosaurs production created based on a BBC television series. The $20 million production uses animatronic technology to recreate the movements of these creatures. In fact, the company even stays abreast with the latest research and tweaks the production accordingly, down to the feathering detail.

Relive the Jurassic Park fantasy at this family-friendly show with 18 dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus and Brachiosaurus. If you’d missed the first show when it was here in 2010, now’s your chance to catch it.

Tickets cost upwards of $78 each via Sportshubtix.

 

14. Bizet’s Carmen, Esplanade Theatre — Aug 29 to Sep 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Photo: Instagram / @sglyricopera

A free-spirited Romani woman Carmen gets caught between a jealous corporal Don José and a flirtatious bullfighter Escamillo — in other words, it’s recipe for a perfect disaster. Created by French composer Georges Bizet, Carmen is one of the most popular operas in the canon and is known for its realistic character portrayal and equally gripping music and orchestration. While the show is sung in French, there will be English and Mandarin subtitles available.

Tickets cost upwards of $35 each via Sistic.

 

15. In Your Shadow, Esplanade Theatre Studio — Aug 30 to 31

Photo: Instagram / @therealkarish

Using dance as the medium, In Your Shadow aims to investigate the gender roles and expectations that women bear. Two stories are told here. The first, Man. Untold., looks into the many standards imposed on women, from how she behaves to the way she looks. The second, The Last Walk for Water, retells the story of a young Ethiopian girl, Letikiros Hailu, who kills herself after spilling the water she had walked eight hours to fetch.

The show is free-seating and costs $25 per person via Sistic.

 

ALSO READ: TRAVEL DESTINATIONS TO VISIT, ACCORDING TO YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE

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