Singapore Night Festival 2023: Waterloo Street Stories

Waterloo Street Stories is a collaborative project by the #WaterlooStKakis for Singapore Night Festival 2023, to spotlight the dynamic and textured stories that make this street unique. At the heart of Waterloo Street Stories is a rich narrative of one of the main thoroughfares of the Bras Basah Bugis district, illustrated through movement, audio plays, music and photographs that responds to the oral histories of different Waterloo Street personalities.

Stretching from Rochor Road to Bras Basah Road, Waterloo Street is home to a diverse mix of communities, as well as religious, arts, food, and lifestyle organisations. This mix includes Centre 42, Objectifs, P7:1SMA, SMU-ACM (Arts and Culture Management Programme at Singapore Management University,) and The Theatre Practice, who each have been building their own artistic and educational communities on this street.

Through movement, audio plays, music and photographs, which respond to the original oral histories of different Waterloo Street personalities compiled by students from SMU-ACM, we invite audiences from around Singapore to celebrate these stories with us.

For the first time since becoming neighbours, the five organisations have come together to research, curate and produce an arts-led event that celebrates the histories and people of the street. They operate under an informally official collective name, #WaterlooStKakis, signifying a neighbourly and mutually supportive working ethos.

Waterloo Street Stories Highlights:

Exhibitions: Outdoor installation of photo stories by emerging photographers Marc Chu, Muhammad Zulfadhli, Pek Yan Lin, and Sarah Tan. Also features an indoor showcase of a visual timeline map of the street, memories collected from Waterloo Street communities and an open call that invites the public to reimagine the future of the street.

Music Performances: 2-night outdoor music showcase produced in collaboration with local music production house Panik Records, featuring emerging music artists Alicia DC, Angelo, Krysta Joy and Farizi. The music will include original songs, covers and mixes inspired by the oral histories, street foley and a playlist of songs collected from Waterloo Street communities.

Audio Plays: 4 short audio plays inspired by the oral histories, produced in collaboration with local audio creative house Artwave Studio, and written by playwrights selected through an open call – Christopher Chee, Laura Hayes, Lim Shien Hian and Rajkumar Thiagaras.

Movement Responses: Two movement responses to the oral histories and artistic outcomes of this project, which are intended to invite the audience to further reflect upon the past, present and future of Waterloo Street. Dance artists include: Kansh, Xie Shangbin, Eleanor Si Ying Ee, Nathania Lauren Sim, Dalilah Diyanah, Syarifuddin Sahari

Four Horse Road: After Hours: Offering a rare opportunity to explore the nooks and crannies of a theatre, wander through installations and set pieces of The Theatre Practice’s epic promenade theatre adventure, Four Horse Road. F&B friends Kai’s (@drinkeatkw) and COUPCAT by BUNKERBUNKER will also be on hand to keep stomachs full and cups filled all night long.

Exhibitions, Performances, Movement Responses and Audio Plays
Venue: 155 Middle Road (Objectifs)
Dates and Time: 10 – 27 August 2023

Four Horse Road: After Hours
Venue: 54 Waterloo Street (The Theatre Practice)
Date/Time: 18, 19, 25 & 26 August 2023, 10.30pm onwards