Crossroads 2006 will run from 9 to 16 July 2006, and features performances by acclaimed international artists, workshops and work demos for public participation and talks. The programme promises not only to excite with its diversity, but to engage as well, with the many interactive and educational elements, which allow participants to step into the artists’ worlds. In keeping with the spirit of the international Magdalena Project, the Crossroads 2006 program has been planned to foster development and interaction.

The Magdalena Project, founded in Wales in 1986, is a dynamic cross-cultural network, providing a platform for women’s performance work, a forum for critical discussion, and a source of support, inspiration and performance training. It functions as a central nexus for diverse companies, individual artists and scholars whose common interest lies in a commitment to ensuring the visibility of women’s endeavour in the field of performance. Magdalena Project founder Jill Greenhalgh will attend Crossroads 2006.

Magdalena (Singapore) is a society of women theatre practitioners in Singapore devoted to the promotion of women’s voices in theatre and networking amongst women in the creative arts.

Magdalena (Singapore) President, actor/playwright Verena Tay says Crossroads 2006 is an inclusive festival that offers something for everyone.

“We are very pleased with how the festival program has shaped up,” said Tay, “Crossroads 2006 is a week chock full of activities for the professional theatre artist as well as the woman-in-the-street. Magdalena (Singapore) aims with this festival to inspire and empower Asian women to articulate their visions, passions and stories through theatre and the performing arts.”

Festival events will be held in various venues within the city, among them the refurbished National Museum of Singapore.

“We at the National Museum of Singapore are pleased to lend our support to Crossroads 06. Initiatives such as Crossroads cast the spotlight not only on Singapore’s longstanding cultural traditions, but our ever-evolving arts scene. As a people’s museum, we take pride in supporting unique independent industry initiatives like this. The diversity of the programme echoes the diversity of experiences we offer at the new Museum and in that regard, we feel that venue and festival are well-matched,” Mr Tan Boon Hui, Assistant Director, Public & International Programming, National Museum of Singapore.

Festival Partner The Substation, Singapore’s first independent contemporary arts centre believes the festival will add to the dynamism of the local theatre scene and has much to offer practitioners and the public. Lee Weng Choy, The Substation’s Artistic Co-director says, “The Crossroads 2006 program addresses important issues on two levels – the world of contemporary theatre and the world at large. The talent of the artists coming into town for this festival is surpassed only by their willingness to share their vision and their skills. We encourage Singaporeans to take full advantage of Crossroads 2006’s rich offering.”

Among the international artists contributing to the festival are Geddy Aniksdal (Norway), Kerensa Dewantoro (Australia/Indonesia), Gilly Adams (Wales), Cristina Castrillo (Switzerland), Wu Wen Cui (Taiwan) and Anita Ratnam (India). Singaporean artists include Ang Gey Pin – Young Artist Award winner 1999, Joanna Wong – Cultural Medallion recipient and Chinese opera exponent and Life! Theatre Awards winners Mime Unlimited.

More information on the festival program is available online at http://www.magdalenasingapore.org. Registration for the festival, also online, opens on 2 April 2006.

For more information, please contact:

Verena Tay Carolyn Camoens
President, Magdalena (Singapore) Vice President, Magdalena (Singapore)
Tel - 9126 3835 Tel - 9736 7152
Email - (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Email - (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

About Magdalena (Singapore)
Magdalena (Singapore) comprises a group of local arts practitioners that aims to promote learning and networking amongst women in the creative arts. Its formation has been inspired by the international network, the Magdalena Project. In April 2005, Magdalena (Singapore) became a fully-fledged society registered under the Registry of Societies, Singapore (ROS Reference No.: 2024/2005). Magdalena Singapore has been organizing arts activities in Singapore since May 2003. Most recently, in September 2005, Magdalena (Singapore) presented a work-in-progress entitled Her SPACE at The Substation’s annual festival SeptFest.

About National Museum of Singapore
At 119 years old, the National Museum of Singapore is Singapore’s oldest museum with the youngest and most innovative soul.  Designed to be the people’s museum, the National Museum of Singapore prides itself on introducing cutting edge and varied ways of presenting history to redefine conventional museum experience.

More than just a space for exhibitions and artefacts, the National Museum will also distinguish itself through its challenging and vibrant festivals and events that will unleash new creative possibilities in culture and heritage.  This programming will be supported by a wide range of facilities and services including F&B, retail, Resource Centre, Gallery Theatre and the Public Sculpture Garden, among others.  With a rich history dating back to 1887, the National Museum of Singapore has been closed since April 2003 for redevelopment and will reopen in December 2006.

CROSSROADS 2006 is supported by –

Festival Partner
The Substation
The National Museum of Singapore
The Arts House
The Esplanade
Academic Institution Partner
LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts
Community Partner
Republic Polytechnic
Sponsors
Hong Leong Foundation
Lee Foundation