Festival showcases Singapore's cutting-edge arts scene

Running until 22 June, the Singapore Arts Festival is packed with 25 main productions and more than 400 free performances, exhibitions and special events.

Organised by the National Arts Council, The Singapore Arts Festival remains at the cutting edge of world contemporary art, music, theatre and dance, stimulating the imagination of spectators with captivating artistic performances.

"The 2008 Festival has an exciting line-up that will take Middle East audiences on a thrilling journey. With a range of works by some of the most established names in the performing arts, the Singapore Arts Festival offers thought-provoking pieces for the discerning Middle East traveller,"

said Mr. Jason Ong, Area Director, Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board

Festival highlights include the Asian premiere of The Architecture of Silence, featuring a live choir of 80 singers, 45 dancers and 68 instrumentalists, which promises to be one of the biggest productions ever staged at Singapore's acclaimed Esplanade Theatre.

Also set to captivate audiences is The Lord of the Rings Symphony, where audiences can enjoy the Oscar winning orchestral epic with live projections of the storyboard illustrations.

The Singapore Arts Festival continues to push the boundaries of creativity and artistry by commissioning seven new works. Among them is The King Lear Project: A Trilogy, a three-part production which includes drawing insights from three critical essays about one of the greatest Shakespearean tragedies.