“Man needs food and water for physical sustenance, but of equal importance is sustenance for the soul and the spirit through arts and culture. The arts can inspire and empower us all, and also bring positivity and cheer to start the new year on a high. This year’s Huayi features a diverse and very exciting programme line-up headlined by three new creations by Singapore artists—the festival’s first-ever commissioned work staged at our 2,000-seat Theatre; a site-specific theatrical experience staged at Esplanade’s basement carpark which has never been used as a performance space, and an inter-disciplinary work by two stalwarts of the Singapore arts scene collaborating together for the first time.

“Adding to the mix is a co-commission that features a Singapore actor working with his regional counterparts; overseas artists introducing their youthful dynamism to audiences here, as well as returning artists who will be presenting their refreshing takes on the arts! All of us at the Durian are looking forward to whipping up an unconventional ‘dining’ experience and celebrating the Lunar New Year with you and your family and friends at Huayi, where the courses not only provide sustenance, but are also lip-smackingly delicious!”  – Delvin Lee, Producer, The Esplanade Co Ltd.

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is cooking up a sumptuous feast for its 16th edition of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, which will be held from the eighth day of the Lunar New Year on 23 February till 4 March 2018. The annual festival will feature a delectable line-up of theatre, dance, and music programmes by outstanding Chinese artists from Singapore and beyond, for all to enjoy during the festive period.

Launched in 2003 during the Chinese New Year, Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts was introduced as one of four annual cultural festivals at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay celebrating Singapore’s multicultural heritage.

Huayi showcases the works of outstanding Chinese artists of all genres, be they traditional or contemporary, mainstream or cutting-edge, by providing them with a platform on which they can present their works to international audiences in Singapore. With this goal, we sow the seeds for what we hope will become an internationally recognised arts festival that represents the Chinese diaspora.

Huayi provides audiences with a taste of some of the most dynamic forms of Chinese artistic expression. It introduces our audiences to works that reveal the unique individual voices of Chinese artists and allows audiences to reflect on different perspectives and interpretations of what it means to be Chinese.

Today, Huayi has grown into one of the most warmly embraced arts festivals in Singapore and is a significant part of the Singapore’s Chinese New Year festivities. Spread over two weekends, Huayi inspires and touches audiences through a diverse showcase of ticketed and non-ticketed programmes across various art forms.