TOY Factory Celebrates TOY 20 - A Theatre Festival at The Esplanade from 5 to 15 August 2010

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Toy Factory today
announced plans to present TOY 20 Anniversary Celebration, a Theatre Festival which will take place from 5 to 15 August 2010 at Esplanade Theatres on The Bay.

The festival will showcase Toy Factory’s numerous theatrical achievements through the years with a variety of programmes beginning with Hailstones – a three-day event
happening from the 5 to 7 August 2010 at the Recital Studio @ The Esplanade.

During this time, Toy Factory classics will be screened. These screenings will be complimented by introductory talks by the key actors and designers.

The highlight of the festival is the world premiere of Toy Factory’s latest original production, December Rains starring a stellar cast that includes internationally renowned actress Kit Chan, multi-talented actor Jeffery Low as well as theatre veteran George Chan. The production will be staged at the Esplanade Theatre from 6 to 15
August 2010.

Concluding the festival will be White Soliloquy, an original monologue based on the life of renowned thespian Bai Yan. The monologue will be performed by award winning actor Nelson Chia and will run from the 12 to 15 August 2010 at the Esplanade Theatre
Studio.

HAILSTONES – TOY 20 CLASSIC SCREENINGS
Going from fantasy and adventure to history and celebrations of icons, from humour to heartbreak, Toy Factory will take audiences through time with Hailstones, screening past Toy Factory performances with introductory talks by pivotal actors and designers
such as Beatrice Chia – Richmond, Nelson Chia, and Goh Boon Teck.

The line up includes:
Spirits (2005) – Chinese
Big Fool Lee (2007) – Chinese
Titoudao (2007) – English
First Light (2008) – English
Sleepless Town (2009) – English
The Crab Flower Club (2009) – English

There will be a total of six screening sessions; each lasting up to two and a half hours over the three days of the festival, with additional screenings for popular shows.

Dates: 5th – 7th August 2010
Time: 3pm & 8pm
Venue: Recital Studio @ The Esplanade

DECEMBER RAINS
The highlight of TOY 20ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION would be Toy Factory’s latest mandarin musical, December Rains that will be premiered during the Theatre Festival.

Starring noted actors Kit Chan, George Chan and Jeffery Low, the production will transport audiences back in time, to a tumultuous period in Singapore’s history where politics as well as traditions tear a pair of young lovers apart, and how a twist of fate and an undelivered love letter will reunite them after years.

Dates: 6th – 15th August 2010
Time: 3pm (Sat & Sun), 8pm (Tues – Sun)
Venue: The Esplanade Theatre

WHITE SOLILOQUY
Concluding the festival is the monologue White Soliloquy, a Toy Factory original based on the life of renowned thespian Bai Yan, whose acting career spanned 60 years.

Bai Yan was born Yan Bo Yuan in Jiang Su, China, and began his acting career with the Yin Yue Music and Dance Troupe, travelling and performing through many parts of South East Asia, before eventually settling down in Singapore and joining the then-
Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) as an actor. He retired in 1996, and in the same year was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by TCS in recognition of his life’s work.

White Soliloquy will be performed by the talented Nelson Chia and will run from 12 August to 15 August 2010 at the Esplanade Theatre Studio.

Dates: 12th – 15th August 2010
Time: 3pm (Sat - Sun), 8pm (Thurs - Sun)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio