THIS WEEKEND - One Big Slumber Party

Kids, this one’s for you wherever you are. Parents, pen this into your schedule.

The date is 7 March, the place is The Arts House. Get your kids ready for bedtime, put them in their pyjamas and then take them out…to Pyjama Night. Yes, this is a truly legitimate excuse to keep the kids up late for a very good reason – family bonding, quality time and one-of-a-kind good, clean fun courtesy of the folks at Act 3 International. 

The hour-long show comprises several bite-size performances ranging from storytelling to puppetry, theatre, music and animation. Families start off together with a storytelling session, followed by three other short, 10-minute acts one after another, that brings you from place to place within the same venue. The evening ends with milk and cookies on the house and a meet-the-artiste session.

Put on your favourite jammies. Bring your imagination, your inner child and your favourite stuffed toy. Get comfortable and enjoy a night out with your kids, on their level. 

And there’s more. Pyjama Night’s original acts were specially created by artistes around the theme of ‘bedtime’, to mark the 10th anniversary of the first arts fest dedicated to children. This year, Prudential Children First! Singapore International Festival for Children (7-17 March) offers up a diverse range of children’s theatre and art forms. 

Some of the festival highlights include:

• In the Garden (Belgium/Spain)/Theatre, Video, Drawings, Multimedia/45 mins/ages 1-4: Very young children and theatre? Yes, the combination is possible in this visual playground of childhood games, fun in the sun and special moments with friends. 

• Bradshaw’s Shadows (Australia)/Shadow Puppetry/60 min/ages 4-9: Comprising short stories, sketches and songs, with endearing singing and witty commentary. Featuring shadow figures that include growling dinosaurs and dancing farmers. Some tell stories with social messages while others are just plain entertaining and amusing.

• Alice (Canada)/Music, Multimedia, Theatre/50 min/ages 7-12: An intriguing stage production with stimulating word play, giant multimedia projections and original live music on stage, bringing to life Alice’s strange encounters with the characters in Wonderland such as the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat and more.

• Allenby’s Famous Flea Circus/15 min/all ages: A circus like you’ve never seen before, huge on laughs and thrills. Catch daredevil stunts done the way only fleas can. No flea collars allowed in the audience as that would upset the performers.

Check out:

Pyjama Night

7 March (Sat)

The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane

Shows at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 8.45pm

Ticket prices $25 for child/adult, $85 for family pack of 4 (free seating)

Queries to Act 3 International

Tel: 6735 9986

Web site: www.act3international.com.sg

Prudential Children First! Singapore International Festival for Children

Tickets from SISTIC

Tel: 6348 5555

Web sites: www.sistic.com.sg or www.childrenfirst.com.sg