Educational Kit: Angel Island by Huang Ruo (US) & Brian Gothong Tan (SG)

ANGEL ISLAND

by Huang Ruo (US) & Brian Gothong Tan (SG)

EDUCATIONAL KIT

For ages 13 and up

19 MAY, FRI, 8PM

20 MAY, SAT, 3PM & 8PM

SINGTEL WATERFRONT THEATRE AT ESPLANADE

ANGEL ISLAND

Between 1910 and 1940, as new immigrants flowed through the immigration station on Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay, Chinese immigrants faced massive discrimination because of America’s earliest racist immigration legislations. This captivating oneact music-theatre performance tells their stories.

HOW TO USE THIS KIT

This kit is designed for deeper engagement and discussion with the SIFA programme. Divided into 4 sections, it comes with guiding questions, suggested activities and links for further exploration on the subject and themes presented in the show:

BEFORE THE SHOW DURING THE SHOW AFTER THE SHOW

Building on the earlier Page Act of 1875 which banned Chinese women from immigrating to the United States, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first, and remains the only law to have been implemented, to prevent all members of a specific ethnic or national group from immigrating to the United States. Being held for sometimes up to years in brutal conditions at the detention centre on Angel Island, many of these immigrants looked for solace by inscribing poetry onto the walls that confined them.

Composed by Huang Ruo, the music of Angel Island is inspired by the Chinese poems carved on the wooden walls of the detention centre, and the events and stories emerging from California, North Atlantic Ocean, NYC and Hong Kong from the era in which the legislations were passed. Tackling perennial and global issues of xenophobia, sexism, and systematic racial and gender discrimination, Angel Island weaves a story of immigration, discrimination, and confinement - bringing history into the reality of our current lives.

For SIFA, Huang Ruo has developed the work as a music theatre performance together in a dynamic collaboration with Singaporean performance director and multimedia artist Brian Gothong Tan, who will lend inventiveness and visual layering to deepen the dramaturgy and dramatic potential of the work. This iteration of Angel Island features San Franciscobased Del Sol Quartet performing in collaboration with award-winning modern choral ensemble Taipei Chamber Singers.

MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION

1 2 3

Look up the words “migrate” and “immigrate” in the dictionary –what are their definitions? How are they different from each other?

It means…

It is different from “immigrate” in that…

It is different from “migrate” in that…

Why do you think people would want to migrate or immigrate somewhere? Have a chat with your friends and list some possible reasons below:

People migrate elsewhere because…

It means… People immigrate elsewhere because…

Imagine if you were to migrate or immigrate to another country. Under what circumstances or reasons would you do so?

ANGEL ISLAND – AN IMMIGRATION CENTRE IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY, UNITED STATES

When immigrants arrive at their country of destination, they have to go through an immigration process to be granted permission to stay on. Angel Island was an immigration centre in San Francisco Bay, United States from 1910 to 1940, processing many immigrants coming mostly from Asia.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

on Angel Island and the experiences of the immigrants who went through it:

The Immigrants of Angel Island | The History You Didn’t Learn | TIME

How would you describe the journey of the immigrants who went through Angel Island?

The video mentioned the Chinese Exclusion Act that was passed in 1882, restricting immigration into the United States.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

to find out more about this Act:

The dark history of the Chinese Exclusion ActRobert Chang

In what ways do you think immigrant policies and laws impact citizens and immigrants? How would you feel if you were one of the citizens or immigrants who are affected by these immigration policies and laws?

STORIES OF ANGEL ISLAND

Angel Island is a SIFA 2023 commission that is a one-act music-theatre performance telling the stories of the Chinese immigrants who came through the immigration station on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, USA.

WATCH THE TRAILER

SIFA 2023 Angel Island Trailer

What comes to your mind when you watch the trailer? What are you most curious about the Angel Island performance, after watching the trailer? Pen your thoughts here:

Angel Island is inspired by the poems carved on the wooden walls of the detention centre by immigrants who were held at the Angel Island immigration station.

Re-watch the trailer for Angel Island and take note of the poem narrated at the start – what kind of emotions do you think the poet was going through when writing the poem, and why do you think the poet was feeling this way?

IMMIGRANTS AND IDENTITY

Like how immigrants flocked to the United States for the various opportunities the country had to offer, Singapore had immigrants from different countries coming over to seek better opportunities, eventually settling down and starting their own families.

DID YOU KNOW

that Singapore passed an Aliens Ordinance Act in 1933 to slow down the flow of immigrants to preserve jobs during the Great Depression?

