Circus, puppetry, physical theatre, visual theatre and comedy collide at Esplanade’s Flipside. It’s a bold 10-day festival that dares everyone to step outside their comfort zone, take a little risk, embrace spontaneity and try something new – whether that means stepping up on stage for a bit of improv, or testing your knowledge at trivia night.
One of the highlights is Snakes and Ladders!, an interactive musical experience by Dwayne Lau, where the audience has to help him reach the end of the giant puzzle within 90 minutes. The catch? Every square hides a surprise, and the entire performance unfolds through improvisation. Another festival standout is A Simple Space, an acrobatic spectacle by Australia’s Gravity & Other Myths. Watch as the troupe twist, bend and contort their bodies to the pulse of live drumming. Also not to be missed is Der Lauf (The Way Things Go), which puts a juggler and his doppelgänger through a series of increasingly unpredictable tasks, from balancing spinning plates to stacking glasses with boxing gloves, all while blindfolded.
Beyond thrilling performances and gravity-defying acts, the programme also includes a talk that dives into the development of contemporary circus in Singapore, from the post-war period to the present day. There are also beginner-friendly workshops to contact juggling and unicycling.
