Looking back at Singapore Night Festival 2016

Looking back at Singapore Night Festival 2016

Last weekend were the last days of Singapore Night Festival 2016.

We went there to see Dutch Street theatre group Close-Act.

They were this year’s main act and did a street parade on Armenian Street named Let’s Celebrate. A show meant to welcome good spirits into the world.

The troupe marches through Armenian street. On stilts.

Snapshots from Let’s Celebrate

There were drums and elf-/butterfly-ish creatures, in the colors white and silver. All on stilts, apart from the fire- and pyrotechnics guy. It was pretty and charming.

Gathering of elfs on stilts.

I loved the atmosphere created by the lights, the smoke and the pyrotechnics.

Statue-esque.

The stilt walkers were so skilled and controlled. They moved in a majestic way.

Invasion by Close-Act; a spectacular show

The real main act was another show by Close-Act, named Invasion. In which various prehistoric species are discovered by wandering explorers on stilts, are forced under the spell of a red witch and finally calm down under the soothing voice of an opera-singer.

Explorers wading on stilts through a sea of people.

Everything was beautifully thought through and created, from the gourdle and corset-like costumes to the make-up and XXXXXL-eyelashes.

Doesn’t she look wicked?!

Those lashes must be SO heavy on the eyes!!!

From the dinosaurs (in awe with the stilt walkers and puppeteers inside; such control and all that in the extreme Singapore heat) to the enormous flying prehistoric bird above the crowd.

Prehistoric creatures. What are they called? Velorapters or something like that?

These birds appear to be small, in comparison with the other creatures, but they are still big. Just very light built.

She domineered all of them.

The opera singer high up there.

After the show, with the ‘fire’-guy and the singer. Three Dutchies;-).

Video fragments from Invasion by Close-Act (NL)

We went briefly into the Peranakan Museum to see a small installation there, but were not impressed.

Walked along some of the Light Installations belonging to the Night Light Trails. They looked pretty and poetic.

We went back inside the National Museum to have a second look at IntoPulsar and we were lucky. This time it worked and I biked like a mad-women (for a minute) to light up the installation.

Tried -for the third time- to get inside The Story Box, but again there was a gi-normous long queue, so we gave up.

Close-Act was awesome!

The performances by Close-Act were awesome and made our day. In fact, they made the whole festival for us.

This theatre group plays all around the world. Check out their playlist to find out if they perform anywhere near you soon!

I was quite harsh and disappointed about this year’s Night Festival in my post from a week ago, but if I look back overall, then Close-Act has tipped the balance and makes me give a thumbs up to Singapore Night Festival 2016!

Did you visit the Singapore Night Festival 2016? What was your favorite part?