August 2023 Newsletter
Storytelling Association (Singapore) is organising the 398.2 festival in September this year.
Registrations open soon!
Storytelling Association (Singapore) is organising the 2023 398.2 Storytelling Festival.
For SAS members who have signed up to tell at the festival and/or are keen to help out in other areas, come and join us for an online Q n A forum and hear from the 398.2 organising committee and those who have participated in 398,2 in previous years. You may type your questions in the chat or ask out loud and we will try to answer them. Please check your email for the zoom link.
We hope the session will help to clarify doubts about the 398.2 Storytelling Festival and we look forward to a time of clarifying doubts and sharing experiences.
Date: 31st July 2023
Time: 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm Singapore time
Where: Zoom (online)
EXCLUSIVELY FOR SAS MEMBERS TELLING AT THE 398.2 FESTIVALIf you are not located in Singapore, please check the event timings for your time zone HERE.
Click the link given below to register for the event.
Our next Story web is on August 19th, Saturday.
When: 19 Aug 2023 3:00 PM, Singapore Time.
Where: Will be emailed to you upon registration
Storyweb is a warm friendly space to practise your stories. It could be any story that you would like to tell or have been working on to tell.
Registration is mandatory and we have only 10 seats exclusive for SAS members (on a first come first serve basis)
A fee of SGD 5 will be applies upon registration which will be refunded upon attendance.
Space is limited to the first 10 participants on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis.
Sign up using this link.
Children adore stories because stories transport them to a magical realm of imagination and wonder. This is precisely what our two expert storytellers from the Storytelling Association Singapore (SAS) offer in every oral storytelling session in Storytime Saturday.
Each session features a unique set of tales that ignite children’s vocabulary acquisition, listening abilities, and creativity. Moreover, our talented storytellers engage and interact with the young audience, encouraging them to participate in the storytelling process.
Please note the following:
- All participants including adults should register for 1 ticket.
- Each ticket admits 1 person only. Parents to register separate tickets for themselves and their children.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult during the session at all times.
- Arrive 10 mins before the session starts. Seats of late attendees will be given to waitlist.
- NLB reserves the right to deny entry to participants who do not abide by the ground rules.
Join us at “Crafting Visual Narratives with your handphone : A Photography Workshop for Storytelling Performances” to enhance your skills in capturing live performances.
This unique workshop will cover:
1. Anticipating key moments of action.
2. Collaborating with performers for an insider’s understanding.
3. Mastering venue lighting for optimal shots.
4. Utilizing low light to create atmospheric images.
5. Adapting your position for various shots, from close-ups to wide-angled frames.
6. Balancing wide and tight framing for comprehensive storytelling.
7. Recognizing and capturing key emotions.
8. Utilizing foreground, midground, and background to create depth.
9. Learning when to apply full body, half body, or close-up shots for story impact.
10. How to avoid blocking others when taking photos.
Whether you’re a novice or an expert, this workshop will guide you to creatively capture the essence of storytelling performances. Come, pack your handphone or camera, and let’s start this photographic journey together!
This workshop is conducted by Philip Au, a professional photographer, and is limited to only 15 participants on first-come-first-serve basis.
Cost: The fee is $25 – $5 for materials and $20 refund if the participant shows up for the workshop.
Who can register for this workshop?
The workshop is open to storytellers and volunteer support at the 2023 398.2 Storytelling Festival so that they can take photographs at the festival. If you are not presently part of this group but you want to be, please email the Creative Director of the festival at erudite.sweeyean@gmail.com.
Will the workshop be recorded?
No, there will not be a recording.
Can I attend part of the workshop?
The workshop provides hands-on practice and will take 3 hours. However, if you are busy, you may attend 2 hours of it.
Can I use a handphone or a camera to this workshop?
The workshop will provide guidance on how to LOOK for key moments in a storytelling performance to take photographs. The handphone is a versatile instrument for doing so while a camera, one that has a better sensor than the handphone, would capture better quality photos. Bring your handphone and if you have a camera, bring that too. Do fill in the form to indicate the type of handphone and camera you will be bringing.
Events in Singapore & Around the World
FEAST is delighted to announce the Fundamentals of Storytelling Course. The facilitators of the course Sheila Wee, Roger Jenkins and Kiran Shah are all professional members of SAS.
Click here to sign up and to find out more.
FEAST has numerous events (some free and some for a small fee) every month.
To find out more go to their website here.
Tired of the hustle and bustle of modern living?
Let our storytellers transport you to a different time, a different place and refresh your spirits through story.
For an afternoon, enjoy a gracious tea (with nonya kuehs) amidst the gorgeous atmosphere of Straits Enclave, a private gallery. Six talented storytellers, Jessie Goh, Helen Tan, Mabel Lee, Verena Tay, Wong Swee Yean and Anamika Bhati, each with their unique style and perspective, share enchanting tales. Each story is infused with the essence of Peranakan customs, beliefs and values, bringing to life the traditions and heritage of this unique community.
Venue: Straits Enclave 318A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427569
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
Time: 1-3pm OR 4-6pm
Book now, as spaces for this exclusive opportunity are highly limited.
Each ticket includes Chinese tea and nonya kueh.
Straits Enclave is a Peranakan Chinese private museum located in the heritage district of Joo Chiat. Please take note that attendees will need to walk up a flight of 20 steps upon entering the gallery. There are no lifts on the premise. No children are allowed to this event.
Parking advisory: Park at Joo Chiat Road Car Park J0017. https://maps.app.goo.gl/nQVWvnSv2TEZ21VbA
This event is organized by Storytelling Association (Singapore) with support from National Arts Council.
