SPAF - Drama & Dance 2023 - Singapore Performing Arts Festival

Thank you for all your support!

This year, we are very excited that the total number of entries has reached over 800, a new record for SPAF Drama!

SPAF 2023 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

[DOWNLOAD] / Zoom Sessions Registration [Click]

IMPORTANT NOTE: For face to face sessions at NAFA, there are 3 different rooms at 2 different buildings. Please arrive at least 30mins earlier to have ample time to locate the actual venue locations within NAFA. There are limited parking at NAFA, as such, usage of public transport is strongly recommended.

NEW! Zoom Meeting Live view of Face to Face sessions*

There are LINKS embedded within PAGE 3's Festival Schedule, just click on the respective sessions area and you will be directed to the respective sessions' registration page. Please note the session's LETTERs, date.time.
Alternatively, use this ZOOM LINKS Table to Zoom Meetings registration for respective sessions.

*Disclaimer for ZOOM 'Live View'. Please note that this is offered as a complimentary service, the organiser will not be liable for any disruptions or issues.

VENUE Information

NAFA Campus 1 - Google Map LINK - Venue Location Photos
NAFA STUDIO THEATRE - Campus 3 - Google Map LINK - Venue Location Photos
KAWAI Recital Studio @ Orchard - Google Map LINK (#04-13) / Unit Info

SPAF Drama 2023 SG SQUAREa

SPAF aims to inspire, so all performers leave with a sense of achievement! Its purpose is to open up the window of performing arts to students, encouraging them to develop a range of communication and interpersonal skills through an interactive environment.

FESTIVAL Registration Closing Date: 29 MAY 2023 (All Region)

NOTE: Please Refer to Malaysia info Page for Malaysia Entries

FRINGE EVENT! - CREATIVE WORSHOP

Monday, 15 MAY 2023, 4PM [Click to Register!]

Dr LEE from Hong Kong about his experience with Singapore Performing Arts Festival (SPAF - Drama)

Hear from one of our SPAF-Drama committee members, Dr LEE Ho-Cheung about the benefits of participating in the Singapore Performing Arts Festival, both for participants and trainers.

[CLICK HERE] to view on YouTube if your email viewer is not showing the video

Entry Forms & Syllabus Booklet - [Click]

Entry is Simple!

- Download the Booklet above.
- Select your Class(es) (Categories) and note the class number(s).
- Fill in the Entry Form (End of Booklet) or ONLINE Form A
- Need assistance? email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / Whatsapp +65-96513538

Registration Form [A] - Main information

Registration Form [B] - Payment/Performance information.

Event Poster - [Click]

FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Participants who wish to utilise SPAF participation for any official academic purpose, please READ THIS FIRST

About SPAF - Singapore Performing Arts Festival - Drama

(Both FACE to FACE and ONLINE options are available)

The 2023 Singapore Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) - ONLINE EDITION will be held from 21 to 24th July 2023. Since the Ministry of Education and government have embraced the significance of drama as part of the education process in Singapore, there has been an increasing demand for drama activities amongst schools, parents and students. This event is specially tailored to Primary and Secondary school students in Singapore.

SPAF is an Associate Member of The British and International Federation of Festivals of which Her Majesty the Queen is Patron. By being recognised by the British and International Federation of Festivals, Singapore will join not only the 300+ festivals in the UK but also the festivals in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Preparing for and participating in a Festival involves young people in group activity and individual achievement - every skill gained in preparing for and giving a performance is a valuable life skill that will be used in job interviews, in the workplace, in leisure activities and in social and interpersonal relationships throughout life.

Most will not make their career in the Arts but will become that educated audience who will keep the arts alive in the coming years. However, the festival movement was where many famous names began their career, including Julian Lloyd Webber, Maureen Lipman, Wayne Sleep, Dame Janet Baker, & Paul Scofield to name a few!

The adjudicator will be a practising professional who will not only make a skilled judgement but who will also seek to inspire a greater appreciation of the work being performed and remarks made in public and on the written report will evaluate and encourage the performers.

Featured Categories for 2023!

VIDEO BLOGGING (VLOG) - ONLINE ONLY

Introduction of VLOG Classes from SPAF 2022 In tandem with advancing technologies, we are very excited to introduce VLOG categories! We are looking for you to produce news items (True or Devised) and present them through a style of your choosing. Telling a story using movement and gesture to illustrate the content would be regarded as 2 skills – expressive speaking and movement.
JAZZ DANCE

Introduction of SPAF DANCE from 2022 SPAF Dance – we wish to provide a simple platform to cultivate interest in dance and through our adjudication and mini master class, we are committed to promoting and advancing interests in western Jazz dance forms!

