Best Things To Do In Singapore In March 2020

Turning 25 in style is local art and design collective PHUNK with this showcase of its most notable works since its inception. The studio’s approach to their works are based on “the collaborative aesthetic of a rock-and-roll band, and informed by a shared interest in urban subcultures.” Experience different zones of print, digital and sculptural artwork that are inspired by the concepts of control and chaos.

Feb 14-Mar 20, 9am-9pm daily, at National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road. Admission is free. More info at www.phunkstudio.com.

From Mar 1. Open daily, from 2-8pm on Mon and 10am-8pm (Tue-Sun), at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard. Admission is free. More info at https://www.singaporeccc.org.sg/.

Sundays are perfect for laidback reggae soirees like this one. Chill out at sunset at the rooftop of Potato Head as it joins forces with Singapura Dub Club for this party promising a line-up of DJs spinning reggae, dub, rocksteady and classic dancehall tunes. The icing on this tropical cake is the array of Caribbean inspired grub available, like the Suka Suka jerk chicken thigh sandwich in a toasted coconut bun with coconut mayo and slaw. Or if you like, just go for a couple of easy beers or an O’Hara’s Punch, a concoction of stout, rum, milk and nutmeg.

Mar 1, 5pm till late, at Potato Head Singapore, 36 Keong Saik Rd. More info at https://www.facebook.com/pg/SingapuraDubClub.

Time travel back to the 1930s during The Great Depression in this multi-sensory immersive theatrical production. Guests will find themselves in the village of Hurstville, a haven that seems to be mysteriously sheltered from the mayhem in the world. Audience members will explore the village town square, chapel, bakery and other secret rooms as the story unfolds. The journey is bookended by an opening and closing scene. Everything in between? You get to choose to follow some 20 characters through the village, and determine your own fate, your encounters and how the storyline progresses. Each ticket includes one drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), but if you need more refueling, there’s an option of a thematic three-course meal that will be integrated into your experience (additional cost applies).

Mar 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23; April 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20. 12.30pm (Sun) and 7.30pm (Sun and Mon), at 265 South Bridge Rd. Tix from $85. Tix and more info at http://www.undergroundsg.com/. Admission for 18 and above only.

Written by Florian Zellar — the playwright behind Pangdemonium’s 2018 sold out play, The Father — The Son is the company’s new drama. The drama explores mental health issues among youth — it tells the tale of 16-year-old main character Nicolas and his family who’s struggling to save a lost loved one. Starring Adrian Pang, Nazray, Serene Chan, Sharda Harrison, Shona Benson and Zachary Pang.

Feb 20-Mar 7, various show times at the Drama Centre Theatre, 100 Victoria Street, National Library Building, Level 3, S188064. Tickets from $25. For more info, visit http://www.pangdemonium.com/.

This edition of Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) spotlights Bukit Panjang — over 40 activities will be held at 15 locations islandwide, half of which in the ’hood itself. Yes, the neighbourhood is about to be transformed into a theatre, experiential and visual arts playground. We’re talking outdoor artworks, recorded soundscapes and even taking a bus ride through the neighbourhood with a troupe of contemporary dancers.

Mar 12-29, various locations and timings. Admission is free for most activities; nominal charges apply for select programmes. More info at https://artsforall.sg/AYN.

Part of the #BuySingLit movement, this literary festival celebrates homegrown writers, artists and performers. Featuring an array of programmes and installations to celebrate Singapore literature, this year’s edition has also piled on the interactive elements, including VR experiences, audio-visual exhibitions and Insta-worthy interactive installations in and around The Arts House.

Mar 13-22, 10am-10pm, at The Arts House 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429. Free admission for most events. More info at https://www.theartshouse.sg/programmes/textures2020/.

This Broadway hit — starring Janice Koh, Jamil Schulze and Ghafir Akbar — will explore the theme of fake news versus truths in the world of publishing. Follow an unorthodox essayist, a young but meticulous fact checker, and a demanding editor, as they kick start the ultimate showdown between truth and fiction. How timely.

Feb 25-Mar 14, various show times at KC Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Road, S239035. Tickets from $45. For more info, visit www.srt.com.sg/lifespanofafact

With a successful first run in 2018, interactive theatrical journey Four Horse Road is back with new stories and crowd favourites. Be transported back in time to learn about 150 years of Singapore’s history as you take a walk through three heritage buildings on Waterloo Street, playing a part in the story as it unfurls before your eyes. With different routes available, go through the journey more than once to have a different experience each time.

Mar 25-Apr 19, 8pm onwards at The Theatre Practice, 54 Waterloo Street, S187953. Tickets from $68. More info at www.practice.org.sg/en/performance/fourhorseroad

Photo: The Theatre Practice

If G&Ts are your poison of choice, here’s something that will get you in high spirits. Specialty gin bar Cin Cin is holding its first masterclass of the year, where you’ll get an in-depth look and taste (but of course) of three gins from Australia’s Old Young’s distillery. It's hosted by cocktail and spirits specialist, Chris Marshall, who happens to have a cocktail named after him. During the hour-long sesh, you’ll learn how various tonics and even sugar can enhance the flavours of gin. There’s also the option to end the night with a three hours of free-flow gin and tonics (additional charges apply), featuring 50 premium G&Ts from all around the world, from Singapore and Japan to New Zealand and Colombia.

