THE SINGAPORE POETRY SLAM
SPOKEN WORD
CREATIVE WRITING SPECIALISTS
SCHOOL PROGRAMMES: NAC-AEP APPROVED
Word Forward is the founder of Spoken Word and Poetry Slam in Singapore.
Word Forward promoted poetry slam, performance poetry and spoken word through regular workshops, shows and events both in the public and educational spheres since 2003.
NAC-AEP PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMES (ASSEMBLY SHOWS)
PROG ID: AEP0420460
PROG ID: AEP0420459
PROG ID::AEP0420468
PROG ID: AEP0420465
NAC-AEP PERFORMANCE PROGRAMMES (ASSEMBLY SHOWS)
PROG ID: AEP020463
PROG ID: AEP0420466
PROG ID: AEP0520717
PROG ID: AEP0420461
PROG ID: AEP0420469
PROG ID: AEP0420464
PROG ID: AEP0420467
PROG ID: AEP0420462
Experience Literary Arts NAC-AEP Endorsed
Please note: Right click 'Details' below to view NAC-AEP website
This programme, unfold poetry both as written text and an oral form in the setting of a Poetry Slam™ contest. The energy and focus of a friendly competition provide an immediate fast-track learning experience in class.
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Fleeting ideas, images and emotions that linger in the virtual space of aspiring writer’s mind will be harness using techniques to create original and thought-provoking prose for a possible chapbook, online medium and performances.
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In this course, participants will discover what it means to write their own ten -minute play through a combination of writing and drama-based activities within a nurturing collaborative workshop environment.
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Word Forward offers the expertise of contemporary spoken word artists and Poetry Slam™ concept to bring to life the brilliant works, verse, rhythm and language of the great bard, Shakespeare.
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Chorus not chaos – an ensemble of speakers will blend voices, keep rhythm and tell the story effortlessly of assigned text. This ancient tradition of choral theatre boost speech, listening skills and body awareness of participants.
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This parlour-game approach to poetry adds sufficient levity to the learning process, allowing students to ease into the more serious business of learning poetry essentials. This programme combines fun with creative learning and leads to student portfolios of short poems.
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LITERARY ARTS - ASSEMBLY SHOWS (PERFORMANCES)
Programme Synopsis
Poetry Slam™ is a high-energy introduction to the art of performance poetry combined with a unique competition structure that adds immense value to the overall programme. During the last 30 years, Poetry Slam™ has become a worldwide literary movement bringing millions of listeners and readers back to literature through its audience-centered entertainment, free expression and social value.
Objectives and Outcomes
a) To involve the whole student audience by staging a high-tempo production that celebrates the fun and vitality of performance poetry.
b) To expose students to a wider range of poems.
c) To demonstrate how poems can work with choral elements and coordinated movement.
d) To engage students through the excitement of a competition.
Word Forward, the founder and trademark holder of Poetry Slam™ in Singapore has been nurturing and publishing the leading performance poets as well as promoting performance poetry and spoken word through workshops, programmes and events, both in the public and educational spheres since 2003. Over 350,000 people have attended Poetry Slam™ events at festivals, monthly café venues, arts centres, schools and on Singapore television.
The Poetry Slam™ show begins with a short interactive multimedia introduction followed by the poets performing original poetry that is accessible and age-appropriate. The show can be customised to incorporate themes pertaining to environment, National education, and social identity.
Programme Synopsis
The Spoken Word Show presents some of Singapore’s dynamic performance poets published by Red Wheelbarrow Books under its Loud Mouth series.
These spoken word artists speak intimately and stridently to communicate with a student audience about issues that concern them. The show deals with themes such as friendship and trust and references contemporary culture. We can customize these elements based on the needs of the school.
Objectives and Outcomes
a) To involve the whole student audience by staging a high-tempo production that celebrates the fun and vitality of performance poetry.
b) To expose students to a wider range of poems.
c) To demonstrate how poems can work with choral elements and coordinated movement.
