VERSE 2025, presented by Arts House Limited (AHL), invites visitors to explore Singapore’s literary scene through an exciting series of multisensorial experiences. Taking place from 17 January to 2 February at The Arts House at the Old Parliament (TAH), this vibrant festival is part of Light to Night Singapore and responds to the theme “Do You See Me?”—encouraging attendees to experience the transformative power of words and how they reshape our perceptions of ourselves and others.
A Dazzling Fusion of Art, Literature, and Light
This year’s VERSE features a stunning mix of literary and light art installations by talented local artists. Kray Chen’s outdoor installations on TAH’s Outdoor Lawn will immerse visitors in an interactive light experience, while TraseOne’s façade projections will bring TAH’s historic building to life with captivating visuals. Inside, the festival will screen a selection of short films from acclaimed Singaporean filmmakers such as Boo Junfeng, K. Rajagopal, Siyou Tan, and Roslee Yusof in partnership with gov.sg, offering cinematic views into the local culture and storytelling.
Cherita Hantu Returns with a Haunting New Chapter
The Cherita Hantu theatre series returns with its fourth, most chilling installment—Cherita Hantu: Kafirun. Presented by AHL in collaboration with Hafidz Rahman, this multisensory production promises a spine-tingling experience, blending sound, light, and storytelling to deliver an unforgettable, immersive performance for fans of horror and the supernatural.
Find Your Next Favorite Read
Book lovers will delight in the Books Corridor: Read on the Go and Books Corridor: See Me Again Pre-Loved Books Corner. In partnership with the National Library Board (NLB), these spaces offer curated selections of Singapore literature, available to borrow digitally through QR codes at the Print Gallery. At the Film Gallery, visitors can also pick up pre-loved books to take home.
Interactive Literary Activities for All
Explore Singapore Chinese literature through interactive activities like Karaoke Poetry: A Collective Reading, where participants engage with digital prompts in Chinese characters and hanyu pinyin, alongside English text synopses. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, The Big Blackout offers the chance to create blackout poetry in all four official languages of Singapore. Guests can also join Blackout Poetry Jam Sessions for a more intimate space to experiment with words.
Story Walk: Immersive Storytelling in Singapore’s Civic District
Alongside VERSE, AHL will host Story Walk, an immersive outdoor storytelling experience from 24–25 January 2025. Explore Singapore’s Civic District through captivating tales inspired by the public art benches, Benchmarks, blending history, folklore, and literary tradition. A diorama workshop will also be available, where participants can create their own art inspired by the Benchmarks and the stories shared during the event.
For more details on VERSE 2025, visit Arts House Limited’s VERSE page or follow The Arts House at the Old Parliament on Facebook and Instagram.
