Programmes

ASSEMBLY SHOWS & THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

One of our main objectives is to introduce performing arts through professional, fully staged productions that appeal to young people, parents and educators while teaching morals and values. We have presented "Duckie Can’t Swim" and "Tree Neighbours", which are engaging and highly interactive puppet performances for children that are very well received. We have also staged "The Journey West – White Bone Fiend", which is done in collaboration with the Esplanade at the Hua Yi Festival in February 2009.

Paper Monkey is committed to providing more than just theatre. We strive to include puppetry, dance, multimedia, martial arts and a variety of music and songs into our repertoire to help young people understand all aspects of theatre. Through the exposure to quality theatre arts, they learn to appreciate live performances and incorporate the lessons they learn into their everyday lives.

Paper Monkey not only stages productions for the public but also offers performances to primary and secondary schools. These performances are endorsed by the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Arts Education Programme unit (AEP) and qualify for a 60% subsidy from the Tote Board grant.

HANDS-ON DRAMA PROGRAMMES

Besides entertaining and delighting audiences through quality arts performances, we also conduct a variety of hands on drama workshops. These programmes, designed with the aims of building confidence and enhancing self expression also encourages spontaneity that will allow young people to discover their creativity, artistic capacities and stretch their imagination to the fullest. They acquire basic drama skills, improve on their communication skills and are equipped with better life skills that will help them with self development.

These interesting drama and puppetry workshops, also endorsed by the National Arts Council are conducted in primary, secondary schools and junior colleges and offered to the wider community through outreach activities at the Arts Festival, museums and libraries etc.

Performance:

:: Journey West :: Tree Neighbours :: Sadako and The 1000 Cranes :: Duckie Can't Swim ::

Workshops:

:: Nuts For Drama :: Nuts For Drama 2 :: Nuts For Puppets ::

THE JOURNEY WEST

Join Wukong and friends on their journey to the West. They encounter the cunning Bone Demoness who disguises herself first as a young girl, then as a father and finally as an old grandmother to trick the party when Wukong goes away to look for food. Through her deception, she managed to convince the Master to get rid of Wukong. With Wukong away, the Bone Demoness is able to capture the Master as easy as taking candy from a child. Piggy escapes to render help from Wukong. Together they defeat the Bone Demoness using the same trick – by disguising themselves!

This unique theatrical piece combines various elements including an exciting script, puppetry, martial arts, music and colourful sets and props. It aims to impart the concept of cohesiveness and preparedness to protect and defend ourselves against external threats. Students learn the importance of building strong bonds and working together as a team to achieve a common goal.

Details
Availability     : February – November 2009 (Suitable for Total Defence and National Day)
Duration          : 30 minutes
Level               : Primary
Cost per show : $1300
Venue              : School Hall

For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 97303110

With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme

TREE NEIGHBOURS

Somewhere in a big tropical forest, there is a beautiful tree. On the tree, there lives a bird, a monkey and a rat. They are, well, not very good neighbours, annoying one another with their weird habits and behaviour.

One day, their tree is destroyed by an illegal logger. Unable to find a suitable tree when night falls, they sleep under the stars. The night without shelter turns out to be so eventful and fraught with trouble that they finally understand the true meaning of friendship and cooperation.
Can the three neighbours find another beautiful tree they can call home? Will they set aside their differences and live harmoniously?

This performance which showcases customized puppets and actors, encourages participation through music, songs and movements. The story carries an important message about home and what constitute a home. Need it be made up of people or animals of the same kind or can they be from different races and backgrounds? Not only does this show seeks to disseminate the importance of understanding between people in our diverse community, it teaches the significance of communiation and discourage prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping. Through this light hearted and humorous performance, students learn to set aside differences and appreciate their own strengths as well as others.

Details
Availability     : April – November 2009 (Suitable for International Friendship, Racial Harmony & Children’s Day)
Duration          : 30 minutes
Level               : Primary
Cost per show : $1300
Venue              : School Hall
For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 97303110
With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme

SADAKO & THE THOUSAND CRANES

Ten years after the atomic bomb was dropped, the people of Hiroshima people are still trying to bury the past and get on with their lives. A young girl, Sadako, with little knowledge of the war has big dreams of becoming a runner. However, her dream is shattered when she is diagnosed with the ‘bomb disease’. Although she is aware that she is going to die, she never gives up her fight to live. She believes that if she can fold a thousand cranes, she will get her wish to live granted. Unfortunately, she dies before she could finish folding the cranes. In memory of Sadako, her friends finish the thousand cranes and write a story about her. Very soon, children all around the world come to know of Sadako’s story and send cranes to her grave. As they offer a prayer to Sadako, they also wish for one thing… Peace on Earth!

