7 reasons to catch this festival celebrating all things Sing Lit

Alfian Saat's collection of micro-fiction on Malay identity in Singapore comes to life in Performing Malay Sketches for the first time in front of an audience on March 7, 8 and 10. 

If you have the appetite for horror, stick around for A Night of Terrifying Tales on March 9. Legendary spooky tales inspired by the popular series True Singapore Ghost Stories by the ever mysterious Russell Lee are played on stage by a team of performers led by master storyteller, Kamini Ramachandran. 

On March 8, 9 and 10, sit down with the Proletariat Poetry Factory. You can identify them right away from their bright orange jumpsuits and serious faces huddled over typewriters. Approach them for a free personalised poem based on anything you fancy and like clockwork, they compose it on the spot.

Who says music isn't part of the literary arts? Chill out with some cool tunes at performances during the festival. At As the Music Follows – Singapore Art Songs on March 9, the poetry of prominent local writers like Edwin Thumboo, Arthur Yap and Anne Lee Tzu Pheng will be performed with musical accompaniment thanks to producer Shane Thio. It's also a team effort when soprano Yap Shing Ming, mezzo-soprano Ng Sheh Feng, tenor Adrian Poon and baritone William Lim join forces to present a medley of art songs by Singapore composers Liong Kit Yeng, Bernard Tan, Leong Yoon Pin, Kelly Tan, Zechariah Goh Toh Chai and more.

Experience more music at Sollum Swaramum on March 9 where you can enjoy classic songs from Tamil cinema from the 1930s to the present and get to know the art of dikir barat, a Malay cultural performance that calls for quick wit and rhymes at Degap Degup Dikir (Dikir Heartbeats) on March 10.

Take a break from the performances and check out some of the art exhibitions going on which also touch on the theme of Love and Loss. From March 8 to 10, the Room of Love and Loss is open. Take a peek into the lives of the members of the literary community and featured artists at the festival by studying closely the gallery of photographs of things significant to them. While in the room, stop to listen to poems being read and performed by prominent local writers like Felix Cheong and Cyril Wong. 

Poster lovers will appreciate the art and design exhibition, QuoteUnQuote (from March 8) which features memorable quotes from local literature designed by up-and-coming talents from the art, design and architecture field. 

Textures 2019 is a kid-friendly event so bring down the whole family to catch some culture – after all, it's never too early to get them interested in the literary arts. Get them involved in programmes like Comics Workshop for Kids (March 10) where children can learn about conceptualising stories for comic books and Tamil Storytelling for Children (March 9).

With so many workshops going on at Textures, you're sure to come out of the festival with plenty of new skills. Sign up for the Illustrating SingLit Bootcamp (March 10) where you have a hand in creating your own SingLit masterpiece – with the help and guidance of some local literary talents. You also get to present it at the end of the bootcamp so bring on your best. 

Get organised at a Bullet Journalling Workshop (March 9) and see what the fuss is about. Through making lists, you can also practice mindfulness to help you in your creative process. 

Your experience at a literary festival is incomplete without stocking up on your local literature at the #BuySingLit Book Bazaar, happening on March 8 to 10. Pick up the best and latest in the local publishing scene from the likes of Ethos Books, Epigram, Math Paper Press and also independent publishers in Singapore.