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Controversial performances withdrawn from M1 Singapore Fringe Festival

SINGAPORE – Two performances that were recently thrown into the spotlight after Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) disallowed them for their nude scenes have been been withdrawn from the upcoming M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.

Undressing Room is one of two show that were disallowed for the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival next year. Photo: mingapur.

Undressing Room is one of two show that were disallowed for the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival next year. Photo: mingapur.

SINGAPORE – Two performances that were recently thrown into the spotlight after Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) disallowed them for their nude scenes have been been withdrawn from the upcoming M1 Singapore Fringe Festival.

Making the announcement Monday (Dec 5) night, Festival organisers said Undressing Room by Ming Poon and Naked Ladies by Thea Fitz-James will be withdrawn from its programme lineup when the festival runs in January next year.

Following the IMDA’s assessment that the performances exceed the R18 rating under the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AEC), the festival organisers had been in consultation with the artists.

“While the artists have expressed their willingness to amend their performances to meet IMDA’s classification requirements, the Festival believes that any adjustments and abridgments to the art works to fit these guidelines will result in significant changes that will affect the original artistic intent,” said the Festival organisers from The Necessary Stage (TNS).

Naked Ladies includes a scene where the performer inserts her finger into her vagina and then into her mouth, while Undressing Room involves the performer and an audience-participant completely undressing and then touching each other.

In response to the Festival organisers’ statement, an IMDA spokesman said, “Even though the original performances clearly exceeded the Arts Entertainment Classification (AEC) guidelines, IMDA was prepared to consider a modified performance which could be performed under a R18 rating.

“IMDA notes TNS’s decision not to do so but to instead withdraw the entire performance from the M1 Fringe Festival.”

Online protests had erupted two weeks ago (23 Nov) following a Facebook post from the Singaporeans Defending Family And Marriage group about the two shows. On 25 Nov, IMDA issued a statement saying it had assessed that the two shows had exceeded the R18 rating under the AECC.

“We want to reiterate our stance that we do not believe the works to be ‘lewd’ - to use the term bandied around by some complainants - nor was there any artistic intent to titillate. Both pieces are thoughtful and sensitive; they advocate body positive messages as well as a sense of personal candour and community trust,” said the Festival organisers in the statement.

“The unfortunate irony of IMDA’s assessment of the works having ‘excessive nudity’ is that both works actually make deliberate attempts to distinguish nudity from sexualised connotations. Ultimately, the licensing process - along with the online furore surrounding these works - deems that society at present is not ready for these cutting-edge, intelligent works,” added festival organisers.

The annual homegrown festival runs Jan 4 to 15, 2017.

 

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