Last year, I stifled my appetite to avoid missing an acrobatic opening performance for the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) against the backdrop of noisy hawker stalls at Bedok Town Square. Only when it ended on a high note did I manage to get some food late at night. But this year, my wish was fulfilled. I could try rojak, kaya sandwich, pandan cake and fried laksa noodles in a bento box during an interactive food-themed show.
"Journalists are always busy working, and sometimes forget to eat," said Chong Tze Chien, who debuts as the new festival director, during lunch the next day at the Arts House. "I think that is what the festival is all about -- to share and have a dialogue."
