The Nursery Rhymes Project 4 Returns with New Music, Storytelling and Family Fun at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

Singapore families can look forward to a fresh celebration of language, music and culture as The Theatre Practice returns with the fourth edition of its popular Mandarin arts initiative, The Nursery Rhymes Project. The Nursery Rhymes Project 4 Official Launch will take place on 20 and 21 June at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s Multi-Purpose Hall, offering audiences an immersive experience that brings beloved nursery rhymes to life through music, storytelling and illustration.

Created by The Theatre Practice, Singapore’s longest-standing professional bilingual theatre company, The Nursery Rhymes Project was first conceived by Artistic Director Kuo Jian Hong while raising her daughter and observing the limited availability of quality Mandarin nursery rhymes created locally. Since its debut in 2017, the project has grown into one of Singapore’s most successful family-oriented Mandarin arts initiatives, reimagining traditional nursery rhymes through a contemporary and accessible approach.

The multidisciplinary project consists of three interconnected components: Sing Our Songs, a series of music albums; Paint Our Songs, illustrated lyric books; and Imagine Our Songs, live performances and programmes. Together, these elements encourage children to engage with Mandarin beyond the classroom through music, visual storytelling and interactive experiences, helping them build familiarity and emotional connections with the language.

The project has enjoyed strong support from families across Singapore. To date, songs from the Sing Our Songs albums have accumulated more than six million streams across platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, while over 7,000 copies of the Paint Our Songs lyric books have been distributed to households. The live performance component has reached more than 60,000 audience members, cementing its place as one of Singapore’s most widely attended Mandarin family arts programmes.

The latest edition continues Practice’s commitment to fostering intergenerational connections through shared cultural experiences. While designed to support children’s language development, The Nursery Rhymes Project 4 also encourages parents to participate and rediscover the joy of familiar songs alongside their children.

Award-winning musician Julian Wong returns for a third time as Music Director and Arranger, creating fresh interpretations of 12 classic nursery rhymes. Performed by some of Singapore’s leading musical theatre talents together with students from Practice’s weekend Children’s Courses, the album introduces a contemporary sound while preserving the charm of the originals. Wong hopes the new arrangements will resonate with both children and adults, encouraging families to revisit and enjoy the songs together.

Accompanying the music is a new edition of Paint Our Songs, illustrated by acclaimed artist Lee Kow Fong, better known as Ah Guo. Featuring his signature watercolour style, the book incorporates recognisable Singapore landmarks and playful hidden details that invite children and families to continue their exploration of the nursery rhymes beyond listening.

Visitors attending the official launch will be among the first to experience all aspects of The Nursery Rhymes Project 4. Families can enjoy a new interactive performance titled Long Long Finds a Friend, presented by the popular Breakfast Kakis, a group of musical storytellers known for bringing nursery rhymes to life through engaging performances.

The launch event, co-presented with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, will also feature performances by local entertainers Joanna Dong and Chriz Tong, who contributed vocals to the latest album and will lead audiences in a lively singalong session. Attendees will additionally have the opportunity to purchase copies of The Nursery Rhymes Project 4: Paint Our Songs before its wider retail release.

Following the official launch, The Theatre Practice will continue the celebrations with Here Comes The Breakfast Kakis: Imagine Our Songs, a mini jukebox musical that will be presented as part of the Berries Chinese Theatre Festival: Family Edition this July. The production expands on the project’s themes through a theatrical experience that combines storytelling, music and imaginative play.

Tickets for The Nursery Rhymes Project 4 Official Launch are now available through BookMyShow. The Nursery Rhymes Project 4: Sing Our Songs is currently available on Spotify and Apple Music, while the accompanying lyric book will be available for purchase at the launch event before becoming available online and at selected bookstores. The programme is part of Cultural Playground 2026 presented by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and eligible Singapore citizens may use their SG Culture Pass credits to purchase tickets.