OTHER POPULAR Categories:

Story Telling - Performance Arts (Solo and Group)

Telling a story using movement and gesture to illustrate the content would be regarded as 2 skills – expressive speaking and movement.

Telling a story using props/and/or costume ( e.g. illustrations from the book, puppets, or hats )would be regarded as 2 skills – expressive speaking and use of props, telling a story using voice, movement and song would be regarded as 3 skills- expressive speaking, movement, and singing

Telling a story using voice, movement, song and a musical instrument would be regarded as four skills- expressive speaking, movement, song and playing an instrument.

The adjudicator is looking for the skills to be integrated into a fluent, structured performance.
Creative Writing

Since the first SPAF in 2011, the Creative writing class has been attracting more and more entries and the standard has risen. We believe very strongly that this ties in with the study of Language and Literature and is of additional benefit to Students in both the Primary and Secondary sectors.

Students are given absolute free choice of content, the only regulation is to adhere to the word count. The completed story is submitted to the office and then to the adjudicator before the day of the Festival – on the actual day the student may read out their story or nominate someone else to do so- this is not part of the assessment, the adjudicator has already reached his or her decision and written the reports- the idea is to share the content with the audience and so then the adjudicator’s comments are more relevant to the listeners.

We will be running a Creative Writing Workshop prior to this year’s festival so do join us if you wish to find out more!!
Public Speaking
For many adults the thought of speaking in public is terrifying- it is generally recognised that the younger people are when they begin then the less likely it is that this fear follows them into their adult life. The Public Speaking Classes of S P A F are judged on both content and delivery and these are the aspects that we will be addressing in our workshop prior to the 2016 Festival in July.

The topics are released to Festival one month before the Festival and we will share those set in previous years as a guide, so this is a workshop that we hope will prove valuable if you are interested in promoting the value of Public Speaking without fear!

Other Categories Offered:

Impromptu Speaking
Verse Speaking
Choral Speaking
Dramatic Monologue
Dramatic Duologue
Group Acting (Scripted / Devised)

Full details of categories within syllabus info booklet. Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need further clarifications or assistance.