Word Forward has been the leading exponent of spoken word performance as well as the founder and trademark holder of Poetry Slam™ in Singapore, nurturing and publishing the leading performance poets as well as promoting performance poetry and spoken word through workshops, programmes and events, both in the public and educational spheres since 2003.
The Spoken Word Show begins with a short interactive multimedia introduction followed by the poets performing original poetry that is accessible and age-appropriate. The show can be customised to incorporate themes pertaining to environment, National education, and social identity.
Programme SynopsisThis storytelling assembly show presents Singaporean folktales or other world traditions through solo or group dramatic storytelling that includes poems, songs, music, staging and projected video elements. The audience takes a magic carpet ride to another time and place with Uncle Rajah, head of the world storyteller’s guild and his storytelling assistants.
Be ready to see and hear Singapore folktales such as the Swordfish story or Badang, the Strong Man of Singapore which aim to address national identity, environmental issues, as well as human values such as love and sacrifice. Uncle Rajah also tells tales of Singapore’s pioneers such as The Pineapple, Rubber and the Timber Kings. Overall, Uncle Rajah’s Flying Carpet tales has interactive elements with vocal audience engagement and is designed to celebrate Singapore’s national ethos. Different tales with specific values can be customised for any NE occasion.
The traditional stories and original tales have been created and published by Word Forward in collaboration with ITE West in a book entitled Favourite Singapore Tales Revisited. The volume also includes stories about Radin Mas, Sang Nila Utama, The Wolf of Pulau Belakang Mati, the Merlion and more.
These are brought to life by the Uncle Rajah character and can be accompanied by one or two actors depending on the scale of the event.
Programme Synopsis
Professional actors present short, dramatised excerpts and monologues from the Bard’s works because Shakespearean language is best understood through performance. Word Forward presenters also perform original poems inspired by key Shakespearean plays. This reinforces the understanding of key themes such as love and relationships, power and corruption, deception and betrayal, order and disorder.
Objectives and Outcomes
Shakespearean monologues reveal character motivation, points of conflict and plot peaks. Thus, this programme also aims to demonstrate the nature of Shakespearean language and structure through poetic rhythm and literary devices. After each performance the emcee highlights key learning points arising from each excerpt and gives a practical overview of Shakespeare’s approach which, in turn, can be used later in the classroom as a codex to unlock any set text under study.
At one point in the show, the actors also voice their opinions about performing Shakespeare and how they approach the bard’s work, providing another way for student audiences to ‘lift the lid’ and see the mechanics of play-building. The Shakespeare Show also shows original video recordings of Shakespearean monologues prepared by Word Forward’s ensemble of professional actors.
The programme can be customised to meet the desired outcome of an institution.
About Word Forward
Word Forward (WF) a not-for-profit literary arts company has been committed to nurturing writers and performers since its inception in 2003. It has successfully established itself as a leading presence in the Singapore literary scene.
Word Forward, the founder and trademark holder of Poetry Slam™ in Singapore has had close to 300,000 students and adults watching or participating in the poetry slams events to date. The annual National Youth Poetry Slam™ League attracts over 200 participants to compete for the challenge shield.
Our Artistic & Curriculum Director
Dr Chris Mooney-Singh, a writer of poetry, fiction, plays, director of spoken word events and ensembles. He has also written librettos for opera produced in Australia. In addition, he has been a guest at literary festivals in UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, South Korea and the Philippines.
For the past twenty years Australian-born Chris Mooney-Singh has been a full-time arts facilitator leading a team of mentors in over 100 schools. More recently, he has been a creative writing lecturer in Singapore’s only post-graduate creative writing programme. Three of his past mentees were awarded the National Young Artist of the Year Award and his students have won international writing prizes. He holds a doctorate in Creative Writing from Monash University (Australia). In 2015 his verse novel was commended in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards (unpublished fiction category).
Contact Us
We are looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
28 Aliwal Street
#02-05 Aliwal Arts Centre
Singapore 199918
info@wordforward.org
+65 91011844