Dear friends of the media,

How do children see themselves and the community that supports them? How do they develop the strength to face challenges and difficulties? What is a safe space or environment to a child, and how is the community a part of it?

These are some of the questions we hope to explore during March On 2023, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s annual arts festival for young audiences and their families. Taking place from 9 – 19 Mar 2023 over the school holidays, this year’s festival will feature three commissioned works that take on the theme of identity and how children navigate their environment.

In the Esplanade Theatre, The Beginning of Everything follows the story of six-year-old Shan and her explorations of a new world—school. This is the third work in a series of commissions directed by Edith Podesta for March On and this year, she is joined by playwright Michelle Tan. The work hopes to be a companion for children to find the courage and empower them with tools to cope with unfamiliar situations and new environments. The play draws from images and drawings shared by children in Singapore through organised workshops, and invites children and adults to have a conversation about their own fears of growing up and navigating identity. Changeling by Void Deck Games—an updated version of Monster Hunt presented in 2022—returns to the Esplanade Annexe Studio, this time with a LARP (Live Action Role Playing) experience for those eight and up.

The third commissioned work is Come Back Home, a two-year distance-based collaboration between Australian and Singaporean artists, featuring renowned children’s theatre company from Australia, Polyglot Theatre. Directed by Sue Giles, Come Back Home is a participatory and immersive experience for children and intergenerational audiences. Inspired by the community usage of HDB void decks in Singapore, this performance will take place at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre at Esplanade where participants will follow the story of a lost child.

We are also excited to welcome and introduce Second Hand Dance Company from UK to Singapore audiences with the presentation of We Dance, We Play, We Touch, an interactive dance experience for young families.

March On also continues to strive to create space to support a child’s support network, as well as room for ideation and feedback for artistic practices. Throughout the festival, there will be workshops for children, families and caregivers conducted by Somayoke and Artfold. We are continuing our partnership with ASSSITEJ Singapore to put together professional development and industry-based discussions for educators and artists. Children-led activities and programmes under the Seedlings initiative as well as well-loved Tak Takut Kids Club, alongside a whole host of free music, dance and story-telling programmes for children are a key part of the festival too. And finally, we would like to thank our Principal Sponsor Naturel for their generous support of March On 2023.

While this is the third edition of March On, we have only just begun our journey. There is much work to do for our children and we march on with tenacity and hopeful hearts. We hope that schools as well as young audiences and their families will be able to take away a memory, lesson or meaningful conversation from the festival.

Let’s march on!

Rachel Lim
Producer, The Esplanade Co Ltd
March On 2023