Arts House Limited Organises
UBIN by Drama Box (Singapore)
25 – 29 May, Wed – Sun, 6.15pm 1 – 5 Jun, Wed – Sun, 6.15pm Pulau Ubin
EDUCATION KIT For ages 13 and up
Approx 4h, no intermission Rating to be determined
UBIN
Part theatre, part collective experience, ubin by Singapore theatre company Drama Box invites you to an immersive walking tour uncovering the stories and sites of Pulau Ubin – and share in a moment to reimagine the island’s future.
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There is another reality alongside ours – one where nature, community and a slower rhythm quietly stand against the march of urbanisation.
HOW TO USE THIS KIT
This kit is designed for deeper engagement and discussion with the performance of ubin. Divided into four 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 Pre-show preparation to understand the context
This is Pulau Ubin: an island mere 15 minutes away from the main island of Singapore. Ubin, which means “squared stone” in Javanese, was once a thriving kampong with a bustling economy. With records of inhabitants tracing back to the 1800s, today its native islanders number at a hundred; come nightfall, only around 30 remain. As the population on Pulau Ubin ages and dwindles, what will happen to life and culture on the island? Who will safeguard its rustic beauty and cultural relevance? Will there be new inhabitants and how will they sustain the island’s vibrancy? How will the living, the spiritual and the embedded continue to exist in the future? Billed for its socially-engaged productions, Drama Box invites you to this extraordinary three-hour journey through the sites and scenes of Ubin. From the forests to the birds to the islanders and the iconic granite quarries, leave behind the bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the stories of the island, as you meet stakeholders of the land and join in the reimagining of its future.
DURING THE SHOW
A reflective intimate journey through one of Singapore’s most rustic sites, ubin promises to be an unforgettable evening of history, nature and culture.
AFTER THE SHOW
Drama Box would like to thank the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) and National Parks Board for their generosity and support to the production.
Questions to think about while watching the show
A reflective exercise to jot down your thoughts
POST-SHOW ACTIVITY For further exploration on the subject, topic or themes
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BEFORE THE SHOW
PULAU UBIN AND ITS COMMUNITY Pulau Ubin is an island situated on the Straits of Johor, off the north-eastern coast of mainland Singapore. Known for its granite quarries that are now inactive, Pulau Ubin is also home to the Chek Jawa Wetlands, a diverse and rich ecosystem of species within its many natural habitats.
WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE NAME, PULAU UBIN?
What are some things that you know about Pulau Ubin, from what you have seen, read or heard before? Discuss with your friends and add on to the map below:
Rich Eco-system Chek Jawa Pulau Ubin
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ubin Education Kit
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Granite Quarries
BEFORE THE SHOW
NOW, FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PULAU UBIN HERE: Click or Scan here
WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ABOUT PULAU UBIN THAT YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY UNAWARE OF? I discovered...
HAVE YOU VISITED PULAU UBIN BEFORE?
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Yes I have! How does Pulau Ubin look like, and who are the people you met there? Describe your experience.
No, I have not.
What are your reasons for not visiting? What are some of the things you would like to do when you visit?
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ubin Education Kit
EVEN THOUGH THE MAJORITY OF PULAU UBIN RESIDENTS HAVE MOVED OUT OVER THE YEARS
BEFORE THE SHOW
to live on mainland Singapore, there are still a number of residents left on Pulau Ubin today.
WATCH THIS VIDEO
to find out more about their life on Pulau Ubin:
Who are these people that make up the community living on Pulau Ubin? What do they do?
Click or Scan here
How would you describe the lifestyle of the community who live on Pulau Ubin?
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What is it about living on Pulau Ubin that you find most interesting?
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ubin Education Kit
UBIN
BEFORE THE SHOW
(DRAMA BOX) A multidimensional and immersive performance by Singapore theatre company Drama Box, ubin invites you to think about the future of life and culture for the dwindling number of residents on Pulau Ubin.
PULAU UBIN HAS A RICH HISTORY AND HERITAGE, BUT ITS POPULATION IS AGEING AND DECLINING.
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What do you think will happen to the last of this community living on the island, in years to come? Why would you say so, and how does that make you feel?
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ubin Education Kit
BEFORE THE SHOW
STARTING FROM THE CHANGI POINT FERRY TERMINAL,
ubin will bring you on a journey through a ferry ride to Pulau Ubin where sound, theatre, dance, and exhibition come together to form an immersive performance, from the jetty to the island.
What are some ways to engage your senses? Try finding different ways to do so and note down your experience and your findings below!
PERIENCE
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E.g. Create a mystery box consisting of things that smell different, and describe how they smell with your eyes blindfolded.