Every month Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST, pronounced “assist”;https://www.artistsstandingstrongtogether.net/ has an all-ages, all-types-of-stories storytelling program. Our August 2023 TGIF Intergenerational Story Fest is happening on this Friday, August 4, 2023, 7-9 pm (ET) and ASST would love for you to attend and enjoy this event.
The August 2023 TGIF Intergenerational Story Fest is happening on this Friday, August 4, 2023, 7-9 pm (ET) and ASST would love for you to attend and enjoy this event.
August is known for the end of summer vacations, National Golf Month, Peach Month and American Artist Appreciation Month. On the day of this program, August 4, it is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, International Clouded Leopard Day and International Beer Day. So take a early visit to the zoo (or cuddle up with your stuffed animal. Then bake some chocolate chip cookies and get a good beer all while enjoying some great storytelling.
Storytellers come from around the world: ABU (Soweto, South Africa), David Novak (North Carolina, USA), Kelle Jolly & Sam Smith (both from Tennessee, USA) and Linda Schuyler Ford (Florida, USA), . Hearscrow (Vermont, USA) and her friend and mentee, Naysa (Lisbon, Portugal), will share a story in tandem. Cory Howard will be the Emcee and Oni Lasana is the Tech Host.
The program is free but requires registration: http://bit.ly/ASSTAug23TGIF. Please share this event with your family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and even strangers. Hope to see you there. This is one of the 4 monthly online programs ASST presents. Peace and joy,
Spoken Word in its oldest form! In these times of cultural drama and fractured communities – we gather together to celebrate the steadfast moon. Our beautiful moon shines on all of us equally. Storytelling celebrates this universal experience. We are more alike than we are different – under the ONE full moon.
Watch Jane Dorfman bring alive the spit and spice of the inimitable Calamity Jane!
To find out more or to buy tickets, click here
Resplendent In Red
Resplendent in Red: Singapore is awash with the colour red! It is getting ready to celebrate its 58th birthday. Unfurled flags adorn every street, the red symbolizing universal brotherhood and equality of man. The white signifies pervading and everlasting purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents an ascendant nation, and the five stars stand for the nation’s ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
“Red is uplifting.” – Jerry Lewis
Serene in Green: Visions of a “garden city” were envisioned by the founding father, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1967. A city with abundant greenery would attract abundant life. I walked along the lanes of Bukit Merah and was greeted by a cacophony of sounds. Coconut lorikeets, yellow-vented bulbuls, Asian glossy starlings, and blue-crowned hanging parrots were feasting on the juicy ripe mangoes. Singapore’s greening journey began when founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew planted a Mempat tree, beginning a tradition of marking Tree Planting Day annually. In 2023 Tree Planting Day will be held on 5th November 2023. The event is usually held on the first Sunday of November. In April 2020, the OneMillionTrees Movement was launched, and that programme is said to be three years ahead of its 2030 target.
“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come.” – Lois Lowry
Queen in Cuisine: Tired after a long day, and in need of a drink I sat down at the Newton Court Food Centre. Food courts in Singapore serve inexpensive cooked food, drinks and desserts. The first privately-owned, air-conditioned hawker food centre in a shopping complex was the Foodland Eating House that opened in 1976 at Orchard Shopping Centre.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and stories and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. – J.R.R. Tolkien
As I sat and sipped my drink and looked around, I realized I was not quite alone. I had some mynahs for company. The friendly, chirpy birds chattered away. One cannot feel lonely with them around.
One of the mynahs said to me that they were so happy that our founding fathers were not reckless dreamers. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Haven’t you heard of the story of Mat Jenin?”, said a mynah.
“I am sorry, I have not heard that story. Would you kindly share the story?”, I said.
The mynah began…
Mat Jenin
Once upon a time a man named Tariq owned many, many clusters of coconut trees. The coconuts on the trees had ripened and Tariq called for Mat Jenin who was well known as a skilled climber of coconut trees.
Mat was wise and he knew Tariq’s coconuts fetched the best price in the market, they were full of sweet water and adequately quenched the thirst of people. He was a dreamer. He hoped one day to own a cluster of coconut trees himself and live a luxurious life!
He bargained with Tariq for his wages. Finally, after a lot of haggling Tariq agreed to give him two coconuts per tree of coconuts that he climbed.
Mat was happy with the deal he struck and immediately set about the task at hand.
As he climbed the first tree, he looked around and counted the trees, One, two, three… and so on and he counted 30 trees. “Two coconuts from each tree,” thought Mat, “That would make it sixty coconuts!”
He began planning. “I will sell fifty coconuts, and with the money I will buy chickens. My hens will lay eggs. The eggs will hatch, and I will have many chickens. I shall plant the remaining ten coconuts and soon I will have coconut clusters and people working for me.”
He climbed the first tree, he counted, “That’s two coconuts.” Then the second tree, “that’s four coconuts.” he thought. “Only 28 trees to go.”, he thought.
Then his mind began galloping. “I will then sell the chickens, and buy a few goats, the goats will have kids. I will have a large herd of goats. I will take them to the pasture to eat grass, they may run helter-skelter. I will have to wave my arms and shout. It’s great that I have long, strong arms.” Then forgetting he was on top of a tall coconut tree, Mat Jenin began waving his arms and shouting at his imaginary goats.
Sadly, that was the end of Mat’s daydream and Mat! Mat Jenin lost his grip on the tree and thud; he came crashing to the ground.
References:
Mat Jenin and the Coconuts from The Singing Top by Margaret Read MacDonald.
The Straits Times
NLB eResources