About the Adjudicators

	MARY ANN TEAR Mary Ann is a Performing Arts practitioner based in Singapore where she directs, choreographs, and lectures. She is a consultant for MS Works Pte Ltd where she runs Training Workshops and seminars for Teachers. She advises on training programmes for various companies including Julia Gabriel, Stagecraft, Mindstretcher, and other companies in Singapore and Malaysia. She is an examiner for Trinity College London and a British Federation Adjudicator. Her work has taken her to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Canada, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Bermuda, as well as centres in Europe and the UK. (Full Biog)
	AMINA JINDANI Amina Jindani is the founder of MoOne Drama – an award-winning organisation which promotes drama education. She studied acting, creative writing and directing in London at the Royal Court Young Peoples’ Theatre and was able to learn from notable figures such as playwrights, Harold Pinter, April de Angelis, Caryll Churchill, Hanif Kureshi and Howard Brenton, as well as illustrious theatre directors such as Max Stafford-Clarke and Lindsey Posner. She was also featured in the Young Writers’ Festivals held at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in Sloane Square, London. Amina has experience as an actress, presenter, producer, director, writer & performance educator. As a teacher in the subject of Speech & Drama, Amina was Head of Department at an international school. She holds a Licentiate in Teaching Speech and Drama (Distinction) with Trinity College London and is certified and trained as professional teacher of Cambridge IGCSE Drama. Recent Awards Award of Excellence - Trinity College London (2017) 1St Prize Winner – From Pitch To Screen – Motion Picture Association Asia Pacific – (2019) Finalist UNESCO TechCul Ideathon (2020)
	JOHN GARDYNE John Gardyne was born in Northumberland England, studied English Literature at Exeter University and subsequently gained an MA in Shakespeare Studies at York University studying under the eminent Shakespeare scholar Professor Brian Gibbons. He trained as a theatre director at the Sherman Theatre Cardiff and was then appointed Assistant Director of the Orange Tree Theatre Richmond for two years, during which time he directed The Orange Box, tours of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and acted as dramaturg and co-director of the world premiere of Rodney Ackland’s Absolute Hell, revived at the National Theatre in April 2018. Since then he has worked extensively as a director of plays, musicals and operas for many leading companies in the UK and abroad, including the Royal National Theatre Studio, the Covent Garden Festival, Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne Opera, in regional theatres and in the West End. (Full Biog)
	ALECIA KIM CHUA Alecia began acting 16 years ago, Alecia has played roles from Shakespeare to George Orwell to Alfian Sa’at, touring to Edinburg, Tasmania, India, Malaysia and most recently to Korea, working with some of the best directors and actors in Singapore Theatre and has even dabbled in TV and film. She is a performer, director and teacher. Alecia’s passion is Theatre for the young and passing on the art of theatre making to the next generation. She is currently the Head of Department at NAFA School of Young Talents teaching what she loves. She has taught aspiring actors in youth programs, students from ages 3yr -64 yrs. She continues to teach and advocate the importance of arts in education.
	MATT GREY Matt began acting in British television over thirty years ago. He trained at the Guilford School of Acting and Dance and afterwards continued performing in film, television and theatre in the U.K., Australia and occasionally now in Singapore. In 2000, he acquired a teaching licentiate with Guildhall School of Music and Drama and began to teach voice and speech for actors at across Singapore. Since then Matt has had extensive experience with training Asian and Western actors and acting students. Matt is also a professional actor and received the Straits Times 13th Life Theatre Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Sigmund Freud in Freud’s Last Session at the Esplanade 2013. (Full Biog)
	VICKY LEE WARD Vicky Lee Ward is a dancer, choreographer and teacher whose career has taken her around the world. Vicky was born in Malaysia but spent her formative years growing up in Vancouver, Canada. She trained professionally at London Urdang Academy, England, Broadway Dance Center, New York and at The Edge and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. Having trained with some of the most recognized teachers and choreographers in the UK and North America has given her a vast background in various dance styles. Vicky is a fully qualified teacher with over 25 years of experience and has taught in Vancouver, London, New York and Singapore. She is certified with the Imperial Society Teacher’s of Dancing (ISTD, UK) for Ballet and Modern and Associate Dance Arts for Professional Teachers (ADAPT, Canada) in Jazz & Tap. Vicky earned her Masters in Professional Practice in Arts Management from Middlesex University and is currently pursuing her Ballet Licentiate with ISTD, UK. Growing up as a young dancer, it was always her dream to have her own dance school. Making dreams into reality, Vicky founded All That Jazz Dance Academy in 2015. The academy offers a comprehensive dance education all under one roof. Vicky is extremely grateful to have this opportunity to share her passion and love for dance, to nurture the next generation of young dancers and to continue to inspire the love of arts in her local community.
	DR MARGARET McALISKEY Phd., BSc (Hons), PGC (Dist).,FLCM, FLSM, LLAM, LLCM (T.D.), LIELA (International), ALCM, Gold Medal LAM. Dr Margaret McAliskey is a qualified specialist in both clinical speech and communications training. She has a long association with Trinity College Dublin working as a lecturer and mentor on a range of under- and post-graduate programmes. She has worked as a trainer, consultant and course leader in Educational, Professional and Vocational programmes in state, private and corporate sectors for students in the primary, secondary, higher education and business sectors. Margaret has extensive experience as an examiner and assessor in the Performing Arts, and is a federated adjudicator with the British and International Federation of Festivals. She is a member of the examination panel for Trinity College London , and in this role has worked throughout the UK and Ireland, and internationally in the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Germany, Malaysia, Malta, Australia and New Zealand.
	GEETHA CREFFIELD Geetha Creffield was the national coach of the first Singapore national high school team to compete at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) in 1995. Since then, she has coached Team Singapore on multiple further occasions – including the 2011, 2015 and 2017 WSDCs in Scotland, Singapore and Indonesia where Team Singapore were World Champions. Geetha has also attended 3 WSDCs as a judge. Each year, she judges at multiple tournaments across the work including the Shanghai Debate Opens, the International Oldham Cup as well as the Winter Holiday Opens. She enjoys the experience of dealing with different debate circuits at an organisational and adjudicational level, Geetha has a passionate belief in the empowerment of young people through debate and theatre. Geetha is at the same time, a trained theatre educator and director. She enjoys working across a variety of theatrical genres to create powerful storytelling. The period of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the emergence from its effects have reinforced Geetha’s belief in the power of speech to empower individuals, and allow them to shape their own destinies through digital or face-to-face means.
	MICHELLE WONG Michelle found her passion for theatre and performance at a very young age and participated in various amateur performances: choral, dance and drama, while in middle and high school. She went on to train under the NTU/NIE School of Visual and Performing Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (with Dip Ed), with Honours in Drama and Performance Arts. Since then, Michelle has been active as a drama educator, teacher, lights and costume designer in the Singapore education system. Alongside performance, Michelle has very much enjoyed the challenges of teaching. As an acting coach and drama educator, Michelle has found great satisfaction in nurturing young performers and watching them develop craftsmanship and confidence. Her greatest hope is to be able to develop empathy and awareness in young people through drama as an activity and craft.