February 2015                  Issue one 

You are receiving the first issue of  
the 
avenue 
because we know or assume you have an interest in the arts - the performing arts or visual arts -  
and you'll notice we have a distinct bias for theatre, literary arts and  art exhibitions/galleries. But we're open to all the creative arts, whether for practitioners, students or just art lovers!  
Feature event:

The Stage Club - Singapore's oldest theatre company  - has been around for 70 years. 
It's first production for this its landmark year is the delightful French farce performed by an international cast (in English!) and directed by Hunter Wood. Dont miss it!  On for four nights only - Wednesday, 
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 
25, 25, 27, 28 February. 

Go to www.stageclub.com 
for more information and go to
www.sistic.com.sg
to book now. 
On the Avenue - news of the literary arts scene

Watercolour:   Graham Byfield's back in Singapore, but only for a while. Best remembered here for his "Singapore Sketchbook" - the first of many delightful watercolour books -  he has also "painted" many a black and white house for happy owners/tenants over the years. His latest completed book is "Bahamas Sketchbook". Will there be more? Of course, says Graham, in Singapore this past week before flitting off on an assignment to Bali. Next one will have a decidedly European flavour, to sit alongside Amsterdam, London and Oxford collections, no doubt. For more on the"Bahamas"...... Read more

Food for Thought: "One more Chance", by Award winning Singapore writer Colin Cheong, is really Benny's story - of how his faith and the faith his friends placed in him, turned him from a hard-core heroin addict into a restaurant boss. Benny Se Teo had many obstacles to overcome before establishing his successful Eighteen Chefs' chain. Read the book and try the b food. Published in Singapore by Armour Publishing. Read more

Writers' Talk: The one and only Kirpal Singh, who has kindly agreed to take the platform with Ken Hickson for a talk about writing biographies - see below - also invites you and me along to the Writers Talking Series at SMU's Wee Kim Wee Centre on Tuesday 24 February 5.30pm to hear what Tan Siok Sun and Meria Chand have to say. You are advised to register first. For More


Biography on Film: A biographical film on the famous British painter, J. M. W. Turner's life in the last quarter century, it focus on the painter's journey after the death of his father where he stays with the country aristocracy, visits brothels, becomes a member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and lastly lives incognito in Chelsea and dies. Timothy Spall plays the iconic painter in the film, now showing in Singapore cinemas. Read More

Crowd publishing: You should talk to Guy Vincent, who is based in Singapore (at The Hub) and started Publishizer as a crowd publishing platform for authors. This is the ultimate for self-publishing writers and has already set a number of authors on the road to success. Guy also gives some good advice on how to start - and finish. He says anyone can "fund your book with preorders from a crowd of readers and publish with total freedom". Much more to read and try. See here

 

 

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay - Advance News 
30 APRIL - 2 MAY 2015
 
Following last year's sold-out season of National Theatre Live screenings, Esplanade presents an exciting new line-up of four wildly acclaimed productions, at the Esplanade Theatre.
  • An extraordinary journey awaits you - traverse the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France in National Theatre's runaway hit, War Horse.
  • The fastest-selling production in the Young Vic's history, Tennessee Williams' timeless masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire receives a ferocious makeover by iconoclastic director Benedict Andrews, and an all-star cast featuring Gillian Anderson (X-Files), Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby.
  • In King Lear, Academy AwardŽ winner Sam Mendes directs Simon Russell Beale as King Lear in this highly anticipated production of Shakespeare's tragedy.
  • Catch Golden GlobeŽ winner and Academy AwardŽ nominee James Franco and Tony AwardŽ nominee Chris O'Dowd in John Steinbeck's heartwrenching portrait of the American spirit, Of Mice And Men. 
  • For more to go the Esplanade 


Art Gallery of the Month 
Sundaram Tagore - Gillman Barracks
Exhibition by Hiroshi Senju: The Japanese master, 57, noted worldwide for his sublime waterfall and cliff images, has been among the top-selling artists at Art Stage Singapore continues here until 15 March. Then watch out for.....

"Through the Mind's Eye"

Kim Joon and Hosook Kang

MARCH 20 - MAY 10, 2015

Sundaram tagore for More


 

This is the man himself, Sundaram Tagore, owner and operator of his galleries in New York, Hong Kong and Singapore.

           Do you know who this is?


Steve Dixon is a world-renowned academic, researcher and interdisciplinary artist with a distinguished career in both higher education leadership and the professional creative industries.He joined LASALLE College of the Arts as its sixth President in February 2012.After graduating with a drama degree from Manchester University in 1977, Professor Dixon became an actor and worked in theatre, film and television with many of the UK's leading directors including Steven Berkoff, Michael Blakemore, and the current and former directors of the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner and Richard Eyre.In 1984, Dixon appeared on Coronation Street as a taxi driver escorting the long serving character Elsie Tanner out of Weatherfield after 24 years on the show and 45 years on the street. Steve has continued to direct and perform, particularly with his own company The Chameleons Group (established 1994) which tours internationally with spectacular multimedia performance. Find out more

 

LA SALLE Open House on Saturday 14 March. Don't miss it. For more go to

La Salle College of the Arts
Share the good news about your favourite books, plays, galleries, theatres and all other creative arts and events in Singapore. This issue is decidedly our take on what's coming up - with a strong focus on the people involved with books, theatre and creative arts - and what we want you to hear about. But it's an avenue of opportunity for you and all arts lovers. We welcome all ideas, events, illustrations, book reviews and contributions. Keep your items brief and provide a reliable link for more information, orders or bookings. This is a private enterprise - or more correctly a social enterprise -  so we welcome support, sponsorship and/or advertising.

Ken Hickson 
editor, the avenue

ken@fifthavenue.asia 
Admission is free, but please RSVP to clye@wspc.com by 3 March 2015