This poignant piece which focuses on war and the atrocities it brings offers students a theatrical treat with the intriguing use of props and sets and sombre music pieces. The realistic acting and solemn messages will evoke strong feelings in students and motivate them to reflect on the peace and prosperity Singapore is enjoying, something that is not to be taken for granted. Students learn about the need to stay vigilant and preparedness to defend themselves against external threats. This performance also highlights the importance and need of forging friendship across borders.

Details
Availability     : February – November 2009 (Suitable for Total Defence & International Friendship Day)
Duration          : 30 minutes
Level               : Primary
Cost per show : $1300
Venue              : School Hall

For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 97303110
With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme

DUCKIE CAN’T SWIM

Set in a farm, this story is about Duckie who is upset that he cannot swim no matter how hard he tries. The rubber ring makes him float, the goggles makes him sink while the brand new flippers just make his feet heavy! Who can help Duckie become a duck that can swim? Look out for the answer in this interactive life sized puppet show featuring lovely hand-made puppets.

This show aims to teach children the importance of friendship and co-operation. It also encourages students to broaden their understanding and develop appreciation of others who are different Students will also be taught to appreciate the values of care, helpfulness and perseverance as they journey with Duckie in his attempt to swim like a true duckie!

For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 97303110

With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme

NUTS FOR DRAMA

10 Sessions

This programme, with its main objectives of building confidence and enhancing self expression encourages spontaneity that will allow students to discover their creativity and stretch their imagination to the fullest. Through speech exercises and voice training, students will be coached on articulation and voice projection which will help them speak clearly and fluently with appropriate volume and improve their diction. Drama activities comprising role play, improvisation and physical expression while engaging the mind and body encourages imagination and improve presentation skills. Story sharing, poem recital and choral reading cultivate language and communication skills. Group work, which encourages interaction among students helps in the development of cooperation and understanding.

This programme culminates in a small scale presentation where students combine movements with poem recital, choral reading or selected passages from literary texts.

Details
Availability                 : January– November 2009
Duration                      : 1 ½ hours per session
Level                           : Primary & Secondary
Minumum no.              : 25
Venue                          : Classroom, Music or Dance Studio
Cost per student          : $80.00

For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 97303110
With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme

NUTS FOR DRAMA

25 Sessions

This programme will train and prepare students to perform and/or participate in staging a theatre production.

This customized course which takes students through the process of developing their own theatre performance aims to explore students’ artistic and cognitive capacities, enhance their creativity and develop basic acting and presentation skills. They will acquire useful tips, knowledge and techniques needed to stage their own production. This programme also encourages students to be resourceful, cooperative and take up exciting challenges.

It is suitable for schools which are interested in staging a year-end production or preparing for drama competitions.

Details
Availability                 : January– November 2009
Duration                      : 1 ½ hours per session
Level                           : Primary & Secondary
Maximum no.              : 25
Venue                          : Classroom, Music or Dance Studio
Cost                             : $6000 per programme
(excluding fees for customized script, music composition/arrangement and technical equipment)

For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 97303110

With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme

NUTS FOR PUPPETS

10 sessions

This exciting and enriching programme gives students an opportunity to learn about puppetry as a unique art form. Apart from working with different kinds of professionally made puppets like hand, string, rod and shadow, students will have a chance to craft, characterize and manipulate their own puppets. Voice training is incorporated in the course to allow students to learn to speak in the most appropriate volume, pitch, tone and rhythm when manipulating puppets. Not only will they work with puppets using given scripts, they will be guided to create their own short stories and stage a small scale puppet performance!

This programme aims to develop confidence in communication and explore students’ creativity, artistic abilities and resourcefulness as they are required to seek everyday objects and recycled materials for puppet making besides using the basic materials provided. Students will be encouraged to take creative risks in an environment which requires spontaneity, think out of the box and work and solve problems as a group.

For booking & enquiries please contact Pat at 9730 3110

With the support of National Arts Council Arts Education Programme