Innovative Puppetry Takes Centre Stage with “Journey West: Mount Fiery” at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre This August

This August, Paper Monkey Theatre and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) will present the final instalment of the Journey West series, “Journey West: Mount Fiery.” This unique puppet show will be performed in a ‘manual cinema’ format for the first time, using paper puppets and real-time puppet manipulation, offering a fresh take on traditional puppetry compared to the previous editions.

Reviving a Chinese Classic

“Journey West: Mount Fiery” brings to life the beloved Chinese classic novel, highlighting core cultural values such as filial piety, perseverance, and righteousness. The story follows familiar characters—Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Tang San Zang—as they strive to extinguish the flames of Mount Fiery and continue their journey to the West.

An Interactive and Unconventional Puppetry Experience

This year’s production features the ‘manual cinema’ puppetry technique, where actors manipulate paper puppets in real-time using video cameras and projectors. This setup allows the audience to glimpse behind the scenes of the magical moments on stage. The production also incorporates extensive graphic design to create a storyboard that guides the actors, with fade-in and fade-out elements reminiscent of animation.

A Multi-Award-Winning Collaboration

Paper Monkey Theatre frequently collaborates with award-winning talents, enhancing the artistry of their productions. Local martial arts trainer Soh Thian Poh has choreographed the live kungfu fight scenes between Sun Wukong, the Iron Fan Princess, and Bull Demon King, performed by Soh Thian Poh, Justinn Lee, and Wong Wai Kit, respectively. Flame of the Forest, an award-winning local multi-racial music group, contributes Xinjiang music using traditional Indian and Persian instruments. The main theme song for the production is composed by a team led by local composer Alex Oh, known for his work on local films such as “1965,” “It’s a Great Great World,” and “King of Hawker.”

About Journey West: Mount Fiery

The story follows Sun Wukong as he borrows the Banana Leaf Fan from Iron Fan Princess to extinguish the flames blocking their path. Overcoming numerous obstacles and a fierce confrontation with Bull Demon King, Sun Wukong eventually retrieves the fan and extinguishes the flames, allowing Tang San Zang and his disciples to continue their journey. This tale, exemplifying cherished Chinese values, is a must-see for families, especially parents with children.

Event Details

• Date: 30 August to 1 September 2024
• Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium, Level 9
• Language: Chinese (with English subtitles)
• Ticket Prices: $24, $26, and $30 (excluding booking and administrative fees)

Tickets can be purchased via TicketMaster, with an early bird discount of 20% available until 30 June 2024. Before the show, visitors can explore the SINGAPO人 exhibition on Level 2 of the SCCC to learn more about the values and distinctive local Chinese culture.