snf:category/experiential-programmes / ONCE UPON AN ISLAND
ONCE UPON AN ISLAND
ONCE UPON AN ISLAND is the festival presentation of Oliver Chong's What the Island Remembers. The work reimagines three iconic Singapore legends, the founding of Singapura, the Redhill Swordfish legend, and the Kusu Island legend, into a single narrative about survival, sacrifice, community, and collective memory.
Through a blend of large scale shadow puppetry, contemporary movement, music, and immersive outdoor staging, the non verbal performance asks what remains of a story after generations of retelling, and what is lost, added, or transformed along the way.
28 - 29 Aug, 4 - 5 Sep
7.45pm, 8.45pm, 9.45pm | 15 mins per show
free
SMU Arts Fest
SMU Connexion
- snf:access/child-friendly
- snf:access/wheelchair-friendly
- snf:access/elderly-friendly
About SMU Arts Fest
SMU Arts Fest 2026: LEGENDARY celebrates the stories, figures, and traditions that have become legends across cultures and communities.
Through music, a visual arts exhibition, and a multidisciplinary performance, the festival brings Global, Asian, and Singapore legends to life, showcasing how timeless myths, cultural icons, and creative traditions continue to inspire fresh interpretations by a new generation of young artists.