Mar 28, from 4pm, at Cin Cin, 100 Peck Seah St #01-02, Oasia Hotel Downto, S079333. Tix at $55 (masterclass only) and $99 (masterclass and free-flow G&Ts). More info at https://ginmasterclass28march.peatix.com/.

Since its inception here in 2016, Tokyo-based interdisciplinary collective teamLab’s super photogenic dreamscapes have become a must-see for visitors, Singaporeans and ’gramaholics, of course. Who doesn’t love traipsing around in the trippy Crystal Universe? But if you’ve visited ArtScience Museum’s permanent exhibition once and think you’ve seen it all, think again.

Future World has just been refreshed and with an all-new gallery and two new artworks for your viewing — and Instagramming — pleasure. You’ll find the all-new features in the City in a Garden gallery, one of four galleries (Sanctuary, Park and Space complete the line-up). If you haven’t realised by now, City in a Garden is a riff on Singapore’s Garden City status and the theme of integrating nature back into the concrete jungle, and takes you through fields of flowers, lush meadows and even an aquarium. Find out more here.

Future World: Where Art Meets Science is on at ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Open 10am-7pm daily (last admission 6pm). Tix and info at www.marinabaysands.com.

Photo: teamLab

An exhibition that’s full of er… poo, anyone? Science Centre Singapore’s new permanent exhibition, Know Your Poo, has five themed zones for you to explore the evolution of sanitation. With lots of interactive activities and installations (including a Game of Thrones styled toilet), have fun learning about poo, from where wastes go, to the future of sanitation.

Permanent exhibition from Nov 19, 10am-6pm, Science Centre Hall B Level 1, 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081. Admission is included with regular admission to Science Centre Singapore. More info at https://www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/exhibitions/know-your-poo. ​​​​​​​

Unleash your inner architect and learn about why and how cities around the world change in the new Science Centre Singapore permanent exhibition, Urban Mutations: The Changing Face of Cities. The exhibition will allow for guests to go through three different zones — Cities Under Pressure, Urban Earth and Urban Futures — to learn more about how cities will be built to survive the 21st century. Expect to interact with multimedia displays of city systems from around the world, representations of maps and global data, and to get the chance to explore urban solutions to modern problems.

From Oct 25 onwards, 10am-6pm, Hall A, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Rd, S609081. Free. More info at https://www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/exhibitions/urban-mutations.

Photo: Science Centre Singapore

History goes high tech with this digital projection exhibition (replete with an interactive digital wall brimming with artworks) about the lesser-known snippets of Singapore’s history. Witness historical events that have moulded Singapore into what she is today, including the swearing-in of Yusof Ishak as first President of Singapore, the reveal of our national flag in 1959, and more. With gripping, lively projections and storytelling, you’ll feel as if you were living through these events that have cemented themselves into our nation’s history.

From Sep 1 to Aug 29, 2021, 10am-7pm, City Hall Wing, Level 3, City Hall Chamber, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road S178957. Tickets from $10. More info at https://www.nationalgallery.sg/

Deep dive into the animals and their relationships with the environment in a high-tech, immersive way at the world’s first travelling wildlife and exploration exhibition. Explore the natural world from the comfort of the Science Centre. Choose from three different environments — Tropical Rain Forest, Coral Reef, and Sea Ice — and pick up bite-sized tidbits through the use of interactive multi-media elements and never-before-seen footage from Animal Planet set up in the different sections.

Nov 16 to March 22 2020. The Annexe, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Road, S609081. Tickets excluding booking fee priced at $18 for Children (Age 3-12), $23 for Adults and $66 for Family package. More info at https://www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/exhibitions/living-worlds

If you ever wondered what Singapore might look like in 200 years, drop by the Art Science Museum’s latest exhibition, 2219: Futures Imagined, to find out. Immerse yourself in the exhibition’s five acts and travel from 2019 to 2219 to learn about how life might be impacted with changes in the Earth’s environment.

Nov 23 to April 5 2020, 10am onwards, Art Science Museum, 10 Bayfront Avenue, S018956. Tickets from $11. More info at https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html.

Photo: Lisa Park

Discover how Disney magic comes to life for the first time in Singapore at ArtScience Museum’s latest exhibition which reveals behind-the-scenes secrets behind 90 years of animation history. Pore over 500 art pieces — original drawings and concept art included — curated by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. The exhibition also features interactive features such as projections, audio-visual displays that will take you on a walk down memory lane. The icing on the cake is the debut of original artwork from the upcoming, highly-anticipated Frozen 2. For more pix and info, click here.

Oct 26 to Mar 29, 2020, ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave, S018974. Tickets from $12. More info at https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/disney-magic-of-animation.html