Performing Arts

Shakespeare and all the greats have been reborn in the remarkable silhouette that is the Esplanade Singapore. Built for the particular purpose for art and culture, the Esplanade is a hub for every thing and everything to do with plays, performances and the artistic pulse. The calendar in the esplanade is choked full of local and international performances all year round, so your literary tastes will be fulfilled.

No square inch of the esplanade is wasted. Initial we move into the concert halls, which has been home and will be residence to several magnificent performances. Seating close to 2, 000 individuals at any one time and designed with the very best acoustics – the concert hall has seen many diverse range of music performances from budding local performers to international concerto’s and full orchestra performances.

There is also a theatre and a theatre studio within the premises, also with a seating capacity of about 2, 000 folks. Boasting the largest and most expansive performing stage in Singapore, the theatre is also a chameleon – able to adapt to any performance of any size, shape, form and orientation. With excellent lighting, state of the art staging equipment and acoustics that guarantee you hear every shudder and whisper of the performer, the Esplanade theatre is a locale for live entertainment like you have in no way seen. A recital studio is also accessible within its durian like enclosure, for those intimate performances by speakers, poets and even cosy jazz recitals for crowds below 200.

If the name didn’t suggest it already, the Oxford Art Factory is a place recognized in Sydney for its…nicely, art. Do not drop in expecting to find crowds of mainstream teenyboppers and minimalistic chic: here, it is all about the creative side of life.

The Oxford Art Factory is a paradise for bands, visual artists, and anyone who’s vibe is a little bit funky. Sporting a grungy, factory-style (it’s not called the ‘art factory’ for nothing) of décor, this location can’t genuinely be called a bar: rather, it’s residence to the underground side of Sydney that chooses to embrace the new, the distinct, and the quirky. The walls are usually lined with art or exposed brick for an urban, underground vibe that can’t be discovered anywhere else. The factory houses The Gallery (a space for artists to exhibit their work), The Art Soon after Dark bar (for art lovers to come and meet new individuals as well as grab a drink), and The Live Art Space (for performances). The one factor that caught my eye when I went there was the glass cube that men and women can walk through or use as a live performance space: it surely was the most creative of anything I’ve ever seen at a night venue, and it surely does make every patron stop and stare.

Of course, being a house for all points art, it’s natural that the focus of the Oxford Art Factory is on live entertainment. At least four days of the week, you can expect to locate bands rocking it out in the Live Art Space. From local to international performances, and dubstep to rock, Oxford Art doesn’t discriminate. No matter what the occasion, before rocking up to this location make sure to check their upcoming events to uncover the entertainment playing that greatest suits you. As with all locations, there is also a dance floor but depending on the performance each night, it may range from a crazy dancing group to a mellow crowd who’s just there to listen. Tickets have to be bought to events too, so check out the website just before turning up for a band you like, or else you could not even get in to the event!