EXPLORE THESE LINKS TO FIND OUT MORE:

What strikes you as interesting about the Aliens Ordinance Act of 1933? Write down your thoughts here:

NOW, WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY

where the issue of immigrants and identity are being explored in Singapore:

What Makes Us Singaporean In A Nation Of Immigrants? Pride Over PrejudicePart 2/2

What are your main takeaways from watching this documentary? In what ways do you think issues like immigrants and identity are related, and why are they important to talk about and discuss?

1933 – The Aliens Ordinance

Straits Settlement Landing Permit

READ THESE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY

before the performance starts, and remember to pay close attention while you are watching so you do not miss out on any details:

Look closely at the words and images presented in the performance. 1

Do they remind you of anything you have seen, heard, or read about before? What kind of associations do you make when you see them on the screen?

4 5 2

Listen carefully to the music played during the performance.

What kind of mood or atmosphere does it create, when experienced together with the images and words? How does it make you feel, and why do you think it makes you feel this way?

Describe one aspect of the performance that particularly stands out to you.

Why is that especially memorable for you, and what kind of effect do you think it has on you?

If there are questions you can ask the immigrants who were at Angel Island, what would they be and why?

3 DURING THE SHOW

Why would you say so?

NOW THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS OVER,

Write down what you have noticed to answer the questions above, or a simple reflection of your thoughts about the performance:

MUSIC, POETRY, AND HISTORY

ARE

CLOSELY INTERTWINED

IN ANGEL ISLAND, TELLING STORIES OF THE LIVES OF IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES SEEKING A NEW LIFE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.

Is there a particular moment in your country’s history that strikes you as interesting or important, especially the stories that come along with it?

EXPLORE A WAY

to present that moment and stories using music, visual images, and words – use the space here to plan your presentation and don’t forget to share your completed work with your friends!

Stories that I find interesting in my country’s history…

Text or words that will express these stories well…

Images that will represent these stories well…

Music that will create the right mood with these stories…

Interesting ways for me to present the stories I have found…

WORDS THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU

DETENTION CENTRE

A place where people who have entered a country without the necessary documents can be kept for short periods of time

ORDINANCE

A law or rule made by a government or authority

EXCLUSION POLICY

The act of not allowing someone or something to enter a place or take part in an activity

A set of ideas or plans on what to do in situations that has been agreed upon officially by a government or political party

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION

Huang Ruo Brian Gothong Tan

Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA)

As Singapore’s annual pinnacle performing arts festival, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) presents captivating and diverse works across theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts. First launched as the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1977, the festival has gone through several evolutions and inspired generations of arts lovers and practitioners.

Under the helm of Festival Director Natalie Hennedige from 2022 to 2024, SIFA will focus on performance and creation in the physical and online space, around the theme The Anatomy of Performance.

Today, the highly anticipated festival is a high point on Singapore’s arts and cultural calendar. SIFA continues its festival mission to champion the creation and presentation of Singaporean and international works.

#SIFA2023

We can’t wait to welcome you at SIFA. Share with the world (and us!) what you are most excited to see at this year’s festival, or your photos and videos of your favourite SIFA festival moment.

Arts House Limited (AHL)

Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL is the cultural place manager of Singapore’s Civic District. It manages two key national monuments – The Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs performing arts space Drama Centre as well as three creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses – the Goodman Arts Centre, Aliwal Arts Centre and Stamford Arts Centre.

AHL organises the Singapore International Festival of Arts – an annual pinnacle performing arts festival; as well as the Singapore Writers Festival –a multilingual festival presenting the world’s leading literary talents.

In addition, AHL manages Our Cultural Medallion Story – the showcase on Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipients at The Arts House. AHL was set up in 11 December 2002 as a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council and was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 March 2014.

For more information, visit artshouselimited.sg

TICKETING INFO FOR SCHOOL BOOKINGS

Engage your students in the arts at SIFA with our special deals for schools.

CONCESSIONS

SIFA offers 15%* off ticket purchases to local and international students.

*Applicable to selected ticket categories and programmes

TOTE BOARD ARTS GRANT

For selected programmes, government schools may enjoy subsidies up to 50% of the ticket price. Applicable for Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, Centralised Institute and Institute of Technical Educations (ITE) levels.

Special Education Schools may use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 70% of the programme cost. For more details on school bookings or Tote Board Arts Grant, please email sifatickets@artshouse.sg

SCHOOL BOOKING DEALS

For every 20 students tickets purchased, 1x complimentary ticket provided for the teacher.

CONTACT US

For further enquiries on programmes or education kits, please contact meganlee@artshouse.sg

For group bookings, please contact sifatickets@artshouse.sg

To read more about the Tote Board Arts Grant, visit tinyurl.com/nac-Tote-Board-Arts-Grant

For more information on the festival, visit sifa.sg