NDP 2011: IT'S SHOWTIME!

It is just over a month before Singaporeans celebrate the nation's birthday, and the party of the year - National Day Parade (NDP) 2011 - is shaping up to be a multi-sensory extravaganza befitting the 46th anniversary of Singapore's independence.

For several months now, a veritable army of 3,500 performers and crew have been sharpening their show-chops in preparation for the big day when they will present a five-act integrated musical, in line with the NDP 2011 theme Majulah! The Singapore Spirit.

Backed by a star ensemble of award-winning artists such as creative director Beatrice Chia-Richmond, music director Goh Kheng Long and playwright Haresh Sharma, the 50-minute integrated musical comprises larger-than-life costumes, props and moving music, threaded together by a simple but heartfelt narrative of a Singaporean family from the start of independence to the present.

"It's a showcase of the Singapore Spirit and we hope that the audience will be able to connect to this family, and ultimately to see the Singaporean Spirit in themselves," said Colonel (COL) Ong Tze-Ch'in, Chairman of the NDP 2011 Show committee.

"There will be beautifully composed original songs, a radical set design, fantastic and whimsical costumes, outrageous props, multimedia design, grand choreography and unforgettable characters. I hope that this is a show that will warm the hearts and fire the imagination!" said Ms Chia-Richmond who earlier said that she agreed to be the creative director of this year's NDP "in a heartbeat" when approached - an allusion to the similarly-named NDP 2011 theme song composed by Mr Goh.

Over the five Acts, the Singapore story will unfold through the voices of four central characters played by local celebrities Sharon Au and Timothy Nga, and young talents Rueben Goh and Zachary Pang. Together they form the central family nucleus of mother (Sharon Au), son (Reuben Goh and Timothy Nga) and grandson (Zachary Pang).

In Act One, Zachary's character dreams of being a task force commander from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and calls up some of the country's latest and sexiest military assets to neutralise a simulated threat. While he may only be daydreaming, SAF assets such as the CH-47 Chinook helicopter and S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter will be flying into the heart of the city for real.

On the ground, SAF assets such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle and the Leopard Main Battle Tanks will rumble over the promenade. Naval divers from the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Protector unmanned surface vessel will also make an appearance on the waters off the Marina Bay in this first Act.

Making all this possible is the seven-storey Cube structure which will transform its shape and form across the Acts. Watch out for one of the Acts where a prop representing an MRT train will emerge from the cube to give the impression of a train pulling up under a group of buildings!

In another first for NDP, this year's Show will incorporate a light up of the Marina Bay Skyline through laser and other lighting effects to show the vibrancy of the nation as well as how the spirit of innovation has brought progress to Singapore.

The perennial favourite pyrotechnic show has also undergone changes to make it one of the most exciting in recent years with a four-minute pyro-musical which will see the fireworks synchronising with specially choreographed music. This will be complemented with fireworks being launched from four building tops in the Central Business District to a height of 60 to 80m above those buildings.

For more information on NDP 2011, please visit the official site at www.ndp.org.sg.

Contest Results for NDP Contest 1

Congratulations to the 10 winners of NDP Contest 1! Each winner receives a pair of NDP Preview tickets for the preview show at The Float @ Marina Bay on 30 Jul. All winners have been notified.

1) Yip Wen Qi (SXXXX869C)

2) Lim Hian Yong (SXXXX661J)

3) Jessie Fun (SXXXX013I)

4) Rosiana (SXXXX816G)

5) Toh Yong Yao (SXXXX753D)

6) Chen Houguang Jeremy (SXXXX691G)

7) Derek Zhou (SXXXX186F)

8) Boo Lilian (SXXXX302H)

9) Yap See Wee Benjamin (SXXXX501F)

10) Ang Ley Kee (SXXXX516B)

Contest Results for NDP Contest 2

Congratulations to the 10 winners of NDP Contest 2! Each winner receives a pair of NDP tickets at The Float @ Marina Bay on 9 Aug. All winners have been notified.

1) Tan Siew Lian (SXXXX176G)

2) Siew Jia Yi (SXXXX712G)

3) Nurhidayah Binte Mohamed Rehan (SXXXX123E)

4) Chua Lay Kwan (SXXXX305I)

5) Hu Huazhen (SXXXX735A)

6) Chia Geok Hee ( SXXXX637H)

7) Muhamad Nadzif Bin Muhamad Nidzam (SXXXX167J)

8) Tan Chee Meng (SXXXX649G)

9) Preetpal Singh Pannu (SXXXX783J)

10) Ng Hui Ping (SXXXX464D)