This year’s
Singapore International Storytelling Festival (SISF 2014) opens on Friday, with the theme Translations: Storytelling
from the Word to the Voice. The Festival is organised by The Singapore Book
Development Council (SPDC) and celebrates oral traditions and folk tales in an age of reduced
attention spans and declining appreciation for books.
Kamini Ramachandran,
veteran storyteller and SISF 2014’s artistic director, said: "Through the art
of storytelling, audiences
experience a revival of folklore, myths
and legends that they might only
have read or heard about in passing. The storyteller plays a critical role in
re-imagining a well-loved or popular tale for the modern audience through the nuances
of dramatic expression."
In line with
this ambition of re-imagining well-loved tales, the Festival will open with the
Asia premiere of Angerona, The Secret Name of Rome (Angerona). Performed by
international storytellers Paola Balbi from Italy and Michael Harvey from the
United Kingdom, Angerona is a retelling of the legend of Lucretia - no knowledge
of the original is required to enjoy it.
Angerona tells
how in a niche in the Temple of Pleasure, the Romans kept the statue of one of
their most mysterious and ancient deities – the eponymous Angerona, goddess of sadness and
silence. These qualities have always marked the lives of abused women; in Classical
Antiquity Lucretia was the woman who broke that silence. Her story has been
retold many times, including by Shakespeare in his narrative poem The Rape of
Lucrece. Balbi and Harvey’s adaptation mixes contemporary words with
Shakespeare’s text and promises to be a theatrical feast supported by an
original soundtrack composed and performed
by Davide Bardi.
In the best tradition of modern storytelling Angerona
crosses boundaries between cultures and art forms. Claire Chiang, SBDC’s chair
said: “The legend of Lucretia is a strident tale. It speaks of passion, sanctity
and a woman’s honour. Over the centuries, it has fascinated generations of readers
and listeners. It is indeed a treat and a privilege for our audiences to be able
to experience the nuances of this tale through watching and listening to Angerona.”
Since its inauguration in 2006, SISF has attracted
more than 50,000 participants. Last year it was attended by close to 2,000
storytelling fans and practitioners – this year is sure to be even bigger and
better!
For the full SISF 2014 programme and tickets click
here.