Y
EX
PERIENCE
E.g. I realised that smells are more intense when I only rely on my sense of smell (nose) and not my sense of sight (eyes).
Y
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PERIENCE SIFA.SG
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PERIENCE
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UBIN MAKES USE OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING OF PULAU UBIN TO INFLUENCE THE DESIGN OF THE PERFORMANCE, AND THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE IT IS TO ENGAGE ALL OF YOUR SENSES DURING THE PERFORMANCE.
S TA
Y
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PERIENCE
TE
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ubin Education Kit
VERBATIM THEATRE Did you know that ubin is performed as a form of verbatim theatre? What is verbatim theatre?
BEFORE THE SHOW
LET’S FIND OUT MORE
by watching this interview with Chng Yi Kai, Playwright and Director of With Time, a verbatim theatre performance that was previously performed by Drama Box at the Esplanade Theatre Studio:
Click or Scan here
Scroll to the timestamp of 1:40 of the video. From the video, what do you understand about verbatim theatre? How is it different from other forms of theatre that you know of?
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What kind of stories do you think a verbatim theatre performance will be most suitable for, and why?
How do you think stories about Pulau Ubin can be played out in the form of verbatim theatre? Why would you say so?
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ubin Education Kit
DURING THE SHOW
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:
1
Perk up your ears and listen to the soundscapes along your ferry ride to Pulau Ubin. What are some of the sounds you hear? Do you recognise them? Are there specific memories, places, or things that these sounds remind you of?
3
as you make your way to the main performance area. What do you notice about these exhibitions and the way they look in their surrounding scenery?
Notice how the main performance is being played out in the natural surroundings of Pulau Ubin,
and listen and watch closely to what is being conveyed in the performance. How would you describe what you are seeing, smelling, touching, tasting and hearing before you? What are some of the key ideas or perspectives that you have gathered from this main performance?
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2
Take in the sights around you and notice the exhibitions along your walk
4
How do you feel, having undergone a multidimensional experience that included a ferry ride, a sensory walk and an immersive performance nestled within the nature and sounds of Pulau Ubin?
How is it different or similar to other performances that you have attended before? What insights do you gain about performance and/or theatre from this experience?
5
Which is your favourite part of the performance and why? ubin Education Kit
NOW THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS OVER,
AFTER THE SHOW
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Write down what you have noticed to answer the questions above, or a simple reflection of your thoughts about the performance.
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ubin Education Kit
POSTSHOW ACTIVITY
ARE THERE ANY
OTHER PLACES SIMILAR TO
PULAU UBIN
THAT YOU KNOW OF, WITH A RICH OR INTERESTING HERITAGE AND A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT SHOULD BE PRESERVED?
Do some research and select one such place. E.g. Kampung Lorong Buangkok in Singapore. Choose a form of creative expression to capture and showcase what you have learnt about the place you have chosen. It can be a written journal, a photo collage, or even a performance of acting, song and dance!
IN YOUR PROJECT, YOU CAN INCLUDE:
1
The location of the place.
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3
2
The history of the place, and its significance.
Who are the peoplpe that make up its community, and what do they do?
5
4
What kind of stories can be found about the place? What kind of stories do the community share about the place?
Why is it important to preserve this place?
ORGANISE A DAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHERE EVERYONE GETS TO PRESENT THEIR OWN PROJECT. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM EACH OTHER?
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ubin Education Kit
WORDS THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU QUARRIES
IMMERSIVE
Places where stone, granite, etc. are dug for use as building material
Surrounding the audience so that they feel completely involved
COMMUNITY
The people living in one particular area; people who are considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, or nationality
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LIFESTYLE
INFLUENCE
The power to have an effect on something or someone
DWINDLING
VERBATIM
Gradually becoming smaller in number, amount or size
Using words exactly the way they were used originally
HERITAGE
SOUNDSCAPES
Features of a culture of a society created in the past that still has historical significance
A way of living; things that a person or a group of people usually do
PERSPECTIVES
MULTIDIMENSIONAL
A way of thinking or looking at something
A sound or combination of sounds that form out of an environment
To have many different features
FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION
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Pulau Ubin (Roots SG)
About Pulau Ubin
Drama Box
Click or Scan here
Click or Scan here
Click or Scan here
UBIN Education Kit
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.
Arts House Limited (AHL)
#SIFA2022 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. sifa.sg
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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.
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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 UBIN Education Kit
TICKETING INFO FOR SCHOOL BOOKINGS
Engage your students in the arts at SIFA with our special deals for schools.
CONCESSIONS SIFA offers 20%* 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.
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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.
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