The Test Patrol Family Visits the Stream of Memory Premiere at Esplanade Singtel Waterfront Theatre
Published 14 December 2022 at 17:22
Tickikids Blog Singapore > Reviews > The Test Patrol Family Visits the Stream of Memory Premiere at Esplanade Singtel Waterfront Theatre
Kids are our future, therefore educating them about environmental issues is the key to our planet’s health. Although your kid may learn about the environment and how it works at school, it is well worth engaging children in events that focus on the human-nature relationship. If you are looking for a unique theatre production for children and families that stimulates awareness of environmental problems, then Stream of Memory at Esplanade is the show to see!
Stream of Memory is part of In New Light – a season of commissions for the opening of Singtel Waterfront Theatre and Esplanade’s 20th anniversary. Created by Papermoon Puppet Theatre in collaboration with artists and designers from Singapore, Stream of Memory is an ecological tale of remembrance and reconnection. Recommended for children aged 6 and above, the show utilizes the power of the arts to inspire children to take positive action for the natural environment. Through interactive non-verbal storytelling, Stream of Memory brings to life a story about disappearing rivers consumed by urbanisation and modern life.
Image Credit: Photographer Crispian Chan, Courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
TickiKids’ Test Patrol family of Joys Lin, and her three children Aerilynn, 13, Alston, 9, and Aldrich, 6, took a juicy assignment and attended Dress Rehearsal for Stream of Memory. Here are their review and impressions to whet your appetites ahead of the premiere!
“Having never been to Esplanade before, we had no idea what to anticipate. But the venue exceeded our expectations”, says Mrs Lin. “It's easy to find, cosy, spacious and clean. There are fake grass patches in front of the theatre which are welcoming and comfortable.”
“We enjoyed an exhilarating and attention-grabbing performance! The atmosphere was cosy and heartwarming. In my opinion, the theme is engaging, easy to follow and understand for kids because there were familiar characters used: children, elephants, etc. I did explain parts of it such as the storm part but the majority of it was easily understandable. The first impressions of all my kids were that it is a bit scary, as the actors were wearing huge masks and pretending to fish in the "water" area. For me, however, the actors took the effort to interact with the audience through body language and cues”, she continues.
Image Credit: Photographer Joys Lin
“The props used in the production really stood out, especially the figure of Kali, as there have not been other shows that used such detailed huge props or used any props extensively. The puppets were also very intricate and could display movements very realistically. My daughter liked the main character the most, as it was very realistic. My elder boy's favourite character is Kali, as it helped save the main character. The playful characters which were like fishes and squirrels were the favourite of my younger boy, as they were cute”, adds Mrs Lin.
“At the end when the props were revealed, that's when my children feel confident about touching and even wearing some of the props. They were wowed by the puppets and the effort that the actors and actresses put in. It was a good experience for them to be exposed to something not commonly found in Singapore”, continues she.
“As the world develops it is increasingly important to be aware of sustainability and the importance of nature. My kids gained some takeaways and learning points from watching the show. I hope they will understand that humans and nature are all interconnected and be aware of the implications of our choices”, summarises Mrs Lin.
Editor’s note: From the 5th till the 18th of December, the site of the Esplanade Lawn outside Singtel Waterfront Theatre is dedicated solely to Kali – A Stream of Memory Installation. Inspired by communities that make the river their homes, the work celebrates the life-giving energy of human relationships and nature and comprises a larger-than-life puppet, houses on stilts and miniature puppets created from clay, wood and rattan.
The TickiKids team would like to say special thank you to Mrs Lin for providing us with her impressions and photos of the performance.