Tales to Tell: highlights of Singapore's Arts Festival

TOP NAMES including legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, theatre guru Tadashi Suzuki, acclaimed choreographer Sasha Waltz and iconoclastic theatre-maker Simon McBurney are among the line-up of this year's Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). Once again, the festival brings a host of world-class talent for a three-week programme in May and June, curated by its director Gaurav Kripalani.

Mr Kripalani says one of the things that draws him to certain works is a strong narrative drive, even if they're not literary or theatrical productions. "We're looking for shows that have resonance and relevance to the Singapore audience, shows that can become part of the conversation - not just through the work itself, but also by having the artists engage with the audience in a dialogue session or workshop." The dance offerings, for instance, have strong story elements.

Sarah Martin, CEO of Arts House Limited which organises the festival, calls the inclusion of Sakamoto a "real coup". The prolific composer has an Oscar, two Golden Globes, a Grammy and other awards to his name. He has scored famous films such as The Last Emperor, The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha and The Revenant.