Synopsis:

No Strings Attached is an annual mini puppetry festival hosted by Paper Monkey Theatre, and this year will be in its fourth year of running. Held in Singapore, it aims to be a puppetry festival that gathers reputable puppetry groups from across the world for exchange and interaction, and to perform for the local audiences. No Strings Attached also aims to promote puppetry to the public and allow local audiences to experience the various forms of puppetry.

This year's No Strings Attached will see performances from Thailand, Taiwan, as well as Singapore. In order for the shows to be accessible to the local audiences, all the shows are either performed using mime or in English to allow local audiences to better understand the performance. By exposing the local audiences to the different and international forms of puppetry, this project aims to encourage more interest and deepens the appreciation of the craft of puppetry.

No Strings Attached 2019 is supported by the National Arts Council and Arts Fund.

Long Time Ago... (Thailand)
Puppet Genre: Table top puppets with Shadow puppets
Troupe/Performer: Sirikarn Bunjongtad

Synopsis:
This performance was inspired from a folktale originating from Yilan County in Taiwan, The Legend of Turtle Island. General Turtle of the Dragon palace fell in love with the daughter of the Dragon King. However the Dragon King was furious when he knew about their relationship and turned General Turtle into the Turtle Island, while also turning the princess into Lanyang plain on Taiwan.

About the Performer:
Founder of Puppet by Jae in 2017, Sirikarn Bunjongtad graduated with a major in theatre design from Srinakarinwirot University. She has been working as a puppeteer and puppet maker for 17 years and last year she received a grant from Asian Cultural Council (ACC) to travel to the US to study more about puppetry. She is also an artist in residency at Taiwan's Lize Puppet Art Colony, and was also an artist in residency in South Korea during 2011. Previously she has won the Best Director during the World Puppet Carnival in 2012 and just last year she also received an award from the Theatre for Children and Youth during the Bangkok Theatre Festival.

Date/Time:
Friday, 8 Nov 2019, 10.30am [School Shows]
Saturday, 9 Nov 2019, 2pm
Sunday, 10 Nov 2019, 11am

Planting Beans (植豆) (Taiwan)
Puppet Genre: Mime
Troupe/Performer: Xue Mei Hua 薛美华

Synopsis:
Amidst the fast-paced life of the modern people, discover the tranquillity in the darkness, pick up the beans and enter the dreams of childhood. Savour the tastes of life, which is like a river flowing with both joy and sadness.

Inspired by the miniature curio cabinet, utilising old stuff, plants, light and shadow, as well as a mini stage concept, added with an imagination filled with humour and quirkiness, the tale is stored in the treasure chest and the secret kept in the curio cabinet, culminating in an unique piece of puppetry work.

About the Performer:
Xue Mei Hua is the founder for Bringing Puppets to your home, a project that brings puppetry as an art form into families, allowing them to appreciate puppetry up close. She is also a host in Chinese Television System (CTS), Taiwan for children's programme, and currently a lecturer in University of Taipei, teaching Puppetry for children.

Throughout her career, she has performed in various festivals such as Talange Arts Festival in France, Savana Puppet Festival in United States, New Delhi International Puppet Festival in India, Vic Hua Hin festival in Thailand, and Izmir Puppet Festival in Turkey. She has also learned traditional art forms like Wayang Kulit and Wayang Golek from STSI in Indonesia.

Date/Time:
Saturday, 9 Nov 2019, 11am
Sunday, 10 Nov 2019, 2pm

Journey West: White Bone Fiend (Singapore)
Puppet Genre: Traditional Hand Puppets (布袋戏)
Troupe/Performer: Paper Monkey Theatre

Synopsis:
In this episode from the well-loved Chinese epic adventure, Journey to the West, Master Tang San Zang and his disciples encounter the White Bone Fiend in their travels. Intent on dining on Tang San Zang, the demoness tricks him into expelling Sun Wu Kong, the Monkey God from the group. Will she succeed or will Wu Kong save the day?

Inspired by the miniature curio cabinet, utilising old stuff, plants, light and shadow, as well as a mini stage concept, added with an imagination filled with humour and quirkiness, the tale is stored in the treasure chest and the secret kept in the curio cabinet, culminating in an unique piece of puppetry work.

About the Troupe:
Nestled in the lush greenery of Goodman Arts Centre lies Paper Monkey Theatre, where we create theatre productions and workshops infused with puppetry for children and family entertainment, encouraging artistic development and enriching learning experiences. The company is formed in April 2008 and is helmed by well-known puppeteer/playwright Benjamin Ho, with a vision to create a platform of lasting, meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adult in Asia.

Date/Time:
Friday, 8 Nov 2019, 3pm [School Shows]
Saturday, 9 Nov 2019, 4pm
Sunday, 10 Nov 2019, 4pm